As the new school term begins and climate patterns fluctuate in 2024, how are you spending your days?
Youth Econet recently held a two-day retreat in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture (May 18–19).
The retreat gathered a diverse group of participants from across Japan, including both youth and adults actively engaged in environmental and social fields.
On the first day, we visited Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum, Kaikyokan, known for having the world’s largest collection of fish species from the order Tetraodontiformes (pufferfish and their relatives).
We also enjoyed watching sea lions and dolphins perform together.
Kaikyokan focuses on “Life-Oriented Exhibits,” designed to showcase animals in ways that highlight their natural behaviors and instincts in an educational and engaging way.
Kaikyokan Official Website：https://www.kaikyokan.com
Our tour was guided by Mr. Oshima, a former Youth Econet member. The aquarium includes hands-on exhibits that allow visitors to touch and experience marine life directly.
We also visited the Humboldt Penguin Sanctuary, where penguins live in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.
Many of the exhibits were curated by individual caretakers, who not only selected the animals to be featured but also created the informational panels themselves.
These personalized displays were easy to understand and full of character. One of the exhibits shown (pictured left) was created by Ms. Oshima himself.
We spent the night in a log cabin at Akiyoshidai Family Village, surrounded by lush forest.
Though a few insects made their way into our beds, the fresh air and beautiful scenery made for a very comfortable and refreshing stay.
Akiyoshidai Family Village：https://a-kazoku.com
On the second day, we visited Akiyoshido Cave, a national park recognized by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment as a wetland of high importance for biodiversity.
More Info：https://www.env.go.jp/nature/ramsar/conv/ramsarleaflet/41_Akiyoshidai_Groundwater_System.pdf
For lunch, we stopped by Sukesan Udon Yuda Branch in Yamaguchi.
Though we couldn’t photograph the large poster at the entrance, we learned that the restaurant is committed to building a sustainable society through its “SUKESAN SDGs Project.”
Project Website：
https://www.sukesanudon.com/company/sdgs/
We also had the chance to watch a match played by Renofa Yamaguchi FC, the team where Mr. Saito, an active Youth Econet member, currently works.
Renofa Yamaguchi FC is not only known for their performance on the field but also for their engagement in environmental initiatives.
Details：
https://www.jleague.jp/docs/sharen//awards2022/work_report_45.pdf