United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability
Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK)OUIK Newsletter

Autumn 2020

“UN Decade on Biodiversity Commemoration: 10 Years of Initiatives and the Next 10 Years on Sustainable Biodiversity” Symposium P5

Contents
Activities・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Page 2•

IMAGINE KANAZAWA 2030 SDGs Café 11th～13th＋Special Collaboration Project•“UN Decade on Biodiversity Commemoration: 10 Years of Initiatives and the Next 10 Years on
Sustainable Biodiversity” Symposium•

2020 Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture National Convention Poster Session•

The 1st Noto Satoumi Seminar: “Achieving SDG 14 in the Context of Preserving Satoumi: Considering
the Problem of Marine Pollution”•

2020 Princeton University Virtual Program in Ishikawa•

Kikugawa and Saiwaicho Walking Workshop•

Suzu City Elementary Schools SDGs Education “Goal 14: Let’s Protect the Ocean’s Bounty”•

GIAHS Preservation Planning and Study Session•

The 2nd Noto Satoumi Seminar: “Achieving SDG 14 in the Context of Preserving Satoumi: Marine Biodiversity
Conservation”•

Monitoring SDGs Indicators and Open Governance: How Can Local Governments Achieve
Transformative Change to Implement the SDGs?

Interview Articles ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Page 10
To the readers・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Page 10

1

IMAGINE KANAZAWA 2030 SDGs Caféand responsibility and reconsidering what the results of

IMAGINE KANAZAWA 2030 SDGs Cafe is an event

shifting from the established norm and convention to aone’s work mean. “It’s best to seriously think about

where we collaborate with locals to have discussions

more ideal setup, and now is the chance to do so. It

about a variety of themes as we imagine the future of

could be said that now the purpose of many

Kanazawa. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, weorganizations’ very existence is being called into

have switched over to holding the SDGs Cafes as online

question,” she continued.

webinars, starting with the 11th SDG Cafe. In thisKatsuya Nomizu (President’s Office Fellow, Cybozu,

newsletter we will summarise the contents of the 11thInc.), originally from Kanazawa, also gave us some ideas.

through 13th SDGs Cafes, as well as the collaborative

Cyboze, Inc. is known for being at the vanguard of

event we held with high school students.

workstyle reform, and they have experimented with fully
remote working in the past as part of their BCP*. Startingth

The 11 SDGs cafe was planned on short notice within early March of this year, almost none of their

the theme of “Continuation Through Change? Workstyles

employees were working from the office.

and Remote Work in the Age of Corona.”*What is a BCP？ A BCP, or Business Continuity Plan, is aFirst, Mikiko Nagai (Office Manager at UNU-OUIK)

plan to minimize the harmful effects of natural disasters

gave an overview of the SDGs and explained the purpose

or other emergencies on a business in order to ensure itsof IMAGINE KANZAWA 2030. Additionally, she explained

continued operation and recovery.

in detail two of the 17 SDGs which are directly impacted“Sustainability isn’t about protecting tradition. Things

by the coronavirus pandemic, Decent Work and Economic

that can change and adapt are able to survive. Right

Growth (Goal 8) and Good Health and Well-Being (Goalnow, it is necessary to make a clear decision that a3).

decrease in operational efficiency is unavoidable, andbusiness managers should understand that it’s impossible
to perfectly replicate how things used to be,” Nomizu
explained. He went on to give some more advice about
remote work, suggesting that it should start being
implemented with managers, that workflows and officeduties need to be made clear, and that in generalemployees should be given the benefit of the doubt.
This was our first attempt at a webinar, and boththose running the webinar and those participating feltthat the webinar format had several benefits, such as it
Our guest this time was city planning consultant

being easy to ask questions, the slides being easy to see,

Yukina Yasue, President of Research Institute of Cityand being able to participate from far away.

Planning and Communication Co., Ltd., where they
implemented an entirely remote work style starting fromThe 12th SDGs café had the theme of “Thinking about

April. For this SDGs Café, Yasue collaborated with the

Establishing ESG Investment in Kanazawa in the Age ofKanazawa IKUBOSS Company Alliance to conduct a

Corona.” ESG* Investment has the potential to create

Remote Work Emergency Survey online. Various issues

solutions for a variety of societal problems involving

with remote work were brought up, such as company

nature, the environment, and working people’s lives while

structures not being compatible, work duties not being

also supporting sustainable economic growth. We

possible with remote work, and self-management being

thought about what our region could do during thisdifficult. At the same time, many also expressed hope

moment in history when momentum for societal reform isthat remote work could be a catalyst for positive change

growing in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

in corporate culture.

