Kansai Gaidai University: Students from the Faculty of Global Engagement and International Students Work to Maintain Neglected Bamboo Forests in Hirakata City's Hotani, Selected as One of 'Japan's 100 Best Satoyama'
Students from Kansai Gaidai University's Faculty of Global Engagement and international students have begun efforts to maintain neglected bamboo forests in Hirakata City's Hotani area, which is recognized as one of 'Japan's 100 Best Satoyama.' This initiative aims to restore the natural environment of the satoyama and foster a sustainable community.
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Students and international students from Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture) are engaged in activities to maintain neglected bamboo forests in the satoyama of Hotani, Hirakata City, which has been selected as one of 'Japan's 100 Best Satoyama,' with the aim of preserving it.
▲ Efforts to maintain neglected bamboo forests have begun
The volunteer group Himawari, members of the Faculty of Global Engagement's 'Global Engagement Research Group,' and international students are working on bamboo forest maintenance activities in the Hotani area of Hirakata City.
The Hotani area of Hirakata City is known as a satoyama with rich nature remaining despite being near a major city, and in 2009, it was selected as one of 'Japan's 100 Best Satoyama.' Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment designated it as a core site for the Monitoring 1000 Satoyama Survey in 2005, and in 2015, it was selected as an important satoyama for biodiversity conservation, requiring not only landscape preservation but also ecosystem conservation.
However, in recent years, the number of abandoned farmlands has increased, and the utilization of satoyama has decreased, leading to a rapid expansion of bamboo forests. Neglected bamboo forests become desolate, preventing many plants from inhabiting them and causing the soil to lose its water retention capacity. There is an urgent need to regenerate nature by maintaining bamboo forests and create a sustainable satoyama/satochi.
▲ Bamboo forest maintenance leads to natural regeneration
The volunteer group Himawari has been cooperating with local organizations for about 10 years, participating in monthly activities such as thinning bamboo forests. In addition to bamboo forest maintenance, they are also involved in activities to preserve satoyama and satochi, such as installing beehives and removing nails from waste materials. Their continuous activities are highly regarded by the local community and are expected to be a force for the regeneration of valuable environments.
The 'Global Engagement Research Group' of the Faculty of Global Engagement started as one of the 'Sustainable Community Building' projects in a seminar led by Associate Professor Kazuo Fukuda. The project aims to create sustainable communities by promoting volunteerism centered on environmental issues. The local bamboo forest maintenance activity is the first step, and the group aims to continue providing 'learning by doing' opportunities to seminar students and Kansai Gaidai students.
The efforts of the 'Global Engagement Research Group' seminar students and international students began in 2026. On April 26, 16 people participated in experiential learning at the site.
In the morning, they received lectures on natural environment protection and satoyama conservation from the 'Osaka Midori no Trust Association,' 'Osaka Nature Conservation Association,' and 'Japan Forest Volunteer Association.' They learned about biodiversity and nature positive (natural restoration), received an explanation of the Hotani Nature Regeneration Project, and studied the significance and specific methods of bamboo forest conservation.
▲ Received lectures on satoyama conservation, etc.
In the afternoon, they actually entered the bamboo forest and worked to make it a 'healthy bamboo forest.' They received guidance on cutting dead, broken, or bent bamboo, determining the direction to safely fell bamboo, and how to process felled bamboo. They also learned that continuous activity is essential for bamboo forest maintenance and that felled bamboo can be effectively used for hedges or soil improvers.
▲ Experienced felling bamboo firsthand
International student Jen, who participated, said, 'I only had an image of bamboo forests as beautiful, but I learned how difficult and important environmental protection is. I would like to participate again if there is such an opportunity.'
Kansai Gaidai University will continue to create opportunities for students and international students to learn directly from Japan's rich nature and local issues. Beyond classroom learning, the university will promote social contribution activities through practical experience and strive to develop human resources who will lead the realization of a sustainable society.
[Contact Information]
Kansai Gaidai University Public Relations Department
Phone: 072-805-2817 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, excluding Sundays and holidays)
E-mail: press@kansaigaidai.ac.jp
■ Kansai Gaidai University
Official Website: https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp
▲ Nakamiya Campus
'GO FOR it! Beyond Language.'
