[25th Kikigaki Koshien] Held in 12 regions nationwide

The 25th Kikigaki Koshien is recruiting high school students to "kikigaki" (oral history) the "Meijin" (masters) of forests, rivers, and seas in 12 regions nationwide, and will hold an online briefing session on May 19th (Tuesday).

"Kikigaki Koshien" is an activity where high school students visit "Meijin" of forests, rivers, and seas, and record and disseminate their wisdom, skills, and way of life through "kikigaki." Started in fiscal year 2002, over 2,000 high school students have participated to date.

Since fiscal year 2019, municipalities (regions) that cooperate in recommending masters and accepting high school students have been publicly solicited nationwide, developing activities that connect agricultural, mountain, and fishing villages with younger generations.

To commence the recruitment of high school students for this year's tournament on May 8th (Friday), an online briefing session, including an explanation of the significance of this activity and an introduction to the 12 cooperating regions for this year, will be held as follows.

We welcome the participation of media representatives and anyone interested in this initiative.

Online Briefing Session

Date and Time

May 19, 2025 (Tuesday) 16:00-16:45

Content

① Greetings from the organizers' representative
② Explanation of the project's purpose
③ Introduction of the 12 municipalities (regions) where kikigaki will be conducted
④ Q&A session

Application

Please apply via the application form by noon on the day of the event. We will send you the connection URL (using ZOOM).

What is "Kikigaki Koshien"?

"Kikigaki Koshien" is an activity where high school students nationwide visit "Meijin" of forests, rivers, and seas, and "kikigaki" the wisdom, skills, and spirit of living with nature.

Each year, municipalities that cooperate in recommending masters and accepting high school students are publicly solicited, and high school students visit the masters recommended by the region one-on-one for "kikigaki." For the 25th tournament this year, 65 high school students will conduct kikigaki with 65 masters in cooperation with 12 regions nationwide.

What is "Kikigaki"?

The basis of "kikigaki" is one-on-one communication. High school students interview the "livelihoods" of masters in a dialogue format. All conversations with masters are recorded, and their words are transcribed verbatim to create a work that preserves the master's storytelling style. Kikigaki works record the master's view of life and local culture in their own words, and through creating these works, high school students confront their lives and learn the essence of "working" and "living."

What is a "Meijin"?

"Meijin" refers to individuals who are engaged in activities related to nature, such as forests, rivers, and seas, based on the climate and culture of the Japanese archipelago, and who inherit and practice the wisdom and skills passed down from their predecessors, serving as role models for their region and peers.

Generally, they are 50 years of age or older and have been engaged in their field for at least 15 years.

About Cooperating Municipalities (Regions)

For the 25th (2026 fiscal year), in cooperation with 12 municipalities (regions) nationwide, 65 high school students will conduct kikigaki with the cooperation of 65 masters recommended by these regions.

Through kikigaki, high school students learn the essence of "living" and "working" from the masters, and this experience transforms the region into something special that they feel is their "second home."

Through kikigaki, we connect agricultural, mountain, and fishing villages with young people, contributing to the inheritance of local culture and the creation of related populations.

*Public recruitment for cooperating municipalities for the 26th Kikigaki Koshien in fiscal year 2027 will begin on May 8th this year. Please see the website for details.

Kikigaki Koshien Homepage: https://www.kikigaki.net/