*What is ESG? ESG stands for Environmental, Social, andAdditionally, Yasue, who has had experience with

Governance.

creating infrastructure to allow for remote work since

Our guest this time was Masakazu Shijimaya, 6th

before corona, said that there were 5 requirements forgeneration owner and managing director of Shijimaya

remote work, including establishing a climate of freedom

Honpo, a long-established shop selling traditional2fermented foods in Kanazawa. He undertakes a variety ofKanazawa can improve with regards to ESG in the future

initiatives such as running workshops that inform

will become an important point when issuing municipal

younger generations of the benefits of koji malt andbonds.”

fermented goods and collaborating with groups
promoting healthy business management to extoll thebenefits of fermented goods. As a result of thecoronavirus pandemic, he is currently running theworkshops online. Unexpectedly, it has become an
opportunity to share his products with people who
previously would have had little interest in his company’s
flagship products like kabura sushi.

Finally, he said “When Kanazawa makes an action
plan for the SDGs, I would suggest setting target values.
It is vital to first evaluate and gain a numerical
understanding of the current situation when setting
future goals.” He then continued to say, “Ideally I would
like to realize a situation where the primary actors are
the business leaders who are able to cooperate withgovernments, financial institutions, and NPOs.”
Shijimaya imagined how the ideal Kanazawa of 2030
might look and made the following 3 suggestions:

As part of a special project, we collaborated with high

1. Promoting connections and cooperation bothschool students who run a seminar series to hold a two-

within and without the region will revitalize theweek collaborative seminar series titled “SDGs and Highcity

School Students: The Future of Schools and Learning.”

2. We will be able to convey the charm of

The first seminar’s theme was “Let’s Discuss the Future

Kanazawa’s culture as it lives on in the daily livesof Schools and Learning from the Ground Up.” First,

of its citizens

event planner and facilitator Kohei Sendai (Kanazawa

3. People taking part in a variety of projects will be

University Senior High School, 2nd Year) explained theable to develop themselves sustainably

idea behind the seminar, saying “In the past, a uniform

Next, Kenji Fuma, CEOstyle of education was sought after, but in modern timesof Neural, Inc., shared

diverse and global individuals and education thatsome of his ideas with us.

develops students’ individuality are in demand. With that

According to him, ESG

in mind, we planned this seminar to discuss the future ofinvestment is intimately

learning.”

related to the SDGs, and the view that ESG initiatives arevital for sustainable business growth is spreading quickly.
He stated that among the ESG points institutional
investors check in publicly listed companies, while
Environment is relatively simple (CO2 emissions, water
problems, and waste matter), Social and Governancecover a much broader range of themes. “A wide varietyof categories are all evaluated based on fixed quantities,
so publicization of company information will be importantfor both ESG investment and the SDGs in the future,” hecontinued. He went on to say, “Institutional investors andSatoshi Kimura, a Coordinator of the Noto High Schoolbanks buy many municipal bonds, thus supporting

Improvement Project, provided us with topics to discuss.

Kanazawa’s public finance. In other words, how much

The Project works to connect schools with the3surrounding region to address issues caused by

the participants was how important it is to have people

depopulation in Noto Town through various efforts, suchfrom outside the school get involved in the school’s

as: increasing the number of students advancing to highactivities.

school within the town to ensure the continued existenceof the high schools and promote their development; andThe theme of the 13th SDGs Café was “All Citizens

realizing and supporting student’s desired future paths.

Should be Gardeners! Thinking about the Kanazawa SDGs

“In order to address problems that schools can’t solve by

from a Green Infrastructure* Perspective.”themselves, I think it may become increasingly important*What is green infrastructure? Green infrastructure refersin the future to involve the surrounding region and local

to land use planning with the goal of creating aauthorities by creating a system in which a coordinator issustainable society by re-evaluating nature from a multi-

assigned to keep things moving forward,” Kimura stated.

functional perspective.

