Excursion Program (16 June) 

At the 25th JASID Spring Conference, we are pleased to announce that excursions will take place in two areas within Tochigi Prefecture on Sunday, 16 June, the day following the conference. Registration is now closed as the limit has been reached. Detailed information is provided below.

Date and time: 16 June (Sunday)

• 8:15-17:00 (Ashio Town),
• 10:00-12:00 (Utsunomiya City)
• *Both excursions will start and end at Utsunomiya Station.

Locations: Excursions will be held in Ashio Town, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, and Utsunomiya City. (Please note that the meeting time is different between Ashio Town and Utsunomiya City). 
*Program content will also be different in the two locations. 

Participation Fees:

• Ashio Town, Nikko City: 9,000 JPY for general members, 5,000 JPY for student members (payment via credit card) (This fee includes meals and entrance fees). "(Field traning/Excursion 1) Thinking Development through the Ashio Copper Mining Issue" will be indicated in the receipt. Please get in touch with the contact person if you have any concerns.  
• Utsunomiya City: 2,000 JPY (payment via credit card). "(Filed training/Excursion 2) Exploring Japan's Pioneer LRT and the Concept of a Compact" will be indicated in the receipt. Please get in touch with the contact person if you have any concerns.

Application: Participants can register for the excursions using the same system as the conference registration. We encourage you to apply during your registration for the conference. The application will close once the participant limit of 30 is reached.
 
Minimum Participants Requirement:

• Ashio Town: A minimum of 30 participants is required (the excursion may be canceled if fewer than 30 register). This is on a first-come, first-served basis, with a cap of 10 student members.
• Utsunomiya City: A minimum of 4 participants is required.

Application deadline: 15 May 2024 (Wednesday). Please register early to secure your spot, as space is limited.

Purpose:

At Utsunomiya University, we combine education, research, and community engagement to bring to life the theme of this year’s conference: “Realizing International Cooperation and Interactive Co-creation in Local Context Global & Glocal Human Resource Development.” In alignment with this theme, our excursion will encompass visits to the Ashio Copper Mine in Ashio Town, Nikko City, located in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture, as well as Utsunomiya City.
The Ashio Copper Mine, often referred to as the "origin of environmental pollution," serves as an important educational site about the history of pollution in Japan, a crucial narrative in the discourse on international development. Additionally, we will explore the newly inaugurated Utsunomiya Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, a next-generation streetcar network that launched in 2023 after years of meticulous planning and construction.
The goal of this excursion is to learn about Tochigi Prefecture's development issues through the Ashio Copper Mine and Utsunomiya LRT. We aim to bridge these local insights with both the historical and contemporary development challenges faced by Japan, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of global developmental issues.

To those who wish to participate:

• Participants must choose one region for their excursion, as it is not possible to attend events in both locations.
• Please select your desired excursion location when applying.
• To accommodate transportation and local hosting capacities, we are limiting the number of participants to 30 for each region.
• Capacity: 30 people (Please note that once the number of student members for option 2 reaches 10, you will not be able to apply for participation with the student rate). 
• For details on programs in each location, please refer to the details provided below.

Option 1: "Thinking about development through the Ashio Copper Mine Issue" →　Registration is now closed since it has reached the limit
Discovered in 1610, the Ashio Copper Mine came under the ownership of Koga Ichibei in 1877. In line with the Meiji government's agenda for national prosperity and military enhancement, Koga introduced advanced foreign technology, significantly boosting the mine's copper production. However, this expansion was not without its environmental toll; smelting processes released exhaust gases that devastated the surrounding flora and discharged mine wastewater laced with toxic minerals into the Watarase River, leading to severe water and soil contamination, along with agricultural damage downstream. This crisis, along with the activism led by Shozo Tanaka for reparations in the affected areas, became known as the "Ashio Mine Poisoning Incident."
Currently, the Ashio Copper Mine is not engaged in copper production; however, the need to purify mine wastewater remains a semi-permanent task, with no foreseeable end to reforestation operations in regions affected by smoke damage. Moreover, there are no active copper mines in Japan at present. Thus, copper ore is imported from Chile, Peru, Zambia, and Canada. This situation raises the possibility that the legacy of the Ashio Copper Mine may indirectly contribute to ongoing environmental impacts internationally. Understanding the historical context and connecting these local issues to broader international concerns is crucial, highlighting the importance of learning about the origins and long-term effects of such environmental damage.
In option 1, from the perspective of developing local human resources, we will head to Ashio Town, which is home to the Ashio Copper Mine, which is the source of pollution, and will emphasize opportunities for interaction and dialogue with participants, including students and local residents. Participants will delve into the complex legacy of the mining operations, highlighting both its contributions and the enduring environmental challenges. The program features exclusive elements not typically accessible to the public, including a presentation by a spokesperson from a local residents' group tackling accumulation plant issues and a guided tour of areas damaged by smoke, normally off-limits to vehicles. This unique opportunity is brought to you by a local university, providing unparalleled insights into the mine's "darker" aspects. We look forward to your participation. Please feel free to apply.

We eagerly invite your participation and encourage you to apply for this enlightening experience.
・Itinerary (planned):