2810 Kumamoto Prefectural Minamata High School
Summary
We have introduced Minamata City to many people, including foreigners. We have thought about the strengths and problems ofMinamata City. According to the results of a questionnaire we conducted at our school, there are three important issues: thedepopulation of young people; few jobs; many vacant houses. In order to solve these problems, we suggest the following
project: with the 3R’s as our objective, we want to make good use of deserted houses as eco-glamping facilities, and look forresidents for these houses. Moreover, we have considered the difficulties of realizing this idea, as well as its possible effects.
BackgroundSolution（１）The Strengths of Minamata City
○ Minamata City was the first city in Japan to be
designated the “Environmental Capital City” in 2011.
○ This city was ranked within the top 50 of elderly
people-friendly cities in Japan in 2016, which evaluatedenhanced medical care and nursing facilities.
（２）The Problems of Minamata City
○The population is about 25 thousand. (As of 2015)
The population of people over 65 years of age is morethan 36% of that of Minamata City.
The number of senior citizens over 65 years of age
living alone is about one thousand and nine hundred.
（３）The questionnaire concerning Minamata City
○ Asked 152 2nd grade students of our school what issues
Minamata City has

To make good use of deserted houses as eco-glamping
facilities, while considering the 3R’s, and looking forresidents for these houses.
（１）3R’s①Residents living in vacant houses will lead to expanding
the lifetime of vacant houses→Reduce vacant houses…Reduce②Secondhand goods in good condition will be used, suchas electric appliances and furniture…Reuse③Using several trash boxes to separate garbage
Waste wood are used as chairs and firewood…Recycle※M.H.S. students studying technical subjects are in
charge of doing ② and ③.
（２）Eco-glamping plan
①Use food from Minamata, local production andconsumption②Include plans in which we can experience in Minamata,and visit commercial facilities③Make a plan related to seasons and the local district※M.H.S. students studying in the general education
course and commercial course are planning ① to ③.
（３）Sustainable residential system○Look for residents by advertising the property for rent at
the eco-glamping facility.
○Give incentives such as free hot spring passes○Keep on using the houses as eco-glamping facilities if
there are no residents
Preparation to realize the project

Issues to solve
We will suggest a solution to the problem of the “Decreasein employment and increase in vacant houses because ofdepopulation”
The expected effects○Living in vacant houses will lead to securing the safety of
the community, expansion of the lifetime of vacanthouses and an increase in population.
○Eco-glamping will lead to economic development of thecommunity and job creation.
○Managing vacant houses will lead to job creation.

○ Look for local real estate agents, constructors, andsupporting organizations that agree with the purpose of
the project○Make plans for rebuilding vacant houses to be friendly tothe environment○Advertise the project by using the bulletin board at thetrain station, the signboard at the Interchange and SNS.

Hurdles○Clarifying the standards of the vacant houses’ security○Working in cooperation with Minamata City’s
administration, local companies, and local residents○Be conscious of the danger of the possibility of Minamata
City disappearing○Promote Minamata through the younger generations

参考文献
・環境首都創造 NGO 全国ネットワーク（http://www.eco-capital.net/projectseach/projectseach-429/）
・日本経済新聞. (2016 年 8 月 9 日).
・シニアにやさしい街 総合ランキング（https://vdata.nikkei.com/datamap/senior/）
・水俣市役所. (2018 年 3 月 12 日). 統計情報. 参照先: 水俣市役所（https://www.city.minamata.lg.jp/kiji00315/index.html）