Environmental History of Kumamoto (1999-2023)──Water and Greenery for the Future

Environmental History of Kumamoto (1999-2023)──Water and Greenery for the Future

Kumamoto Prefecture is a region that has lived together with its rich natural environment. Since 1999, there have been calls for the creation of a recycling-oriented society throughout Japan, and in Kumamoto Prefecture as well, environmental conservation and energy policies have become important in many areas. This video traces the trajectory of environmental policies in this region through the Yatsushiro Eco-Port concept, hydropower projects, the Kuma River flooding disaster, groundwater conservation efforts, and wooden architecture in Oguni Town.

In 2003, Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture launched the "Yatsushiro Eco-Port Concept. This was a project to simultaneously promote the recycling of waste and the revitalization of the local economy. The background to this project was the "Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-based Society," which came into effect in 2000, and the international obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, at a time when municipalities across Japan were seeking a balance between environmental conservation and industrial promotion. Historically, Yatsushiro Port flourished as an estuary port on the Kuma River, and developed as a transportation hub for rice and lumber during the Edo period and as a trading port after the Meiji era. Utilizing this port, a system was established to recycle approximately 5,000 tons of waste per year through the concentration of companies such as Yatsushiro Recycle and Japan Recycling Systems, Inc. The entire port was decarbon
ized with the goal of creating a carbon neutral port (CNP) in the 2020s. In collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), facilities for the import and storage of hydrogen and ammonia have been established, and Yatsushiro Port is making progress as a sustainable port model. Furthermore, cruise ship acceptance, which was temporarily suspended due to the new coronavirus, will resume in the spring of 2023, and economic benefits from tourism are now expected.

Meanwhile, in the mountainous Yamato Town (formerly Seiwa Village) in Kumamoto Prefecture, a hydroelectric power generation project was launched in 2005. Amid growing interest in renewable energy, small-scale hydraulic power generation attracted attention as part of regional development. The Seiwa Hydroelectric Power Plant was constructed as a village-owned facility utilizing an existing erosion control dam with an output of 190 kW. The electricity generated was supplied to the Cheong Wa Bunraku Theater and the roadside station, contributing to the establishment of a self-sustaining energy system for the region. However, in the 2020s, climate change caused fluctuations in the amount of water, and power generation became unstable in some years. In addition, the facilities were aging, and the cost of maintenance and management became an issue. Nevertheless, in order to support sustainable development in the region, new initiatives are underway to strengthen cooperation with res
idents and businesses, and the introduction of eco-tourism is being considered.

In July 2020, Kumamoto Prefecture was hit by record-breaking rainfall. A stagnant rainy season front and a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time caused the Kuma River, which runs through the southern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, to overflow. The Kuma River quickly rose to its highest level, with more than 500 mm of precipitation recorded in 24 hours. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism invested a total of 20 billion yen to strengthen levees and revetments, and the local Kyushu Electric Power Company was considering the introduction of an early warning system using renewable energy, making it imperative to strengthen disaster prevention systems. In addition, Kumamoto Prefecture strengthened evacuation drills for local residents and formulated an evacuation support plan especially for the elderly and disabled.

In 1999, Kumamoto City enacted the "Groundwater Conservation Ordinance" and began efforts to prevent groundwater depletion; a survey in 2023 confirmed that the groundwater level had risen 2 meters above the standard level.

In addition, Oguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, has been promoting wooden architecture using Oguni cedar, a local resource, since 2001.

The land of Kumamoto has continued to choose the path of living together with nature. The challenge to realize a new sustainable society while facing climate change and disasters will continue in the future.