We then moved on to breakout sessions to do group
work and discuss the ideal style of education and the kindof schools that would be able to implement it.
Participants shared their opinions that education should
support students’ interests, and that instead of requiring
only intellectual learning schools should also help advance
students’ skills in order to establish their identities.
The next week, we held the second part of theseminar with the theme of “How are Other Prefectures
and Countries Thinking about Education? Let’s Examine
Precedents and Discuss.” Masako Shirakami (Kurashi

In 1968, Kanazawa City was the first in the nation toCreate Representative and NPO Ask Net Advisor), whoestablish a Traditional Environment Protection Law, whichworks as a career education coordinator to connect

stipulated that green spaces and canals within the city

schools and local regions, provided us with topics ofmust be protected alongside traditional samurai houses,

discussion. First, she taught us about the Career Bridge

temples, and shrines as part of Kanazawa’s historicalprogram, which is in high demand from high school

cityscape. These preservation efforts continue to this day,teachers, where students can experience both a day atand the goal of creating and utilizing green infrastructurecollege and a day working at a company. She concluded

is explicitly included in the Kanazawa Future Visions

by saying, “Considering the all-important SDGs pledge ofpresented earlier this year.

‘No One Left Behind’, it’s important that we think about

Our guest this time was UNU-OUIK Research Associate

what kind of education and schools are best for meeting

Juan Pastor Ivars who has lived in Japan for 11 years

each individual’s aspirations and life goals.”

since coming from Spain to research traditional Japanesegardens in Kyoto and Kanazawa. Juan aims to develop
his research in a way that is rooted in the local region bycooperating with citizens to think about the future ofKanazawa City.

“UN Decade on Biodiversity Commemoration: 10
Years of Initiatives and the Next 10 Years on
Sustainable Biodiversity” Symposium
Date：2020/5/16

During the group work many valuable opinions were

Location：Online

shared. One such opinion was that rather than listing up
many examples of successful attempts, it may be moreproductive to examine examples of failures in order toSince 2010, Kanazawa’s population has been

analyze what cause them to fail. Another point that was

declining, while the number of unoccupied homesbrought up by Sendai, both of our guests, and many of4continues to rise, and the amount of natural space“Looking Back on the Decade on Biodiversity

gradually dwindles. In the Kanazawa of 2030 that Juanin Ishikawa and Kanazawa, and Looking

imagines, unoccupied homes and parking lots would be

Towards a More Sustainable New Decade”

replaced with green infrastructure, and in order toSymposium

continue to protect that greenery he proposes that all

Date：2020/5/16

citizens become gardeners.

Location：Online“Thanks to Kanazawa’s gardens, the city is rich in

At the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) of theboth ecological and cultural diversity. Intimate
connections between people are balanced with intimate

Convention on Biological Diversity, held in 2010 in Aichi

relationships with nature, and those relationships with

Prefecture, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets were adopted.

nature in turn lead to happiness between people.

The following decade of 2011～2020 was declared theJapanese gardens have all these benefits and more,”

United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, with the goal ofJuan explained.

meeting the Aichi Targets within the decade.
2020 is the culmination of that decade, and so on May

The next
guest to give us

22nd, The International Day for Biological Diversity, ansome ideas wasonline symposium was held to summarize the efforts

green

made over the past ten years in Ishikawa Prefecture

infrastructure(where a kickoff symposium for the Decade on

expert,Biodiversity was held), and to think about how we canresearcher, andcontinue to promote biodiversity as we work towards

publicist Takaaki Nishida (Associate Professor, Kyoto

creating a more sustainable region over the next ten

Sangyo University, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department

years.
First, Kazuhikoof Industrial Life Sciences), who is involved in manydifferent activities, including publishing collections of

Takeuchi (President of

examples of a wide variety of green infrastructure

the Institute for Global

projects both in Japan and overseas. First, Nishida

Environmental

explained the concept of green infrastructure, an idea

Strategies, Seniorthat has yet to gain widespread recognition, as follows:

Visiting Professor at“Green infrastructure is defined as a framework in which,

United Nations

rather than focusing solely on protecting nature, we seek

University Institute for the Advanced Study of

to make use of its benefits to promote regional

Sustainability, and Project Professor of the Institute forrevitalization and prevent and reduce the effects of

Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo) gave anatural disasters. It’s a way of thinking in which the goal

keynote speech titled, “The Decade on Biodiversity: The

is to use nature’s inherent features to our advantage to

Past Ten Years, and Ten Years from Now,” in which hebenefit both the economy and society, which in turnsummarized the past ten years of biodiversity efforts andresults in nature becoming enriched as well.”talked about what the next ten years might hold. He
argued that rather than thinking about the SDGs, climate

Next, he introduced several examples of efforts torevitalize unused land with greenery currently beingchange, biological diversity, and natural disasters

undertaken around the world. He argued that there are(disaster risk reduction) as separate issues, it ismany places in Japan where similar projects could be

important to advance a variety of initiatives to address

done, saying “For example, finding ways to utilize spaces

multiple problems synergistically.
Next, Sayako Koyama (UNU-OUIK Research Associate,

like abandoned homes or parking lots is an important
point. It is also important to engage in discussions andSuzu City Noto SDGs Lab Collaborative Researcher)balance the risks and merits of these projects.”

presented on the topic of Biodiversity and Noto’s
Satoyama Satoumi, introducing efforts to promote

Finally, Office Manager Nagai closed the webinar,saying “I hope those who participated today will continue

biodiversity in the Noto Peninsula. “It’s important that weto promote green infrastructure going forward, andtake advantage of the fact that the UNU-OUIK is a United

cooperate with efforts to implement it in Kanazawa in the

Nations institution strongly rooted in the local region by

future.”facilitating networking within the region and creating5

opportunities to exchange information with regions

and create opportunities to have international discussions

across the world that are dealing with similar issues toabout these topics.”

our own,” she stated.

In his closing remarks, Koji Nakamura (Director,

Next, Kaori Fujita

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History) said,(Nikkei Business“Based on what we heard here today, it’s important that

Publications, Nikkei

we continue to monitor and evaluate our own

ESG Senior Editor &contributions to biodiversity,” bringing the symposium,

Nikkei ESG

which with about 280 participants was very well-

Management Forumattended, to a close.

Producer) reviewed the2020 Japanese Institute of Landscapepast ten years from the perspective of the businessArchitecture National Convention Poster Session

sector and talked about future developments. She shared

Date：2020/5/23

her impression that awareness of the concept ofLocation：Online

biodiversity has become pervasive, and suggested that in
the future, innovation related to the SDGs may be a good

UNU-OUIK Research Associate Juan participated inopportunity for cities and regions to bring about change

this convention, which was held online due to the novel

through open innovation.

coronavirus pandemic. At the poster session, which had
over 250 viewers, Juan joined Professor Takahiro Tsubaof the Kanazawa College of Art to present on the topic of“Research on Traditional Gardens Along the Canals of
Kanazawa City’s Historic Castle Town and Villages.” There
are 55 canals which weave their way throughout the cityof Kanazawa, many of which supply water to traditional
Japanese gardens. A discussion was held in which Juanand Tsuba argued that this is a model of biocultural
diversity which should be preserved.

After her presentation, Kaori Fujita joined Teppei
Douke (Secretariat of the Japan Committee for theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature), Toshio
Torii (Director, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of
the Environment), and Evonne Yiu (UNU-OUIK Research
Associate) in a panel session moderated by Tsunao
Watanabe (Director of UNU-OUIK) where they reviewed
and evaluated the past ten years and debated what
direction we might move in going forward. One of the

The 1st Noto Satoumi Seminar: “Achieving SDG

opinions that were shared was that in order to achieve

14 in the Context of Preserving Satoumi:

the SDGs in the realm of nature, we must bring about

Considering the Problem of Marine Pollution”

transformative change by engaging all parties involved

Date：2020/6/6

and creating entry points for participants through the five

Location：Online

actions of knowing, protecting, healing, investing, andThe 1st Noto Satoumi Seminar was held online withconnecting people and nature. Director Watanabe closed
the panel discussion by saying, “I think through today’s

the theme of “Achieving SDG 14 in the Context of

seminar, everyone conveyed the message that as we

Preserving Satoumi: Considering the Problem of Marine

move forward it will be important to create broader,

Pollution.” At the seminar, we deepened ourmore flexible partnerships than ever before. We hope you

understanding of SDG 14.1 (By 2025, prevent andwill all cooperate with our activities at UNU-OUIK as we

significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, incontinue to act as a bridge connecting current initiatives

particular from land-based activities, including marine
debris and nutrient pollution), one of the ten targets of6

