[National Trust Association] "Tsurui Red-crowned Crane Trust" Campaign Launched to Protect World-Class Landscape - PR Video Released

[Video] PR Video
You can view the PR video for this campaign here.

A Story of Connecting the Beautiful Landscape Where Red-crowned Cranes Dance to the Future
The red-crowned crane is a symbolic bird of Japan and a special natural monument. In Japan, they mainly inhabit the eastern part of Hokkaido and are the largest wild bird in the country, measuring about 140cm in length and 240cm in wingspan.

While cranes were seen not only in Hokkaido but also in the Kanto region during the Edo period, they were once thought to be extinct due to overhunting in the Meiji era. However, a few remaining individuals were discovered in the Kushiro Marsh in 1924 (Taisho 13), and thanks to feeding and protection activities by local residents, their numbers have gradually increased.

Various creatures, including red-crowned cranes, visit the Setsuri River in Tsurui Village, Hokkaido, from which the village derives its name.

Fed by spring water, the Setsuri River does not freeze even in the deep winter. The area around the bridge has low water levels, making it an optimal environment for cranes to roost and a rare waterfront space in winter.

"Otowa Bridge," which spans the Setsuri River, is visited by many people from Japan and abroad throughout the year as a spot where one can view the sight of red-crowned cranes wrapped in the glistening river surface and mountains.

However, plans for a large-scale solar power project briefly emerged for part of the view from this "Otowa Bridge." To avoid such situations in the future, Tsurui Village and our association have decided to jointly purchase the land in this area.

"National Trust": A Method to Protect the Future - Call for Donations and Information Sharing
In December 2025, our association jointly acquired a 7.5-hectare plot (Plot 1) with Tsurui Village. In March 2026, we acquired a 17-hectare plot (Plot 2). Concurrently with the acquisition of Plot 2, the village also purchased about 10 hectares independently, successfully protecting a total of approximately 35 hectares in this area. The land acquisition costs for Plot 1 and Plot 2 are shared equally with the village.

We are currently soliciting donations to cover these acquisition costs. This method of acquiring and protecting land through public donations is called "National Trust."

What is the National Trust?
It is a civic movement that began in 19th-century Britain. To protect rich nature and historical environments, it involves soliciting donations to acquire and permanently protect land and buildings. Beatrix Potter, author of the picture book "Peter Rabbit," also supported this movement and cooperated significantly to protect the nature of the Lake District. In Japan, it started in Kamakura in 1964 and has since spread to over 50 regions across the country.

With the support of many, we were able to achieve the acquisition of Plot 1 using this National Trust method. While we have also acquired Plot 2, we still need significant support for the acquisition costs. We are currently short by 3.36 million yen, which is the cost for Plot 2. We ask for your continued support and request that you make a donation to help us move forward.

We also ask for your cooperation in spreading the word about this activity to help make it widely known. This is not just a problem for Tsurui Village. Making people across the country aware of this will be a powerful force.

If this activity spreads nationwide, it might even lead to the protection of the scenery you hold dear.

Overview of Plot 2
Location: Setsuri, Tsurui-mura, Akan-gun, Hokkaido
Area: 168,059㎡
Land Category: Wilderness
Ownership: Shared with Tsurui Village (1/2 ownership each)
Acquisition Cost: 6.72 million yen (Purchased with Tsurui Village contributing 3.36 million yen each)

One Pound from Ten Thousand People Rather Than Ten Thousand Pounds from One Person
The British National Trust follows the philosophy of "one pound from ten thousand people rather than ten thousand pounds from one person." Relying on the number of supporters is more important than depending excessively on a specific organization or individual. When many people's thoughts gather, society can be moved.

If you are interested in this activity, even 1 yen is fine. Please, we ask for your donation. That 1 yen will protect the future.

Please visit the campaign site
We have set up a special site for this campaign. Please use it to gather information when considering a donation and to help share information. We also regularly update the latest information on land acquisition.

Name: Setsuri Tsurui Red-crowned Crane Trust Campaign Phase 2
Purpose: To cover the 3.36 million yen land acquisition cost for Plot 2 and to publicize this project
How to participate: Donation (postal transfer or bank transfer to a dedicated account), spreading information via SNS, distributing flyers, etc.
Target amount: 3.36 million yen
- The first campaign received 2.2 million yen in donations. The amount exceeding the 1.5 million yen cost for Plot 1 will be used for the land purchase cost of Plot 2.
- If donations exceed the target amount, we will use them for other land purchase costs aimed at crane protection or landscape conservation.
Implementing body: Japan National Trust Association

What is the Japan National Trust Association?
In 1983, "The National Association for Promoting the National Trust" was formed as a national organization for the National Trust. It was incorporated in 1992 as the "Japan National Trust Association." In addition to supporting local trust groups, promoting awareness, and making proposals, the association has also been actively acquiring trust land itself since 2007.

Achievements in land acquisition
To date, our association has acquired approximately 1,765 hectares of land across 60 locations nationwide through purchases and donations. We are working on land acquisition to protect important forests, wetlands, water sources, and beautiful scenery—important from a nationwide perspective, such as habitats for rare species—to pass them on to future generations.