Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark 10th Anniversary of Global Certification Event
This event, held on September 9-10, has concluded.
However, “Enjoy a Real-Life Treasure Hunt as You Travel Around the Oki Islands | “The Earth’s Pulse and the Four Islands”” will run until February 29, 2024.
The Oki Islands Geopark was certified as a Japanese Geopark in October 2009, after which it received certification as a Global Geopark in September 2013. This year, the geopark celebrates its 10th anniversary on September 9, 2023.
To align with this, the Oki Islands Geopark Management Bureau will hold an anniversary symposium for island residents on September 9 and a simultaneous clean-up on September 10.
The details of related events will be shared below as they become available.
We whole-heartedly look forward to your participation. Please invite all your friends and family to participate with you!
Individual Event Details
6 Million and 10 Years Have Passed: Considering the Past to the Present
Date: September 9, 2023 (Sat)
Location: Okitō Cultural Center
12:30 Venue opens
13:00 Opening ceremony
13:10 Celebratory message video
14:00 Keynote speech 1
15:00 Keynote speech 2
16:00 Closing ceremony
16:15 Mochi–nage (throwing rice cakes to attendees)
For details, please read the flyer.
We look forward to seeing you there!
September 9 Symposium Flyer (PDF)
Gaming event “Geopark Cup”
We will be holding “Geopark Cup,” a gaming event! This is a chance for everyone to come together and have some fun! Currently accepting registration (deadline: August 30). You might even win a wonderful prize! Luxurious prizes such as a Switch console are available!
■Event details
・Minecraft: Time-attack Quiz in Oki Islands Geopark World!
・Mario Kart: A 32-person tournament! In the Oki Islands Geopark
*These tournaments are not official Mojang Studios or Nintendo events.
■Date
9/9/2023 (Sat)
・Morning session (Minecraft): 9:00-11:00
・Afternoon session (Mario Kart): 14:00-16:00
■Location
2F Assembly Room, Okitō Cultural Center
■Registration Period
Until 8/30/2023 (Registration has closed!)
Register through the QR code on the flyer
■Who Can Participate?
*Elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian.
・Minecraft: 3rd year elementary – high school students (Max: 40 people)
・Mario Kart: 1st year elementary – high school students (Max: 32 people)
■Luxurious Prizes!
・Grand Prize: New Switch gaming console
・Runner up prizes (2nd-3rd place): Your choice of one of the following new Switch games!
→ Splatoon 3
→ Super Mario Smash Bros. Ultimate
→ The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
→ Super Mario Bros. Wonder
→ Detective Pikachu Returns
Let’s Create the Future of the Oki Islands Together! A workshop by high school students
Talk with Oki Islands high school students about the future of the Oki Islands…
…Through Card Games
Play For WAN GEOLISM, a card game that brings together the resources present on the Oki Islands and gets you thinking about their current strengths and weaknesses, as well as what society and nature will be like on the islands in the future!
…Through the diorama “Future Island”
For the geopark’s 10th year of global certification, try creating a diorama through interactions with other participants! Take this chance to get excited thinking about what the Oki Islands and the Earth will be like in the future. Let’s have everyone’s thoughts and dreams take shape as they are visually expressed in one form!
Anyone, from small children to adults, can create their own “Mini Future Island” to take home!
Participation is free and no registration is required! Anyone of any age can enjoy what has been prepared, so invite whoever you want to participate with you!
■Date
September 9 (Sat) 10:00-12:00
*Enter or exit at any time. Each workshop can be conducted as needed.
■Venue
2F Youth Research Room, Okitō Cultural Center
■Who can participate?
Anyone is welcome to participate.
■Registration
Not required
WAIRA ACTチラシ（SNS） (1)
■What is WAIRA ACT?
With activities beginning this year, WAIRA ACT is a group of high school students from the Oki Islands that work on local projects. For details, please read the flyer.
WAIRA ACT flyer (social media) (1)
Create a keyholder from marine plastic debris
A marine debris workshop by Takanashi Tofu!
We will use thoroughly cleaned and pulverized plastic from plastic trash that floated to the Oki Islands as materials for this workshop. Don’t miss this chance to make an original keyholder with a one-of-a-kind design! While we craft, take some time to think about the environment.
The goal of Katsuya Takanashi, the workshop planner and person in charge on the day of the event, is not just to pick up trash, but to draw out as much value from it as possible and give it new purpose in the community.
Picking up trash is not something that just volunteers do. By transforming it into a chance to earn money, it can also contribute to local economic circulation; thus, people will search for it daily. 💰🌏
■Date
September 9 (Sat) 10:00 – 13:00
*Participation will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
■Venue
1F Research Room, Okitō Cultural Center
■Who can participate?
Anyone is welcome to participate
■Registration
Not required
■Participation fee
Free
9/10 Simultaneous start around the four Oki Islands municipalities: Beach Clean-Up Event
To commemorate 10 years of the Oki Islands as a Global Geopark, the geopark will hold a beach clean-up event. Help us protect the rich nature of the globally certified Oki Islands!
Ama Town
Date and Time: September 10 (Sun) 9:00–11:00ish
Location: Uzuka District coast and around the funagoya boat houses
What to bring: towel, hat, drink ※Work gloves provided
Along with the clean-up, there will also be a kanko boat riding experience!
In Ama Town, funagoya boat houses are a sight that can only be seen in the Uzuka District. Recently, excitement has been raised over things like projects to revive the boat houses and events that let people ride traditional-style kanko boats. While experiencing these activities, let’s work together to protect the rich nature, culture, traditions, and lifestyles that can only be found in the globally recognized Oki Islands.
Nishinoshima Town
Date and Time: September 10 (Sun) 9:30-11:00ish (no prior registration required)
Venue: Kuniga Beach (Meet at Kuniga Beach parking lot)
What to bring: towel, hat, drink *Work gloves provided
Chibu Village
Date and Time: September 10 (Sun) 9:00-10:00ish
Venue: Shimazushima Island (walking trail to Watatsu Beach, around the shrine)
What to bring: towel, hat, drink *Work gloves provided
Okinoshima Town
Date and Time: September 10 (Sun) 9:20-11:00ish
Venue: Nagōda District coast
What to bring: towel, hat, drink *Work gloves provided
The first 20 participants will receive a commemorative reusable bag as a present!
Enjoy a Real-Life Treasure Hunt as You Travel Around the Oki Islands | “The Earth’s Pulse and the Four Islands”
The geopark is holding a real-life treasure hunt that requires participants to solve riddles as they explore the Oki Islands to discover a legendary rock that resides on the islands. This event allows participants to experience the beauty of the Oki Islands in a way that feels like playing a game. Participation is free and can be done at your convenience, with a raffle available for luxurious prizes, so be sure to participate while sightseeing!
For details, please look at this article:
“The Earth’s Pulse and the Four Islands” Flyer (PDF)
Duration
September 9, 2023 (Sat) – February 29, 2024 (Thur)
Location
Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture (Okinoshima Town, Ama Town, Nishinoshima Town, Chibu Village)
How to Participate
Pick up a free participation pamphlet from any of the Tourism Associations and participate when you want
*This treasure hunt is for the purposes of increasing tourism among the islands, and as such, island residents are ineligible for the prize raffle. We ask for your understanding.