SDG 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas

Next, Makoto Urata (Senior Researcher, The Instituteand marine resources for sustainable development).

of Noto Satoumi Education and Studies) gave aFirst, to kick off the seminar Evonne Yiu (UNU-OUIK

presentation on the topic of “Considering Children’s

Research Associate) gave a presentation on the topic ofMarine Learning: Environmental Education at the“Noto’s Satoumi Movement and SDG 14.” Marine

Institute of Noto Satoumi Education and Studies,” inpollution is a complicated issue with many causes,

which he shared some of the Institute’s activities. Having

including the plastic waste problem which has been alocal fishermen and experts come in person to classes tocommon topic in recent years, as well as industrial

talk is a highly effective method of marine education, andchemical dumping, waste produced by the livestock

the Institute coordinates classes by acting as a go-

industry, and chemical waste from consumer products, allbetween for the guest speakers and the schools. Urataof which flow from land to sea, causing marine pollution.

went to on to talk about the direction of marine education“It’s important not to increase the amount of marine

in the future, saying, “It’s important to pursue a morewaste, but we’re getting to the point where we should

independent, conversational kind of education in whichstart thinking of how to re-use that waste material. Also,

children are allowed to find what interests them andit is important that innovation not just be limited to

study it themselves.”

technological innovation for developing new re-usable
products; we also need intellectual innovation in the formof education reform,” Evonne explained.

Finally, a panel discussion was held on the topic of“What We Can Do to Achieve the SDG 14.1 Target of
Reducing Marine Pollution,” moderated by Research
Next, Yutaka Michida (Professor, University of Tokyo

Associate Evonne. Chiharu Hayase, an Ama diver (free-

Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute) talked about

diving female fisher) of the Wajima Ama Diver

the topic of “Problems with Marine Plastic and Related

Preservation Society, joined the discussion to say, “TheResearch Prospects.” Professor Michida’s research mainly

coastline is like an underwater produce field; if the waters

focuses on surface-level ocean currents and shifts in theiralong the coast become too acidic, the seaweed that thepatterns, and as an extension of that research he also

abalone and turban shells feed on can’t grow. It may besurveys the plastic waste carried by said currents. He

impossible to return the marine environment to how it

explained in detail the problem of microplastics, whichused to be, but for the sake of the next generation wehas been a popular topic in recent years, and how exactly

have to put effort into undoing the damage done byplastic waste flows into the oceans.

human hands.”
Professor Michida ended the discussion by saying, “Asa researcher, I want to work to create a world in which
we can debate these issues from a scientific perspective.
Instead of people thinking, ‘I can’t do anything by
myself,’ I would like them to be aware that their effort ismeaningful, and that they should diligently do what theycan.”In his closing remarks, Tsunao Watanabe (Director of
UNU-OUIK) reviewed what was discussed and said, “It isvital that we all share the experiences and thoughts of
those whose lives are connected to the Satoumi and7ensure that what we have learned is reflected in our

As part of the SUN Project’s research activities,

individual actions in order to protect the bounty of themembers of the Project’s many local partner

oceans.”organizations (Kanazawa SDGs IMAGINE KANAZAWA
2030, Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture
Kanazawa Liaison Council, NPO Kanazawa Machiya
Research Society, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of
Natural History, Hokuriku Green Infrastructure ResearchSociety) took a walk around the Kikugawa and Saiwaichoneighborhoods of Kanazawa. The goal was to survey theincrease in unoccupied homes, unused land, and parking
lots caused by depopulation, but happily we were alsoable to see that many gardens and traditional craft
studios still remain.

2020 Princeton University Virtual Program in
Ishikawa
Date：2020/7/22
Location：Online
Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, theannual Princeton in Ishikawa Program (sponsored by the
Ishikawa Prefectural Government), in which Princeton
University students visit Ishikawa Prefecture, was held
online this year.
Research Associate Juan gave a lecture titled“Traditional Japanese Gardens and Kanazawa’s

This time we visited the Nagai Zenrinkan Annex Foot

Biocultural Diversity” to about 30 students. Juan

Soldier House, the Sugita House Garden, and the Hiraki

explained traditional Japanese Gardens from the three

Garden. Both gardens are supplied with water directly

perspectives of philosophy, design, and ecology, usingfrom the Kuratsuki canal. During our visit to the Sugita

Kanazawa’s gardens as a specific example.

