[O-06_30PM1] Geoparks in Japan

[O06-10] Shimokita Peninsula Geopark Design;The glory of 4 oceans,one land 4 geological elements

*Tomofumi ARAYA¹, Junichiro MIYASHITA¹, Hayato UEDA¹, Michio ITO¹, Yoshiatsu MITSUNO¹ (1.shimokita peninsula geopark design promotion meeting)

Keywords:Japanese national geopark, 4 oceans, 4 geological elements, Love for Shimokita(Love for one's home), Faith;Mt.Osorezan

About Shimokita PeninsulaShimokita Peninsula is located on the northeastern side of Aomori Prefecture, and the northernmost point of Honshu Island. It stretches across 1 city, 1 town and 3 villages surrounded by 4 bodies of water; the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Sea of Japan in the west, Mutsu Bay in the south, and the Tsugaru Straight in the north.Shimokita Peninsula Geopark contains the 4 major geological elements that make up the island of Japan, including Osorezan’s gold ore deposit and caldera, Hotokegaura’s green-tuff series, the vast coastal exposure of quaternary strata in the Tanabu area, and Cape Shiriya’s accretionary body. Shimokita also has a rich history and culture influenced by the Kitamaebune shipping trade, the Abeshiro kuroko mine, the northernmost distribution of monkeys in the world, the Tsugaru Straight’s Blakiston’s line, etc. Shimokita is blessed with amazing resources in a wide variety of fields. Reason for applying to the JGNThe Shimokita Peninsula lacks universities and public museums so many people don’t have a chance to study at a higher level, and realize how lucky we are to have many valuable natural treasures and learning resources.Turning this area into a geopark will give people a chance at higher education and help create pride and love for Shimokita. Through this geopark we hope to educate and explore Shimokita together with the next generation so that we can all learn of its value and importance.Shimokita Peninsula Geaopark Desgin: Theme and StoryJapan is made up almost entirely of four basic geological elements; the non-volcanic Pacific coastal range consisting of the accretionary body, the axial volcanic chain, the sedimentary basin between the coastal and axial ranges, and the green-tuff mountains and hills which record the genesis of the Sea of Japan. This geopark is the only one that touches both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan making it the only place where we can see all four basic elements in one place.Also the peninsula is surrounded by four bodies of water and each body of water supports its own unique type of fishing. Fishing is the main industry that supports Shimokita. Thus the theme of this project is [Shimokita Peninsula Geopark: The glory of 4 oceans, one land 4 elements.] The sub-themes are [East Coast Zone: Gift from the Pacific Ocean,] [Tanabu Plains Zone: Competition between land and sea,] [Osorezan and Mutsu Hiuchidake Volcanic Zone: Volcano and hot spring blessings,] [West Coast Zone: Split land.]Contribution to JGNAs a place without universities or museums we hope to exchange ideas with other members of the JGN so that we may develop higher education and lifelong learning opportunities here in Shimokita. We hope to contribute to the JGN by demonstrating a system of higher education without the support of a university. In Japan we believe that spirits live in mountains, trees and rocks. Osorezan and Hotokegaura are famous places for praying to the spirits. People come from all over Japan to talk to Itako, blind mediums who speak with the deceased at Osorezan. With Osorezan at the center of the Shimokita Peninsula Geopark another contribution to the JGN is a geopark not only with amazing geology, but with the intangible resource of faith. In ConclusionThe Shimokita Peninsula Geopark may not have anything that no other geoparks have or anything more amazing, but it is unique in that it is the only geopark in Japan which touches both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The people of Shimokita want to protect, preserve and share the amazing natural resources of Shimokita with others. We hope that by taking pride in our home, our love for Shimokita will be carried on for generations and visitors will see it as a special place too.Applying to join the JGN will allow the people of Shimokita to realize the value of our natural resources. It will a