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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Council for the Creation of the Yuukinosato Towa Hometown

Yuukinosato (Organic Village) Towa Village Regeneration and Disaster Restoration Program

Activity grant

Project Description

The organization involves cooperation between Niigata University, Ibaraki University, Fukushima University and the Japanese Society Of Organic Agriculture Science, to carry out restoration, such as investigations into the current status of, and regenerate villages, agricultural and land, the safe production of agricultural products, safe food for consumers with local farmers, the revival of recycling oriented agriculture and promotion of human health. Specifically, carrying out radiation measurements on agricultural land and preparation and tracking of detailed maps, radiation measurement and tracking of currently shipped crops (including those consumed by the producer), promotion of human (family) health along with investigations and verification of intake levels and consciousness regarding local agricultural products, the implementation of lecture and consultation sessions, conducting surveys of the village nature system (forest tress, fallen leaves and soil) along with verification of contamination level-based counter measures, the regeneration of the forests, agricultural land and living and health, and the establishment of measures that can be conducted on an ongoing basis, and the summarizing of those results.

Fields
Preservation of surface soil and forestsEnergy problemPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2011 Activity Grants
Grant term
2 years and 1 month
September 2011 - September 2013
Grant amount
19,740,000 yen
Activity region
Towa area of Nihonmatsu City Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
"It is we who are creating this delicious hometown," environmental improvements only work if everyone takes part.

Overview of the Organization

Tatsuhiro Ohno, Director
Representative
Tatsuhiro Ohno, Director
Establishment
2005
Establishment purpose
Representatives of Local bodies from the former Towa town gathered ahead of the consolidation of municipalities in December 2005, to establish a body to promote regional rejuvenation. Created with the objective of maintaining the rich blessings of the villages in the Towa region of the Abukuma mountain, along with the history, culture and landscape, the promotion of local resource recycling and the creation of hometowns and through exchanges that reveal people's faces and minds to maintain pride and a reason to live, provide for the welfare of residents and health promotion, and resident-driven regional rejuvenation. Also the creation of an organic agriculture based local culture, and the creation of relations with organic people, and to continue to make challenges with bravery.
Main areas of activity
Towa region, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, and locations to which agricultural products are shipped (Fukushima, and the metropolitan area).
Staff
24 full-time staff members, 20 part-time staff members, 265 regular members.
Annual operating budget
1,580 million yen in 2008, 1,750 million yen in 2009, 2,010 million yen in 2010
WEB site
http://www.touwanosato.net
Collaborating organizations
Niigata University, Ibaraki University, Fukushima University, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, the Japanese Society Of Organic Agriculture Science
Recemt activities
To capitalize on the craftsmanship and knowledge of our forefathers with roadside rest areas as our center, and serve as a guide to the system of maintaining residences in two locations so that the younger generation looking to take up agriculture as a profession can participate. The rejuvenation of agricultural land involves reviewing Japanese eating habits by engaging in local production and local consumptions, soil creation using locally produced GENKI compost, the rejuvenation of villages with abandoned cultivated land, and the creation of vegetable and mulberry files in conjunction with new farmers. Under forest regeneration, we will push ahead with improvements to the mountains for the water flowing to the rice fields. In order to pass on the blessings of these mountains to out descendants, we will use firewood and charcoal from timber thinning and compost from fallen leaves.