House Garden, the owner, who is a lacquerware artisan,

He went on to talk about the SUN (Sustainable Urban

showed us their workshop, and at the Hiraki Garden, theNature) Project, a project that seeks to preserve existingowner, who is an artisan of the traditional dyeing

urban nature and repurpose unoccupied homes andtechnique Kaga-zome, explained how they use the canalunused land in order to create a new sustainable urban

to wash away paste and extra dye. These examples shownature. The students who participated asked many

how Kanazawa’s rich biocultural diversity has its origins

questions and shared their opinions.

in the water which flows from the River Sai.
Suzu City Elementary Schools SDGs Education“Goal 14: Let’s Protect the Ocean’s Bounty”
Online LectureDate：2020/9/3
Location：Shoin Elementary School
As part of the SDGs education program that started in
all of Suzu City’s elementary schools in 2020, the Noto
SDGs Lab gave an introductory course to the students of

Kikugawa and Saiwaicho Walking Workshop

Shoin Elementary School, who are working on SDG 14

Date：2020/8/14(Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas andLocation：Kanazawa, Kikugawa/Saiwaichomarine resources for sustainable development). Research
Associate Evonne Yiu joined as a guest speaker and gave8

an online lecture on the topic of “What We Can Do tomore regions are abandoning farming, so in areas that

Revitalize Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi with SDG 14.”require maintenance tasks like cutting grass there is no
one to help; and that rather than having the government
be the main operator, it would be better to have them
support the activities of the locals while also collaboratingwith external experts and academics.
Visiting Researcher Nagata said, “It is important tosupport people doing business, and to construct a
regional network between governments, agricultural
workers, university professors, and local citizens while
helping people make practical use of the GIAHS.”
The 2nd Noto Satoumi Seminar: “Achieving SDG
14 in the Context of Preserving Satoumi: Marine

The students of Shoin Elementary, who had alreadystarted activities such as cleaning up trash on the

Biodiversity Conservation”

beaches, asked earnestly for more information about theDate：2020/9/19

ocean’s problems and Noto’s Satoumi. The students

Location：Online

learned many things about how their lives are connected

At the 2nd Satoumi Seminar we learned about SDG

to the ocean, such as that the Satoumi is a very

14.2 and 14.5, individual targets of SDG 14 which

important place as it is the “Cradle of the Sea,” thatconcern undertaking initiatives to help recover andmany of the ocean’s problems come from the land wherestrengthen the resistance of marine and coastal

people live, and that trash that has been washed out toecosystems and contemplated how to help preservesea can float there for decades or even centuries without

marine biodiversity.

breaking down.

First, Research Associate Evonne explained the
purpose of the seminar and what conservation of marine

GIAHS Preservation Planning and Study Session

biodiversity means in the context of SDG 14. “In the

Date：2020/9/4

Satoyama and Satoumi region, the forests, hills, rivers,

Location：Online

and oceans are all connected, so even while living on

This seminar was held for representatives of the 7land, if you have an awareness of your connection to thetowns and villages of the Satoyama Satoumi GIAHS

oceans you can still contribute to their preservation. If(Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System) in

many people work together, we can continue to protect

order to increase awareness of the issues facing thethe Satoyama and Satoumi,” she explained.

GIAHS, strengthen connections between the participants,

Next, Marikoand prepare for future joint initiatives.

Kimura (NatureFirst the seminar’s lecturers, Akira Nagata (UNU-OUIK

Conservation

Visiting Researcher) and Research Associate Evonne gave

Bureau, Ministry ofa lecture on the topic of “What is the GIAHS, and What Is

the Environment)

Needed for the Next Preservation Plan.” They explained

gave a keynote

the conditions for GIAHS designation and introduced

lecture focusing on

several other GIAHS from around the world as well as

the three topics oftheir associated initiatives and their monitoring and“Currently Protected Marine Areas,” “The New System forevaluation methods.

