{"id":811,"date":"2025-09-29T06:03:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T21:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/?p=811"},"modified":"2025-09-29T06:03:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T21:03:21","slug":"after-the-2nd-water-circulation-symposium-in-rusutsu-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/?p=811&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"After the 2nd Water Circulation Symposium in Rusutsu 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2014 A Story of \u201cWater and Community\u201d Spreading from Rusutsu<\/strong> \u2014<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

On September 20, 2025<\/strong>, the 2nd Water Circulation Symposium in Rusutsu 2025<\/strong> concluded successfully at Rusutsu Resort.
As with the first edition, many researchers, municipalities, companies, and local residents joined us, making it a full day of learning and dialogue centered on water<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Learned from the Expert Lectures<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

First to stay with me was the talk by Professor Shimatani<\/strong> (Kumamoto Prefectural University).
His message\u2014that the key to reducing floods and increasing groundwater is how we \u201cstore, infiltrate, and slow\u201d snow and rain<\/strong>\u2014was made crystal clear with numbers and concrete examples. It renewed my sense of how deep the water cycle truly is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Kuraji<\/strong> (The University of Tokyo) also showed, with data, how the timing and melting of snowfall<\/strong> are changing as the climate warms. This is not only a matter for ski tourism; it connects directly to spring water resources<\/strong> and groundwater recharge<\/strong>. The perspective that protecting snow is protecting water<\/em> made a strong impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cOn-the-Ground Reality\u201d Seen in the Leaders\u2019 Panel<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

The afternoon highlight was a panel discussion gathering the leaders and executives of the seven municipalities around Mt. Y\u014dtei\u2019s foothills<\/strong>.
It\u2019s genuinely rare for this many mayors to meet under the single theme of water<\/strong>, and given that issues such as water rights, land transactions, and aging infrastructure<\/strong> are already advancing, it was an extremely valuable opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • The Mayor of Kutchan<\/strong> shared stark numbers: in a town of 15,000 residents<\/strong>, over 18,000<\/strong> overnight guests stay during the New Year peak\u2014pressing the town toward \u00a55\u20136 billion<\/strong> in water-supply upgrades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The Mayor of Niseko<\/strong> explained a unique ordinance: no water withdrawals beyond the product of area \u00d7 precipitation<\/em>. Rather than rejecting investment or development, the stance is to clarify rules to secure sustainability<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The Mayor of Rankoshi<\/strong> spoke about the Unified Shiribetsu River Ordinance<\/strong> across seven municipalities and a 31-year-running clean-up campaign<\/strong>, expressing a desire to preserve a culture of caring for the river<\/strong>, not just using it.
    The Deputy Mayor of Kyogoku<\/strong> introduced Fukidashi Park\u2019s springs<\/strong> (80,000 tons\/day) and described how water levels there rise more easily<\/strong> and the hard work of late-night monitoring<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Each town\u2019s circumstances differ, but one recognition was shared: water is daily life, water is a tourism asset, and water is something to protect.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reflections After the Symposium<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

    What I feel after this second edition is that research, policy, and field voices are finally beginning to meet in one place<\/strong>.
    Data-backed research findings, the lived reality of residents and tourism demand, and the corporate perspective all sat at the same table. That is far from a given\u2014and it\u2019s clearly a step that leads to the next. In the closing remarks, President Kamori<\/strong>\u2019s words\u2014\u201cMake Hokkaid\u014d one team, and speak to the world.\u201d<\/em>\u2014resounded strongly. Water circulates, and so do connections. That\u2019s why know-how and wisdom must circulate among regions<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

    We will definitely<\/strong> hold this symposium again next year and make it a forum to check our progress.
    There is much to do: building research datasets<\/strong>, expanding the groundwater observation network<\/strong>, creating rules through ordinances<\/strong>, and broadening local participation<\/strong>. Starting from the shared understanding<\/strong> that emerged this time, we intend to move forward steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In Closing<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

    To all the scholars, municipal leaders, and participants who joined us\u2014thank you<\/strong>.
    \u201cProtecting water is protecting the region\u2019s future.\u201d<\/strong> With that conviction in our hearts, we will build a new cycle from Rusutsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    On September 20, 2025, the 2nd Water Circulation Symposium in Rusutsu 2025 concluded successfully at Rusutsu R […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jinr_url_youtube":"","_jinr_pip_youtube":false,"_jinr_time_youtube":"","_jinr_thumb_youtube":"","_jinr_media_youtube":"","_jinr_category_edit":false,"_jinr_category":"","_jinr_title_display":false,"_jinr_snsbutton_display":false,"_jinr_ads_display":false,"_jinr_thumbnail_display":false,"_jinr_profile_display":false,"_jinr_representations_display":false,"_jinr_relatedpost_display":false,"_jinr_sidebar1col_display":false,"_jinr_sidebar2col_display":false,"_jinr_seotitle_display":"","_jinr_description_display":"","_jinr_keyword_display":"","_jinr_hastag_display":"","_jinr_canonical_display":"","_jinr_noindex_display":false,"_jinr_paidpost":false,"_jinr_paidpost_product_id":"","_jinr_headtag_article":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-examples-of-cooperation-en"],"views":"68","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=811"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":812,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811\/revisions\/812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rusutsu-sustainable.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}