Marimo Exhibition Center in Lake Akan, Kushiro

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Facility ⑤ See the translation for [History of Marimo in Lake Akan and Other]

Title

History of Marimo conservation activities and Conservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan

The Marimo in Lake Akan faced two difficulties from 1945 to 1954 after World War II. The first difficulty was that the Marimo population decreased because they were stolen and sold as a souvenir.
The second difficulty was that the water level of the lake dropped because the water was used for hydropower generation to generate more electric power for post-war restoration of industries.
As a result, many Marimo had been exposed from the water and died by drying. People started to argue, “Which shall we choose between Marimo and electricity?”
Citizens, who became aware that the Marimo would be extinct unless they were protected, set up "Humane Association for Marimo in Lake Akan" in 1950. The Marimo Festival also started the same year.
The Humane Association has also been a member of the sponsors of this festival.
The Humane Association has continued the persistent activities of manually returning Marimo that was washed up to the lakeshore after strong windwave.
They have changed the name and framework as the Conservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan, and are extending the region of activity to support of field research, spread of scientific information, etc..

Photograph①
Photograph①
Once every few years, a large number of Marimo were washed ashore of Churui Bay, which is the Marimo habitat.
Photograph②
Photograph②
The Marimo washed ashore of the bay were returned to the offshore area mainly by the Conservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan.
Photograph③
Photograph③
Local residents work together to return the Marimo.
Photograph④
Photograph④
Marimo were moved into the lake by using the water pumps.
Photograph⑤
Photograph⑤
A local newspaper reported that many large Marimo were washed ashore for the first time in seven years (December 5, 2007).
Photograph⑥
Photograph⑥
An event of observing Marimo habitat is held for children of the Akanko-onsen in every spring.
Photograph⑦
Photograph⑦
In winter, on-ice observation in Marimo habitat is held for the final-year junior high school students of Akanko-onsen.
Photograph⑧
Photograph⑧
Naoyuki Matsuoka, the former chairman of the Conservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan, talking about past conditions to children in an observation session

[Past chairmen of the Humane Association for Marimo in Lake Akan,
the Preservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan,
and the Conservation Society of Marimo in Lake Akan]

  • Matsuoka Yoshihide (1950 - 1952)
  • Sakubee Iwabuchi (1952 - 1958)
  • Kyusaburo Yamaura (1958 - 1964)
  • Naoe Oono (1964 - 1979)
  • Kouji Kurane (1979 - 1991)
  • Naoyuki Matsuoka (1991 - 2014)
  • Michiyuki Kobayashi (2014 - present)

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