2024 Water Cycle Symposium: Implementation Report

In September 2024, the Water Cycle Symposium was held at Rusutsu Resort. This symposium served as an opportunity to share the latest insights on sustainable water resource management and provided a platform for experts, businesses, and local residents to collaboratively address related challenges.

1. Opening Remarks

The symposium began with opening remarks from Mr. Hisatake Kamori, President and CEO of Kamori Kanko Co., Ltd. Mr. Kamori emphasized the importance of water resources in Japan and advocated for the necessity of sustainable development. In particular, he clearly outlined Rusutsu Resort’s commitment to balancing environmental conservation and tourism through cooperation with the local community.

2. Keynote Speech

In the keynote speech delivered by Professor Koichiro Kuraji from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, the impacts of climate change on water resources and corresponding mitigation measures were discussed.

• Changes in Water Resources Due to Global Warming
  It was noted that rising temperatures are leading to decreased snowfall and earlier snowmelt, raising concerns about reductions in groundwater and surface water.
• Water Conservation Functions of Forests
  It was highlighted that proper forest management contributes to the stable supply of water resources and also aids in mitigating climate change through CO₂ absorption.

3. Rusutsu Resort’s Initiatives

Rusutsu Resort is undertaking the following initiatives to achieve sustainable water resource management:

• Installation of Water Level and Rain Gauges
  We are introducing systems to monitor groundwater levels and rainfall, collecting and analyzing this data to support water resource management.
• IoT-Based Water Intake Management
  We utilize IoT technology to manage water intake data in real-time, establishing systems designed for efficient water resource utilization.

4. Panel Discussion

A panel discussion was held on the theme of “Sustainable Use of Water Resources and the Role of Local Communities,” featuring the following speakers:

• Professor Koichiro Kuraji, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
• Hisako Sato, Mayor of Rusutsu Village
• Hisatake Kamori, President and CEO, Kamori Kanko Co., Ltd.
• Asahi Iwanaga, CEO, Amenowa Inc.

Key Discussion Points

• Cooperation between Communities and Businesses
  Participants acknowledged the need for community-wide support to ensure the long-term sustainability of Rusutsu Resort’s initiatives.
• Balancing Proper Water Resource Management with Economic Activities
  The importance of establishing specific management guidelines was emphasized to achieve harmony between sustainable tourism and water resource conservation.

5. Future Prospects

Through this symposium, a new direction for water resource management at Rusutsu Resort has been identified. Moving forward, the following activities are planned as next steps:

• May 2025: Full-scale operation of water level gauges and rain gauges begins.
• August 2025: First implementation of the Water Resource Conservation Project.
• September 2025: Second Water Cycle Symposium scheduled to be held.

Rusutsu Resort will continue promoting sustainable water resource management in cooperation with the local community. We remain committed to sharing these initiatives and envisioning the future together with many others.

Summary

This symposium marked an important step toward shaping the future of water resource management. Rusutsu Resort will continue collaborating with experts and local residents, utilizing scientific insights to create a sustainable environment. Please stay tuned for our upcoming initiatives!