A study on methods of community cooperation for waterfront use[Abstract]
With the aim of promoting the use of ports and coasts in the eastern region of Kochi Prefecture, this study
examines ways to work with organizations engaged in various activities in coastal areas and methods ofcooperation among organizations.
Organizations engaged in environmental, educational, regional development and other activities and local
resources in the coastal areas are identified, and specific activities to be carried out for the purpose ofnetworking are also determined in order to explore possibilities of networking and cooperation. A casestudy is conducted of one of such activities, and achievements and problems are identified. Finally,
recommendations are made concerning networking efforts.
1

Study items(1) Determining the present state(i) Determining the present state of organizations engaged in community activities(ii) Determining the present state of local resources(2) Proposing measures for cooperation(3) Case study of cooperation efforts
2

Study method(1) Determining the present state(i) Determining the present state of organizations engaged in community activities
A survey was conducted to collect information on details of administrative organizations, businesses andnonprofit organizations (NPOs, other organizations and individual volunteers engaged in activities in theareas of environment, nature, youth and recreation) in coastal areas such as their structure, main activities
and wishes. The organizations to be surveyed were identified by asking local experts to introduce
organizations, asking municipal welfare councils, volunteer activity centers and NPO centers to disclose
information and doing Internet search. The survey consisted of a questionnaire survey and a hearing
survey.
(ii) Determining the present state of local resources
Information on the resources that could be used in or around port areas was collected through fieldinvestigations and literature search.
(2) Proposing measures for cooperation
Areas that are thought to have potential priority in view of the present state of the area as a whole, its
potential characteristics, and the persons, organizations and places that symbolize cooperation, which weredetermined as described in Item (1), were identified, and measures for promoting waterfront use wereproposed.
(3) Case study of cooperation efforts
A case study of the activities proposed in Item (2) was conducted experimentally for evaluation. The study
area is Nahari-cho in Aki-gun (Kochi).
33-1

Study results
Determining the present state(i) Determining the present state of community activity organizations
As of 2003, there are a total of about 200 NPOs in Kochi Prefecture. Most of these organizations arewelfare, medical or land-based activities, and only a small number of organizations are engaged inwaterfront activities. Information on non-NPO organizations is difficult to collect.
According to the results of the questionnaire and hearing surveys, 19 organizations (5 NPOs, 6administrative organizations and 8 citizens' organizations) are engaged in waterfront activities. Theorganizations based in the coastal areas in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture are shown in Figure 3-1 andTable 3-1. Many of these organizations are involved in activities for the purposes of environmental
conservation, regional development or marine sports in the coastal areas.

凡例
Legend･Information Section,
香南市役所
総務課情報推進係
KonanCity Hall
道の駅やす管理事務所･Michi-no-Eki
YASUManagementOffice
NPO法人 YASU海の駅クラブ･YASU Umi-no-Eki Club
NPO法人 室戸ドルフィンプロジェクト･Muroto Dolphin Project
NPO法人 漁師のNPO･Ryoshi no NPO
NPO法人 高知NPO･Kochi NPO
NPO法人 Sosei
黒潮蘇生交流会･Kuroshio
Koryukai

オランクダイバーズ･Oranku
Divers03,750 7,500

15,000･ Resort Inn Pension Yuukai･Commerce,
ペンション遊海Industry andFisheries Section, Nangoku
C南国市役所
ity Hall商工水産課･National Muroto YouthOut
door Learning Center
国立室戸青少年自然の家･General Affairs and Planning
Se奈半利町役場
ction, Nahari 総務企画課
Town Hall･Tourismand観光深層水課
Deep Seawater
室戸市役所
S ection, Muroto City Hall･BadeHaus Muroto
室戸海洋深層水体験交流センター(MurotoDeepSea 」Water「バーデハウス室戸L earning Center)有限会社
なはり観光文化協会･Nahari
Tourismand Culture
Association

22,500･Kaiomaru
海皇丸･Planning, Commerce andIndustry
Section,Toyo
東洋町役場
企画商工課
Town Hall･Kiramesse
Murotoキラメッセ・室戸鯨館
Kujirakan･Suehiromaru
末弘丸