Offshore Protected Areas,” and “Protected Marine Areas

Next, in the group discussion the participants werefrom Next Year Onwards.” She said that she would likesplit into groups to discuss the topic of “Future Issues

everyone to think about how the protection of the oceans

and Future Organization for Each City and Village.” Somecan be achieved through their sustainable use byopinions that were shared in the discussions included thatmaintaining the connection between people and theawareness of the GIAHS is still low and the merits of theenvironment; in other words, that people interacting withdesignation are unclear, so it is vital to properly monitor
and share information; that with the aging population

9the oceans can help protect them, and that it is difficult

Research Associate Evonne then moderated a panel

to protect them without having any interaction at all.

discussion in which the panelists answered viewers’

Next, Seiji Yanai (Professor, Ishikawa Prefectural

questions and viewers shared their thoughts andUniversity) gave a presentation on his activities titledopinions. One viewer said, “Once you realize that life on“The Connection Between the Forest and the Sea

land is connected to life in the sea, you want to protect

Mediated by the Akategani Crab in Noto’s Tsukumo Bay.”the sea. Today’s discussion made me feel that it’s

Every year, many Akategani crabs flock to the Tsukumo

important to think about both life on land and life in the

Bay to lay eggs, and many kinds of fish also gather to eat

sea at the same time.”

those eggs. Professor Yanai suggested that the Akategani

In his closing

crab is an animal that represents the connection between

remarks, Tsunao

the forest and the sea, and that it may be useful as a

Watanabe (Director of

subject of study for environmental education. He also

UNU-OUIK) said,runs a public coastal learning exercise at Kanazawa“Through today’s

University, in which they use abandoned rice paddies todiscussions we learned

create biotopes for Akategani crabs.

about many important
points of view for thinking about how to continue topreserve marine biodiversity. The Noto Satoyama
Satoumi is an extremely important region that has been
designated as a GIAHS. I think it would be a wonderfulthing if everyone were to take part in initiatives toimprove our relationship with the sea as we cherish theconnection between the forest and the sea.”
SDGs Indicator Monitoring and Open Governancefrom a Regional Perspective: How Local
Municipalities Can Change to Implement the

Next, Minoru Kamamura (Notojima Diving Resort)

SDGs

gave a presentation on his activities titled “Connecting

Date：2020/9/30

with the Biodiversity of Noto’s Satoumi as a Diver.”Location：Online

Kamamura has been operating a diving shop on
Notojima, located on the East side of the Noto Peninsula,

At many UN meetings on the matter, it has been said

since first opening it 17 years ago. On the topic of thethat local municipalities have a vital role to play inimportance of marine biodiversity he said, “There areachieving the SDGs, to the point that of the 169 targets

many different varieties of seaweed, which in turn attractof the SDGs, 65% are estimated to be difficult to achieve

many different organisms. The presence of seaweed andwithout the participation of local municipalities. At thismany small fish and shellfish is what keeps the water

webinar, we discussed what kinds of initiatives should beclean. Leisure diving is reliant on that beautiful natural

undertaken at a municipal level in order to encourage

process.” Kamamura also cooperates with local hightransparency in municipal administration and cooperation

schools’ diving teams to do surveys of the marine

and participation

environment and clean up trash.

from citizens
regarding setting andmonitoring indicators
for the SDGs.
First, representing
Kanazawa City, theevent’s co-sponsor, Yukiyoshi Yamano (Mayor of
Kanazawa City) gave an opening speech. “In terms ofgovernance, I think even simple daily tasks will effectively
contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. In order tomaintain motivation, I think it is important to create an10environment in which it is easy to see the progress madeunderstand and proactively promote use of the IT andtowards our targets. Each municipality needs to haveother technological aspects of the initiatives, participate

achievement targets and monitoring systems that arein the community, and cooperate with government

appropriate for them, and which are publicized in a way

efforts. It’s important that both sides continue to sharethat allows citizens and partners to see the progress

their mindset with each other.”made as well. It is vital to maintain mutual understanding

Next, Masayuki Yamamoto (Head of Policy Promotion

as we advance ourDivision, Policy Strategy Department of Kaga City)

efforts,” Yamano

introduced Kaga City’s smart SDGs initiative. Kaga is aopined.

city known for its traditional crafts, famous hot spring

The first keynoteresorts, and tourist spots, but it is also a city faced withlecture was given by

structural issues such as a lack of human resources as asustainability andresult of depopulation, and a decentralized, multipolar

regional revitalizationcity structure. As such, they are aiming to become aresearcher Shun Kawakubo (Associate Professor, Hosei

smart city by using advanced technology to promote

University, Faculty of Engineering and Design,

innovation and become a more sustainable city. As part

Department of Architecture) on the topic of “Local SDGsof their initiatives to work towards becoming a smart city,

