Are Miyama Stag Beetles Going Extinct? Experts Discuss 'The Even Scarier Truth'
Kodansha Children's Division and Kids Weekend will co-host an online seminar "Insects in Big Trouble?! Earth Round Expedition Tour★" on May 30, 2026. It offers an opportunity to learn about the impact of global warming on insects like Miyama stag beetles and environmental issues, based on a science picture book.
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This summer is expected to bring record-breaking heat.
Not only humans, but also popular insects among children, such as Miyama stag beetles, which prefer cool environments, are facing significant changes on an "overheated Earth."
May 5th is "Children's Day."
Why not think about this Earth with your children?
Kodansha Children's Division and Kids Weekend, an online learning platform for children, will co-host the event "Insects in Big Trouble?! Earth Round Expedition Tour★" on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
This seminar is an online event inspired by the popular science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" (Kodansha Children's Division), which helps understand the reality of global warming, using the changes observed in insects as an entry point to learn and feel about "global warming."
▶ Event Details & Application: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
## Can Miyama Stag Beetles No Longer Live in the Mountains?
The "Miyama stag beetle," as its name suggests, is a representative Japanese stag beetle that prefers cool and moist mountainous environments. However, in recent years, researchers and enthusiasts have reported that these Miyama stag beetles are disappearing from lowlands and low mountains.
Specifically, researchers point out that:
- Miyama stag beetle larvae are vulnerable to high temperatures (around 25°C or higher), leading to a decrease in survival rates.
- Global warming is pushing suitable habitats to higher altitudes.
- As a result, in areas where habitats were originally limited, the risk of localized extinction is increasing.
*1: Effects of rapid global warming on insects (Haruki Karube / Nature and Science Window: Vol. 29 No. 4 / Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History)
## Insects are the First to Tell Us About "Environmental Changes"
Insects are poikilothermic animals and are extremely sensitive to temperature changes. According to a review study by the Ministry of the Environment and Japanese insect ecologists, global warming is clearly affecting insects in ways such as:
- Northward and higher-altitude shifts in distribution areas.
- Earlier emergence and activity periods.
- Changes in the number of generations and body size.
- Reversal of competitive relationships (cold-adapted insects are at a disadvantage).
In other words, insects are front-line observers who quickly inform us "what is happening on Earth right now."
## Understand Global Warming Now with Picture Books x Insects! Humans Aren't the Only Ones in Trouble!
In this online seminar, Shu Makita, an entomologist and environmental education expert active in TV and other media, will clearly explain questions such as:
- Why are Miyama stag beetles, cicadas, and butterflies decreasing?
- What changes in the world of living creatures if the temperature rises by 1°C?
- Is carbon dioxide "just a villain"?
He will explain these questions using concrete examples from insect ecology. Just as Nico, the protagonist carbon dioxide, and his friend Saku traveled the Earth in the science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" and witnessed the reality of global warming, this seminar will explore the current state of "global warming" through the world of insects.
▶ Event Details & Application: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
This is a chance to engage in "inquiry-based learning in science and scientific fields" and develop "non-cognitive skills born from parent-child dialogue"!
Deepen learning with books, connect with seminars
After viewing, there will also be an online exchange meeting with Mr. Shu Makita! Why not think about global warming with Mr. Makita through the world of picture books?
Parents and children, and adults too, can think together — please experience the global changes behind the fact that "insects are decreasing."
## Event Overview
- Event Name: Insects in Big Trouble?! Earth Round Expedition Tour★
- Co-hosted by: Science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" (Kodansha) / Kids Weekend
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Format: Online
- Target Audience: Elementary school students to adults (parent-child participation welcome)
- Application URL: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
Shu Makita, Entomologist / Ph.D. (Agriculture)
Researched entomology at the University of Tokyo Graduate School. Active as an expert who interprets environmental issues, biodiversity, and the relationship between humans and nature from the ecology of familiar insects. He is highly regarded for his style of clearly conveying specialized content from an "insect's perspective" and "observational perspective." Appeared on NHK General "Darwin's Coming!" / NHK E-tele "Smartphone Insects Zoom!" / NHK E-tele "Amazing Encyclopedia ~ Miyama Stag Beetle" / Nippon TV "Another Sky" / Fuji TV "Out x Deluxe", etc.
