[O-06] The connection between earth sciences and society by Geoparks -Results and issues in the past decade-

[O06-P09] Beyond Geo-Park Areas, 2018

*Hiroshi Sato¹, Yojiro Taketani ², Makoto Hasuoka³ (1.Mt.Bandai Museum, 2.Fukushima Museum, 3.Bandaisan Geopark Council)

Keywords:Mt. Bandai Geo Park , mountain worship, Japanese heritage

Mt. Bandai was worshipped as a sacred mountain in ancient gods. The magnificent mountain body was also called a bridge that rises to heaven. For people living in the Aizu Basin, it was the mother mountain in their homeland, which was engraved in the mental landscape.

The Buddhist culture flourished firster in Aizu, where people had believed in Mt. Bandai, than other Tohoku regions. Many Buddhist statues and temples from the early Heian to the middle and modern period remain also today and so that Aizu is called “Buddhist city”. To visit “Aizu 33 Kannon (goddess of Mercy)”is popular with people and became a Japanese heritage site in 2016.

Against the background of the faith in Aizu, we have held a geo-tour on the theme of mountain worship and Shugen (ascetics) in cooperation with a tourist guide from Aizu-wakamatsu city. Through these activities, people from the Geo Park region and outside the region will change the story of both the Japanese heritage and the Geo Park story. It is also expected that this activity will lead to the passing of Mt. Bandai Geo Park to people outside of Geo Park areas.