3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
[O09-04] Connecting the history of the people who have live
-Guide activities in the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark-
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark,, Volcano, Disaster, Ainu, Jomon, Remains
・Motivation for the activity
I’m working as a Volcano Meister at the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark. I love to travel and have been traveling around Japan and abroad by myself. In my travels, I have always been fascinated by the “beauty of nature” and the “traces of people who have lived in the land. Since getting married and having children, I have not been able to travel. However, thanks to that, I have come to realize the charms of the local area. The area actually has many attractions, such as the Lake Toya UNESCO World Geopark and World Heritage sites. After obtaining the “Volcano Meister” certification, she has been involved in guiding activities. I wanted to guide people not only to show them beautiful scenery, but also to tell them how the scenery was created and the history of the people who have lived there, so that they can feel a deeper emotion. In this issue, the guiding side will present topics on coexistence with volcanoes and the relationship between nature, disasters, and humans.
・About Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark and its main target audience
Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark is an area of beautiful scenery created by volcanic activity, centering on Lake Toya, which was formed by a caldera eruption about 110,000 years ago, and Mt. Usu is an active volcano that is still active today, and the crater and the surface of the mountain that erupts from the crater remind us of the heartbeat and breath of the earth. In addition, disaster remains are maintained at the foot of the mountain, where buildings and roads damaged by the eruption remain intact, allowing visitors to learn about the eruption and the history of the disaster.
The main groups I guide range from school trips to general tourists, and include children from Hokkaido as well as tourists from Southeast Asia and Europe. In 2024, I guided 50 to 60 groups from spring to autumn.
・Guide content
Although the content of the guide changes depending on the situation and the target, the content of the guide at the time of the global Geopark certification examination two years ago introduced the history of the people living at the foot of Mt. Usu, as well as the origins of the land, starting with the Ainu place names.
The structure is as follows: starting with an explanation of Ainu place names, introducing Ainu place names that remain in the area, learning about the origins of the land from Ainu place names, the history of the people living at the foot of Mt. Usu, the traces of disasters left behind in the remains of the modern era, and the history of the people who have continued to live in this area while facing these disasters. It was conveyed that the Ainu oral traditions about disasters overlap with the current Volcano Meister disaster communication activities.
In creating this tour, we considered how the Ainu people viewed this area based on the names of places in the Ainu language. By focusing on the remains of the early modern period, we wanted to convey that the Ainu people continued to live in this area despite the damage caused by volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. We thought that clarifying and conveying the relationship between past disasters and people would lead to a better understanding of disasters.
・Conclusion
Through my work as a guide, I want to convey the message that living at the foot of a volcano means living in close proximity to danger, but also enjoying the many blessings that come with it. People have continued to live here while enjoying these blessings. However, living in this area means living in harmony with volcanoes, and it is necessary to pass on knowledge about where the blessings come from and what risks exist, and to prepare for disasters.
I’m working as a Volcano Meister at the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark. I love to travel and have been traveling around Japan and abroad by myself. In my travels, I have always been fascinated by the “beauty of nature” and the “traces of people who have lived in the land. Since getting married and having children, I have not been able to travel. However, thanks to that, I have come to realize the charms of the local area. The area actually has many attractions, such as the Lake Toya UNESCO World Geopark and World Heritage sites. After obtaining the “Volcano Meister” certification, she has been involved in guiding activities. I wanted to guide people not only to show them beautiful scenery, but also to tell them how the scenery was created and the history of the people who have lived there, so that they can feel a deeper emotion. In this issue, the guiding side will present topics on coexistence with volcanoes and the relationship between nature, disasters, and humans.
・About Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark and its main target audience
Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark is an area of beautiful scenery created by volcanic activity, centering on Lake Toya, which was formed by a caldera eruption about 110,000 years ago, and Mt. Usu is an active volcano that is still active today, and the crater and the surface of the mountain that erupts from the crater remind us of the heartbeat and breath of the earth. In addition, disaster remains are maintained at the foot of the mountain, where buildings and roads damaged by the eruption remain intact, allowing visitors to learn about the eruption and the history of the disaster.
The main groups I guide range from school trips to general tourists, and include children from Hokkaido as well as tourists from Southeast Asia and Europe. In 2024, I guided 50 to 60 groups from spring to autumn.
・Guide content
Although the content of the guide changes depending on the situation and the target, the content of the guide at the time of the global Geopark certification examination two years ago introduced the history of the people living at the foot of Mt. Usu, as well as the origins of the land, starting with the Ainu place names.
The structure is as follows: starting with an explanation of Ainu place names, introducing Ainu place names that remain in the area, learning about the origins of the land from Ainu place names, the history of the people living at the foot of Mt. Usu, the traces of disasters left behind in the remains of the modern era, and the history of the people who have continued to live in this area while facing these disasters. It was conveyed that the Ainu oral traditions about disasters overlap with the current Volcano Meister disaster communication activities.
In creating this tour, we considered how the Ainu people viewed this area based on the names of places in the Ainu language. By focusing on the remains of the early modern period, we wanted to convey that the Ainu people continued to live in this area despite the damage caused by volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. We thought that clarifying and conveying the relationship between past disasters and people would lead to a better understanding of disasters.
・Conclusion
Through my work as a guide, I want to convey the message that living at the foot of a volcano means living in close proximity to danger, but also enjoying the many blessings that come with it. People have continued to live here while enjoying these blessings. However, living in this area means living in harmony with volcanoes, and it is necessary to pass on knowledge about where the blessings come from and what risks exist, and to prepare for disasters.