Aso UNESCO Global Geopark, Koki Nagata

October 2022. Revalidation Mission

Geoparks undergo a reaccreditation assessment every four years, and in October 2022, Aso also underwent a reaccreditation assessment. Evaluators from Langkawi UGGp in Malaysia and Katla UGGp in Iceland visited the site and had discussions with the residents. As a result, Aso received a green card.

And this revalidation mission has given us many hints for the rural society's future. In this series of articles, we would like to share the hint and think about the future lifestyle of living on Earth with you.

-MOKUITO, thread made from wood

In the first installment of this series, Irimajiri-san, an employee of the Oguni-town Forest Owners' Association (OFA), talks about the forest, the town, and the Geopark. She began her involvement with Geopark in 2022. What was it that attracted her to engage, and what did she want to tell?

Koki: Oguni cedar wood has a 250-year tradition. It has been used mainly as a building material. However, these Irimajiri-san and his colleagues had an amazing idea to make thread from the wood. Why did you decide to make it?

Irimajiri-san: Many of the clothes we wear in our daily lives are made of chemosynthetic fiber. As an alternative answer to this, the OFA realized a revolutionary idea: making thread from wood. However, although the threads were ready, we were still trying to figure out what kind of clothes to make. That is when I came across the Geopark Program.

Koki: What was your impression of the Geopark?

Irimajiri-san: The image of a Geopark was only about tourism. But in my connection with the new Aso UGGp staff, I felt that the history of our land was important. But I didn't expect to be asked to attend the revalidation mission!

Koki: Yes! when I knew your challenges, I wanted to introduce them to people worldwide. Mr. Sasahara at the Oguni Town Hall staff connected us right away, which was also a big help.

Irimajiri-san: I was glad you invited us. The experience of the revalidation mission was a reaffirmation for us that it is still important to clothe ourselves with what was created in the region. It also conveyed to us Geopark's belief that we need to show this to society as an attitude. If it had been a normal request, I would have refused haha!

Koki： Sorry... I still think that challenge is great. But why do you take up the challenge of using Oguni cedar?

Irimajiri-san: In fact, even some children in Oguni Town do not know that the cedars were planted by people. The forests have been there as forests since childhood. They don't even know why they were planted.

Koki: I think it is similar to the fact that geological heritage goes unnoticed. When it is around us all the time, no one notices it. We don't even recognize that they are changing.

Irimajiri-san:  It is the same with buildings. The importance of buildings made of Oguni cedar wood is being recognized again, but the local people are unaware of it. It's hard for them to notice. Because they have always been around us.

Koki: How can we become aware of this?

Irimajiri-san: It is difficult. But we need to question what we take for granted.

Koki: Indeed.

Irimajiri-san: And I think it is important to recognize the value again and continue to use it. To begin with, buildings have survived because they have been used in people's living spaces.

Koki: I think this is also similar to geological heritage. Scientific value is important, but if people do not recognize the value, I am sure it will not be preserved. So it is also important to tell, to communicate, and to use.

Irimajiri-san: Yes. I believe that the connection between nature and people is also important. When I am invited to speak to children at schools, I tell them that the trees in that building were made by their parents, grandparents, and grandma and that they are building the town.

Koki: That's great. What do you want to learn and pass on to children using the UNESCO Global Geopark Network in the future?

Irimajiri-san: I would like to know how the people who support the world behind the scenes are active and proud.

Koki: That's good! Let's connect with the world together from now on!