Promotion and the Significance of Target-Basedthey are considering incorporating a variety of

Monitoring.”

technological tools and systems as solutions to everyday

To support local municipalities, Kawakubo isproblems, including drones, MaaS, avatars, and e-

developing a local SDGs platform in order to make theresidency. Additionally, as part of their “Kaga City RE100

status of local SDGs initiatives more visible. The platform(100% Renewable Energy)” initiative, they are aiming toalso includes interview articles from the municipalities

construct a carbon-free society and locally produce

and ways to share and announce new initiatives. Whileenergy for local use.

he encouraged the municipalities to utilize the platform,
he also emphasized how vital it is to proactively involvethe citizens when establishing SDGs indicators that reflect
the current status of progress made, saying, “It’simportant for citizens to have the awareness that theSDGs are an issue close to their hometown, and toencourage them to incorporate working towards thegoals in their everyday lives.”
The second keynote lecture was given by Kenichiro
Fukushima (Board Representative, Code for
Kanazawa/Civic Tech Japan) on the topic of “Citizen
Participation Through Technology: What is OpenFinally, UNU-OUIK Office Manager Nagai moderated a

Governance?”, in which he discussed using open

panel discussion in which a variety of ideas and opinions

governance and civic technology to implement local

were expressed, including the following:

SDGs, monitor indicators, and encourage citizenoparticipation.

It is important for governments to explain thevarious functions of the SDGs when cooperating

Fukushima explained that because it is best to havewith citizens and to utilize them together

citizens participate in the process of monitoring ando

It is important for the divisions in charge withingathering indicator data, it is vital to have transparency

government bodies to coordinate and gather

in government work and create a society that allows

resources

citizens to participate; in other words, it is important toocreate a framework of open governance. He went on to

Local SDGs platforms might be used to exchange
information and opinions

say, “Municipalities must consider to what extent they areoMeasuring, monitoring, and analysis of indicatorsable to utilize technology within the scope of theirmight be split up between governments,

limitations, and to keep an open mind as they encourage

academics, and the citizenry

citizens’ participation. It is also important that the citizens

11oIt might be good to promote the SDGs throughFor those of you who would be interested in receiving

fields that go beyond the scope of existing SDGs

this newsletter, please subscribe via the link below.

(culture, art, sports etc.)
https://forms.gle/WY5QuHCYVc1mn6zF6Interview Articles
You can read articles with interviews of Research
Associate Evonne Yiu, who is researching Noto’s

Thank you for your continued readership of the OUIKSatoyama Saotumi region, by Courrier Japan.

Newsletter. We hope we can count on your continued
patronage in the future.

“Satoyama and Satoumi, Protectors of theJapanese from Natural Disasters andFrom all of us at UNU-IAS OUIK

Vermin, are Fading Away”
https://courrier.jp/news/archives/205906/
Published October 2020
“We Can’t Protect Japan’s Oceans Just by

Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (OUIK)Charging for Plastic Bags: Reducing Waste

UNU Institute for the Advanced Study ofin the Corona Pandemic”

Sustainability

https://courrier.jp/news/archives/205907/

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To the Readers

Email: unu-iasouik@unu.edu
As we approach the end of autumn, winter’s chill

URL: www.ouik.unu.edu

slowly creeps in. These last few months of the year bringwith them a period of flustered activity both in private
and professional life, but we hope you are staying welland active as we near the end of the year.
In response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, in May
of this year a “New Lifestyle” was proposed to adjust to
this new reality. At OUIK, we switched to doing ourresearch activities and events almost entirely online, andincorporated workstyle solutions like remote work andstaggered hours. Thank you to all involved who
cooperated with these solutions. There have been somepositives to this situation, such as online events allowing
us to reach more people at once, and our staff being able
to be more active in their local communities. We willcontinue to use online communication as the situation
demands as we move forward in the search for our own“new normal.”With that in mind, while we previously published thisnewsletter twice a year, this will be its final publication,and the last one to be printed on paper. Instead, in orderto share reports of our activities to more readers, we will
send out an email newsletter in Japanese once a monthsharing details of OUIK’s activities.

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