30,000メートル

Figure 3-1. Community activity organizations in eastern Kochi(ii) Determining the present state of local resources
It is known as a historical fact that because this region is mostly steep, from olden times marinetransportation routes have developed to serve as marine routes linking the Pacific coast area of theShikoku region to Nara, Osaka and Kyoto. Today, however, the marine routes have gone into disuse asroads have been constructed and motor vehicles have been developed. Because no significant industries
have developed in the coastal areas, efforts are being made to develop tourism by making effective use oflocal resources. The historical resources in the region include the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku andSakamoto Ryoma, and the natural resources include diving and surfing spots, whales, deep sea water andcoral reefs. The water quality of the sea in the region is good. Because the land is mostly steep, there areno large rivers. The region, therefore, is conducive neither to the formation of large settlements norlarge-scale agriculture. This is thought to be why the amount of pollutant loading that the sea receives
from the land area is relatively small.

Table 3-1. Community activity organizations in eastern Kochi
Type

Name of organization

Category of activity

Administrative

General Affairs and Planning Section, Nahari Town Hall

Regional development

Administrative

Commerce, Industry and Fisheries Section, Nangoku City HallTourism

Administrative

Tourism and Deep Sea Water Section, Muroto City Hall

Tourism

Administrative

General Affairs and Information Section, Konan City Hall

Beach seining for tourists

Administrative

Planning, Commerce and Industry Section, Toyo Town Hall

Tourism

Administrative

National Muroto Youth Outdoor Learning Center

Youth educationNPO

YASU Umi-no-Eki Club

Marine sports

NPO

Muroto Dolphin Project

Dolphin therapy

NPO

Ryoshi no NPO

Fishery resources and regional development

NPO

Kuroshio Sosei Koryukai

River cleanup movement

NPO

Kochi NPORegional regeneration

BusinessNahari Tourism and Culture Association

Regional regeneration

BusinessKiramesse Muroto KujirakanHistory and culture

Business

Oranku Divers

Diving shop

Business

Bade Haus Muroto (Muroto Deep Sea Water Learning Center)

Deep sea water and health

Other

Suehiromaru

Whale watching

Other

Michi-no-Eki YASU Management Office

Coastal amenities

Other

Kaiomaru

Whale watching

Other

Resort Inn Pension Yuukai

Surfing

Other

Beach Clean Tosa

Coastal cleanup")")")")")

凡例
LegendLocal
resources
地域資源
Resource
資源の名称 name(ficus) treesアコウ)" ･Ako
奈半利町") ･Hanari-cho･Hanari-cho coral watching
奈半利町サンゴウォッチング
") ･Cape Muroto Lighthouse
室戸岬灯台") ･Muroto
Deep Sea Waterファーム
室戸海洋深層水アクアFarm") Aqua
御厨人窟 (cave)") ･Mikurodo･Teinai
Port手結内港") ･Katsurahama
Beach桂浜") ･ShinshojiTemple
津照寺(四国霊場88ヶ所25番札所)
sacred place in the") (25th88 SacredPlacesof Shikoku)
生見海岸") ･Ikumi
Coast03,750 7,500

15,000cuisine
皿鉢料理)" ･Sawachi･Konomineji Temple
sacred place in the 88
神峯寺(四国霊場88ヶ所27番札所)") (27thSacred Places of Shikoku)
神峯山・空と海の展望公園") ･Mt. Konomine Sora to Umi no
Koen (Sky and Ocean
禅師峰寺（四国霊場８８ケ所３２番札所）") Tenbo
View Park)
金剛頂寺(四国霊場88ヶ所26番札所)
Temple (32nd sacred") ･Zenjibuji
place in the 88 Sacred Places
高岡漁港（ホエールウオッチング）") of Shikoku)"))"")･Kongochoji Temple(26th sacred place in the 88
Sacred Places of Shikoku)･Takaoka Fishing Port(whale watching))"")
22,50030,000メートル

Figure 3-2. Local resources in eastern Kochi")"))"Table 3-2. Local resources in eastern Kochi
No

Resource nameCategory

Item related to sea-related activities
Nature△History Culture○Place○1

Katsurahama Beach

Landscape2Zenjibuji Temple (32nd sacred place in the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku)

Historic facilities○△○

3Teinai Port

Historic facilities

○

○

○

4Konomineji Temple (27th sacred place in the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku)

Historic facilities○○

5Mt. Konomine Sora to Umi no Tenbo Koen (Sky and Ocean View Park)

