9:45 AM - 10:05 AM
[O05-03] Re-evaluating Local Resources through Community Engagement: The Case of Tokawa Whetstones
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Local Geo-resources, Community Engagement, Regional Museums
Local Resources, Regional Museums, and Community Revitalization
Utilization of local resources is increasingly vital for regional revitalization. These resources, encompassing natural, human, and cultural elements, often remain underutilized. Rediscovery and re-evaluation through novel perspectives can unlock their potential, particularly for locally sourced materials intrinsically linked to regional identity. Regional museums are pivotal in this process, uniquely positioned to identify and leverage these assets due to their local expertise. Interdisciplinary, museum-led initiatives, engaging diverse facets like natural environment, history, and culture, are most effective. Collaboration between museums and communities is essential for maximizing resource value.
Tokawa Whetstones: A Case Study in Geoheritage
Tokawa whetstones, sourced from rhyolitic to dacitic dykes in the Tanzawa Mountains, exhibit unique properties from hydrothermal alteration, yielding abrasive quartz and slurry-forming clay minerals. The toponym "Tokawa" itself suggests a long history, corroborated by Edo-era records of whetstone scattering by floods. Continued use until the 1960s and ongoing use by some farmers highlight their deep cultural and historical roots.
Community-Driven Rediscovery Process
The rediscovery involved: (1) Survey Phase: Museum curators and researchers identified quarries and surface stones. (2) Education & Exhibition: Elementary school programs, aided by senior citizens, showcased whetstone history and geology. (3) Civic Engagement: Senior-led outreach at community venues sparked a "Tokawa Whetstone boom."
Regional Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
The "Gifts from Tanzawa - Tokawa Whetstone Exhibition" at Honcho Elementary School exemplifies resource-centered collaboration, not solely museum-led action. This project highlighted geological, historical, and cultural aspects, re-engaging residents, especially children. Sharpening workshops fostered experiential learning and local resource affinity. Senior citizens were crucial, sharing knowledge and ensuring intergenerational transfer.
Successes and Challenges of Community Engagement
Success: Experiential engagement with this once-overlooked geo-resource, combined with toponymy and continued farmer use, ignited public interest and reinforced cultural legacy.
Challenges: Sustaining the "boom," fostering new leadership, and assessing long-term educational impact remain key challenges requiring ongoing attention and follow-up.
Utilization of local resources is increasingly vital for regional revitalization. These resources, encompassing natural, human, and cultural elements, often remain underutilized. Rediscovery and re-evaluation through novel perspectives can unlock their potential, particularly for locally sourced materials intrinsically linked to regional identity. Regional museums are pivotal in this process, uniquely positioned to identify and leverage these assets due to their local expertise. Interdisciplinary, museum-led initiatives, engaging diverse facets like natural environment, history, and culture, are most effective. Collaboration between museums and communities is essential for maximizing resource value.
Tokawa Whetstones: A Case Study in Geoheritage
Tokawa whetstones, sourced from rhyolitic to dacitic dykes in the Tanzawa Mountains, exhibit unique properties from hydrothermal alteration, yielding abrasive quartz and slurry-forming clay minerals. The toponym "Tokawa" itself suggests a long history, corroborated by Edo-era records of whetstone scattering by floods. Continued use until the 1960s and ongoing use by some farmers highlight their deep cultural and historical roots.
Community-Driven Rediscovery Process
The rediscovery involved: (1) Survey Phase: Museum curators and researchers identified quarries and surface stones. (2) Education & Exhibition: Elementary school programs, aided by senior citizens, showcased whetstone history and geology. (3) Civic Engagement: Senior-led outreach at community venues sparked a "Tokawa Whetstone boom."
Regional Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
The "Gifts from Tanzawa - Tokawa Whetstone Exhibition" at Honcho Elementary School exemplifies resource-centered collaboration, not solely museum-led action. This project highlighted geological, historical, and cultural aspects, re-engaging residents, especially children. Sharpening workshops fostered experiential learning and local resource affinity. Senior citizens were crucial, sharing knowledge and ensuring intergenerational transfer.
Successes and Challenges of Community Engagement
Success: Experiential engagement with this once-overlooked geo-resource, combined with toponymy and continued farmer use, ignited public interest and reinforced cultural legacy.
Challenges: Sustaining the "boom," fostering new leadership, and assessing long-term educational impact remain key challenges requiring ongoing attention and follow-up.