Blog
2024.05.23
Apoi Foothills Park in Pre-Summer Bloom
Edo Yama-tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi) and Nanakamado (Japanese rowan) are in bloom around Mt. Apoi Foothill Park and the Geopark Visitor Center. Mt. Apoi is becoming more crowded with climbers on the weekend.
↑ Edo Yama-tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi)
↓ Nanakamado (Japanese rowan)
2024.04.26
Spring in Samani
April 10th: I had just finished cleaning the bio-toilet in Horoman Gorge when I looked up and saw this.
A falcon was flying in a circle around and around in the sky. They must have found an updraft and used it to soar through the sky.
Katakuri flowers blooming next to the Horoman-gawa Inari Shrine
April 24: The cherry blossoms around the Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center are blooming.
April 26th: Lovely weather today, and the magnolias and cherry blossoms are blooming.
2024.04.17
Introducing the KANxKAN Series
The KANxKAN Series are activities for local people and are a collaborative effort by the Samani Folk Museum, Samani Public Library, and Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center. It is a way to learn about the town's history and nature through a wide variety of activities such as crafts, outdoor walks, lectures, and more.
In 2024, there will be more outdoor events than ever before! Come and enjoy learning about the rich nature and history of the town. For more details, please check the "Announcements" section of the Samani Town home page.
KANxKAN Activities in May
Translucent Paper Crafts, hosted by the Samani Public Library
Date: Saturday, May 25 10:00-11:30
Location: Central Community Center
KANxKAN Activities Exhibit
A panel exhibit showcasing the KANxKAN activities will be open to the public from April 10-17 at the Samani Community Center Gallery 21.
2024.03.25
KANxKAN Lecture Series "Paper Umbrella Making" Event
The Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center recently held a KANxKAN Lecture Series on February 17th (Sat) with 12 participants. An oilpaper umbrella is one type of Japanese parasol made with a bamboo or wooden frame and oiled paper. In the mid-Edo period, stores lent umbrellas to customers free of charge, with the name and number of the store written on them. These umbrellas were so numerous throughout Edo that the name "bangasa" (numbered umbrella) was widely used.
The KANxKAN Lecture Series are monthly events co-hosted by the Samani Public Library, Samani Folk Museum, and Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center that cover a variety of topics. In this event, each facility gave an explanation related to the parasol, and visitors observed thin slices of peridotite and porphyrite, rocks found in Samani, with a polarizing plate and made parasols decorated with peridotite patterned origami paper. Making the parasols was difficult, but everyone enjoyed the challenge.
Making parasols
Many participants were very interested in the "Shanshan Umbrellas" donated by San'in Kaigan Geopark in 2015.
An article about the event was published in the March Samani Koho.
http://www.samani.jp/koho/202403p12p15.pdf
〇 Upcoming KANxKAN Lecture Series Events
The events will be held every month. The next event is "Bookmark Making and Reading the History of Samani" on April 20th (Sat) at the Samani Central Community Center
〇 KANxKAN Lecture Series Exhibit
An exhibit will be held to introduce the activities of the lecture series.
April 10-17 at the Samani Central Community Center Gallery.
2023.10.23
Visit from the Hong Kong Lions Nature Education Foundation
On October 4-7, six members of the Hong Kong Lions Nature Education Foundation (LNEF) visited Samani Town and toured around the Mt. Apoi Geopark. LNEF has many ties with UNESCO Global Geoparks, and through a recent connection with the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, we were able to arrange a visit to Mt. Apoi Geopark.
The tour officially started on October 5th, at the same time that the region experienced a severe weather event. Around 222 ml of rain fell during a 24-hour period causing major flooding and landslides in the West Samani district, closing the national road that leads out of Samani.
We were able to continue the tour even with the severe weather, but we did have to adjust the schedule. We started off at the Visitor Center so the LNEF members could learn more about the Geopark. From there we headed to Cape Enrumu where we had a brief break in the rain.
Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center
Cape Enrumu
Next, we alighted at the Central Community Center where we at the Apoi Dream Bento, designed by Junior High students, for lunch. It started raining again after lunch so our next stop was the Samani Public Library to watch the Samani Folktales videos and explore the Geopark Corner.
There was another break in the rain so we were able to drive to Horoman-kyo Gorge to see the Toho Olivine quarry and enjoy a tea break at the Horoman Community Center. On the way back to the hotel we paused at the former plate boundary site, but it began to rain heavily again so we did not stay long. Dinner was at a local restaurant, Ominaeshi, which served a delicious sashimi and tempura dinner.
The schedule for the second day of the tour was also adjusted and focused on more indoor activities like stone polishing and the Ainu embroidery class where the LNEF members enjoyed trying on traditional Ainu clothing and had an introduction to the history of the Ainu people. Luckily the rain stopped for a while in the afternoon, just long enough for a Bura Apoi Nature Walk.
Bura Apoi Nature Walk
Traditional Ainu clothing
We also had a chance to drive further into Horoman-kyo Gorge and saw some salmon swimming upriver and laying eggs. At the very end of the day, there was a social dinner party held at Hotel Apoi Sanso. During the dinner, the LNEF representative gave an enlightening presentation on the Hong Kong Lions Foundation activities and collaborative work with the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. LNEF also presented Mt. Apoi Geopark with a commemorative plaque and publications celebrating the LNEF 30th anniversary. It was a great way to end the two-day tour.