Landscape○○6

Hanai-cho coral watching

Landscape△

7Hanari-cho

Landscape, historic facilities△8Cape Muroto Lighthouse

Landscape, historic facilities

9Ako (ficus) trees

Landscape○10 Takaoka Fishing Port (whale watching)Landscape○11 Mikurodo (cave)

Historic facilities

12Landscape, sports

13 Muroto Deep Sea Water Aqua Farm

Research facilities

14 Shinshoji Temple (25th sacred place in the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku)

Historic facilities○○

15 Kongochoji Temple (26th sacred place in the 88 Sacred Places of Shikoku)

Historic facilities○○

16 Sawachi cuisine

Food culture○

3-2

Ikumi Coast

○

△△△

△

○

△△
△

△

△

△

△

○

○

○

△

○

○

○

○

Proposing measures for cooperation(i) Defining the concept of a cooperation network
Figure 3-3 illustrates the concept of a cooperation network designed to promote nature experience
activities in coastal areas centering around the port areas. The first step in networking is to become awareof the existence of one another. The next step is to move on, in a stepwise manner, to the stage of
information exchange through various interaction efforts and cooperation and collaboration for specificprojects. This kind of networking is usually performed in the form of nongovernmental efforts, but more
effective networking can be achieved by cooperation with government organizations.
A key nonstructural measure to be taken in such cases is to employ an effective method for regional
regeneration or revitalization. The method of consensus building in the "workshop" format moderated by a"facilitator" is an effective approach. Disclosure of knowledge or information by knowledgeable persons
is not what needs to be done. Instead, all participants should try to solve a problem jointly on an equal
footing and share the whole process, in accordance with the principle of "participation by all members,"
until a solution is found. This process enables the participants to feel that the problem under considerationis their own problem so that the participants cooperate in taking action. Methods of this kind have beenused in many areas in recent years and have proved successful.

Central government(port and airport development office)Local government(port division, community
development division, etc.)

1. Becoming aware of mutualexistence
2. Interpersonal communication andexchange of information
3. Cooperation

Nationwide specialty
Organization(e.g., boy scout)NPO, citizens, etc., engaged inlocal activities

Individuals (event participants)

Nationwidenetwork
such as CONE
* CONE: acronym for the Council for Outdoor and Nature Experiences

Figure 3-3. Concept of networking
It is generally known that interpersonal cooperation and the use of nonstructural measures cannot beachieved within individual areas, and community efforts can be effectively stimulated by introducing
people and nonstructural measures from other areas. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that only
facilities and areas for which human resources and nonstructural measures are managed on a continual
basis have been very successful.
(ii) Proposing specific activities
Specific activities to be performed jointly for the purpose of networking can be classified into three
categories:a) Holding various events
In the eastern Kochi region, various events are held in coastal areas such as Nahari, Kannoura andMurotomisaki (Cape Muroto). By forming a network of the organizers of those events and a network
involving government organizations, it may be possible to perform more wide-ranging activities on acontinual basis.
b) Holding leader seminars
Many organizations engaged in seashore-based activities feel that a shortage of leaders is one of theproblems that need to be solved in order to continue their activities. This problem can be solved either bysharing leaders with other organizations that are engaged in similar activities or by providing leader
training.
An effective method in the latter approach, which is also conducive to networking, is for a number oforganizations to jointly provide training for leaders of seashore-based nature experience activities.
c) Projects for network building and maintenance
Effective measures to build and maintain a network include the activities of the organization that manages
the network, the use of Web sites and blogs on the Internet, and workshops and forums. Examples offorums held on a nationwide scale are the Seaside Environmental Forum, "We Protect Our Sea" program(Japan Conference of Underwater Education) and events organized by the Council for Nature Activity
along the Coast (CNAC).
3-2

Proposing measures for cooperation(1) Selecting candidate sites
The candidate sites for a case study to be conducted for the purposes of this study were the Nahari-cho
Furusato (hometown) Coast and the Ikumi Coast. As a result of the evaluation of the criteria for a leader
training site listed below, it was concluded that the Nahari-cho Furusato Coast had a higher resource
potential, and it was decided to plan and carry out a viable program in the area.

＜Criteria＞• Waterfront accessibility is high, and nature can be experienced
firsthand.
• There is a local NPO that is engaged in pioneering activities.
• There are facilities for accommodation, seminars, etc., near theactivity site.
• The local community is well prepared (e.g., accommodation,fisheries cooperatives) for receiving visitors.
(2) Cooperation network
In the case of the cooperation effort in Nahari, a cooperation network consisting of a number oforganizations was formed as shown in Figure 3-4. The case study was conducted under the leadership ofWaterfront Vitalization and Environment Research Center.