## About Kids Weekend
Kids Weekend has a mission to "create a world where everyone can unleash their potential and take on challenges."
Not only humans, but also popular insects among children, such as Miyama stag beetles, which prefer cool environments, are facing significant changes on an "overheated Earth."
May 5th is "Children's Day."
Why not think about this Earth with your children?
Kodansha Children's Division and Kids Weekend, an online learning platform for children, will co-host the event "Insects in Big Trouble?! Earth Round Expedition Tour★" on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
This seminar is an online event inspired by the popular science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" (Kodansha Children's Division), which helps understand the reality of global warming, using the changes observed in insects as an entry point to learn and feel about "global warming."
▶ Event Details & Application: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
## Can Miyama Stag Beetles No Longer Live in the Mountains?
The "Miyama stag beetle," as its name suggests, is a representative Japanese stag beetle that prefers cool and moist mountainous environments. However, in recent years, researchers and enthusiasts have reported that these Miyama stag beetles are disappearing from lowlands and low mountains.
Specifically, researchers point out that:
- Miyama stag beetle larvae are vulnerable to high temperatures (around 25°C or higher), leading to a decrease in survival rates.
- Global warming is pushing suitable habitats to higher altitudes.
- As a result, in areas where habitats were originally limited, the risk of localized extinction is increasing.
*1: Effects of rapid global warming on insects (Haruki Karube / Nature and Science Window: Vol. 29 No. 4 / Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History)
## Insects are the First to Tell Us About "Environmental Changes"
Insects are poikilothermic animals and are extremely sensitive to temperature changes. According to a review study by the Ministry of the Environment and Japanese insect ecologists, global warming is clearly affecting insects in ways such as:
- Northward and higher-altitude shifts in distribution areas.
- Earlier emergence and activity periods.
- Changes in the number of generations and body size.
- Reversal of competitive relationships (cold-adapted insects are at a disadvantage).
In other words, insects are front-line observers who quickly inform us "what is happening on Earth right now."
## Understand Global Warming Now with Picture Books x Insects! Humans Aren't the Only Ones in Trouble!
In this online seminar, Shu Makita, an entomologist and environmental education expert active in TV and other media, will clearly explain questions such as:
- Why are Miyama stag beetles, cicadas, and butterflies decreasing?
- What changes in the world of living creatures if the temperature rises by 1°C?
- Is carbon dioxide "just a villain"?
He will explain these questions using concrete examples from insect ecology. Just as Nico, the protagonist carbon dioxide, and his friend Saku traveled the Earth in the science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" and witnessed the reality of global warming, this seminar will explore the current state of "global warming" through the world of insects.
▶ Event Details & Application: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
This is a chance to engage in "inquiry-based learning in science and scientific fields" and develop "non-cognitive skills born from parent-child dialogue"!
Deepen learning with books, connect with seminars
After viewing, there will also be an online exchange meeting with Mr. Shu Makita! Why not think about global warming with Mr. Makita through the world of picture books?
Parents and children, and adults too, can think together — please experience the global changes behind the fact that "insects are decreasing."
## Event Overview
- Event Name: Insects in Big Trouble?! Earth Round Expedition Tour★
- Co-hosted by: Science picture book "Hot Hot Earth and Our Important Promise!" (Kodansha) / Kids Weekend
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Format: Online
- Target Audience: Elementary school students to adults (parent-child participation welcome)
- Application URL: https://www.kidsweekend.jp/portal/events/EBBF8BB2
Shu Makita, Entomologist / Ph.D. (Agriculture)
Researched entomology at the University of Tokyo Graduate School. Active as an expert who interprets environmental issues, biodiversity, and the relationship between humans and nature from the ecology of familiar insects. He is highly regarded for his style of clearly conveying specialized content from an "insect's perspective" and "observational perspective." Appeared on NHK General "Darwin's Coming!" / NHK E-tele "Smartphone Insects Zoom!" / NHK E-tele "Amazing Encyclopedia ~ Miyama Stag Beetle" / Nippon TV "Another Sky" / Fuji TV "Out x Deluxe", etc.
## About Kids Weekend
Kids Weekend has a mission to "create a world where everyone can unleash their potential and take on challenges."