Table 3-3. Reasons for site selection
ItemDistance fromKochi (km)Furusato Coast (Nahari-cho)

Ikumi Coast (Toyo-cho)

About 47 km△ About 110 km

Facilities

Lavatories, parking lot△Environment

Beach (artificial)△ Rock reef, beach△State of use

Not used; environmental
activities of localorganizations, etc.

○ Surfing○

Evaluation

×Lavatories,
accommodations, parking○○○

Organizer
Nationwide organization• Council for Nature Activity
along the Coast (CNAC)• Waterfront Vitalization andEnvironment Research Center (WAVE)

Government
Organizations engaged inlocal activities• Nahari Tourism and Culture
Association• Biological Institute on Kuroshio,Kuroshio Biological ResearchFoundation• Committee on Use of NaturalResources

Seaside Masters
inNahari
Coordinator
Ama Natural Culture Laboratoryfor Watersides• Shikoku Regional Development Bureau• Kochi Port and Airport Development Office• Nahari Municipal Government• Kochi Prefectural Government• Aki Fire Department

Participation in nationwide network• Registration with CONE

Figure 3-4. Cooperation network in Nahari(3) Current status
For three days from the 23rd to 25th of September, 2006, the Seaside Master Seminar in Nahari, a seminarfor leaders for seaside nature experience activities, was held in the town of Nahari (Aki-gun, Kochi). Table
3-4 summarizes information on the seminar. A total of 13 persons participated in the seminar from various
parts of Kochi Prefecture.

Table 3-4. Overview of the case study○ Goal of the seminar
To produce future leaders for seaside nature experience activities
to be carried out in the Nahari area
○ Objectives of the seminar
To achieve the following in seaside nature experience activities:
Raising awarenessAcquiring interpretation skills
Acquiring knowledge about the roles of leaders○ Contents
Ice breaking, snorkeling training, programming
3-3Conclusions

The case study has shown that in order to build a network in eastern Kochi, it is necessary to consider fiverequirements:• Human resources: Leader training• Places: Study on the resources in the project area (field)• Materials: Preparation of cooperative project programs andinformational materials• Events: Model project implementation• Networking: Communication among stakeholders(i) Human resources: Leader trainingThere are not many leaders working in the coastal areas in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. It istherefore necessary to conduct "seaside master seminars" for producing leaders who work in seaside areas
like the case study area and involve as many leaders working in eastern Kochi as possible in thoseseminars.
(ii) Places: Study on the resources in the project area (field)
In eastern Kochi, only a limited amount of information on places for seaside activities is available. If
cooperative events are to be carried out in a network, it is necessary to create places where cleanup
activities and nature experience activities can be carried out.
(iii) Materials: Preparation of cooperative project programs and informational materials
In order to hold events jointly in a network, programming is necessary. Although the demand for seaside
activities in summer is high, public demand in the off-season such as winter tends to be low. It is desirable,therefore, that year-round programs and programs for multi-site activities involving the sea, mountains,rivers, etc., be developed. The programs thus developed also need to be shared within a network.
(iv) Events: Model project implementation
If the requirements (i) to (iii) are met, a variety of nature experience activities can be carried out. In orderto maintain the motivation of leaders, it is necessary to carry out periodic model projects. The Nahari
activity results indicate that the continuation and enhancement of projects could lead to regionalrevitalization.
(v) Linkup: Communication among stakeholders
In order to smoothly share information within a network, there is a need for a forum for exchanging
various information such as activity reporting among government organizations, NPOs and citizens'groups. To this end, an organization responsible for playing a central role is essential. It is desired thatorganizations playing a central role collect information and disseminate information via a Web site,mailing list, etc.

Human resources

Government (central andNPOs, citizens' groups

conduct "seaside master seminars"

local governments)

Places

LinkupDevelopment of facilities suchas visitor centers

Communication among stakeholders,emergence of core organizations

NetworkSpecialty

Local businessesorganizations

Materials

EventsDevelopment of year-round programs
and programs for multi-site activities
involving the sea, mountains, rivers,etc.

Implementation of model projects suchas seaside nature school

Figure 3-5. Concept of networking efforts