Kansai Gaidai University leverages its global network of 427 universities in 55 countries/regions (as of May 2026) to send approximately 1,300 students abroad annually. At its two campuses in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, approximately 1,100 international students are accepted annually, facilitating daily international exchange.
The university has an educational system that allows students to learn diverse specialized fields ('+α' such as culture, politics, and economics) based on their language skills. It offers an educational program 'USCPA Pathway Pro' aimed at acquiring the US Certified Public Accountant qualification, tailored to individual students' interests and concerns.
▲ Efforts to maintain neglected bamboo forests have begun
The volunteer group Himawari, members of the Faculty of Global Engagement's 'Global Engagement Research Group,' and international students are working on bamboo forest maintenance activities in the Hotani area of Hirakata City.
The Hotani area of Hirakata City is known as a satoyama with rich nature remaining despite being near a major city, and in 2009, it was selected as one of 'Japan's 100 Best Satoyama.' Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment designated it as a core site for the Monitoring 1000 Satoyama Survey in 2005, and in 2015, it was selected as an important satoyama for biodiversity conservation, requiring not only landscape preservation but also ecosystem conservation.
However, in recent years, the number of abandoned farmlands has increased, and the utilization of satoyama has decreased, leading to a rapid expansion of bamboo forests. Neglected bamboo forests become desolate, preventing many plants from inhabiting them and causing the soil to lose its water retention capacity. There is an urgent need to regenerate nature by maintaining bamboo forests and create a sustainable satoyama/satochi.
▲ Bamboo forest maintenance leads to natural regeneration
The volunteer group Himawari has been cooperating with local organizations for about 10 years, participating in monthly activities such as thinning bamboo forests. In addition to bamboo forest maintenance, they are also involved in activities to preserve satoyama and satochi, such as installing beehives and removing nails from waste materials. Their continuous activities are highly regarded by the local community and are expected to be a force for the regeneration of valuable environments.
The 'Global Engagement Research Group' of the Faculty of Global Engagement started as one of the 'Sustainable Community Building' projects in a seminar led by Associate Professor Kazuo Fukuda. The project aims to create sustainable communities by promoting volunteerism centered on environmental issues. The local bamboo forest maintenance activity is the first step, and the group aims to continue providing 'learning by doing' opportunities to seminar students and Kansai Gaidai students.
The efforts of the 'Global Engagement Research Group' seminar students and international students began in 2026. On April 26, 16 people participated in experiential learning at the site.
In the morning, they received lectures on natural environment protection and satoyama conservation from the 'Osaka Midori no Trust Association,' 'Osaka Nature Conservation Association,' and 'Japan Forest Volunteer Association.' They learned about biodiversity and nature positive (natural restoration), received an explanation of the Hotani Nature Regeneration Project, and studied the significance and specific methods of bamboo forest conservation.
▲ Received lectures on satoyama conservation, etc.
In the afternoon, they actually entered the bamboo forest and worked to make it a 'healthy bamboo forest.' They received guidance on cutting dead, broken, or bent bamboo, determining the direction to safely fell bamboo, and how to process felled bamboo. They also learned that continuous activity is essential for bamboo forest maintenance and that felled bamboo can be effectively used for hedges or soil improvers.
▲ Experienced felling bamboo firsthand
International student Jen, who participated, said, 'I only had an image of bamboo forests as beautiful, but I learned how difficult and important environmental protection is. I would like to participate again if there is such an opportunity.'
Kansai Gaidai University will continue to create opportunities for students and international students to learn directly from Japan's rich nature and local issues. Beyond classroom learning, the university will promote social contribution activities through practical experience and strive to develop human resources who will lead the realization of a sustainable society.
[Contact Information]
Kansai Gaidai University Public Relations Department
Phone: 072-805-2817 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, excluding Sundays and holidays)
E-mail: press@kansaigaidai.ac.jp
■ Kansai Gaidai University
Official Website: https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp
▲ Nakamiya Campus
'GO FOR it! Beyond Language.'
Kansai Gaidai University leverages its global network of 427 universities in 55 countries/regions (as of May 2026) to send approximately 1,300 students abroad annually. At its two campuses in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, approximately 1,100 international students are accepted annually, facilitating daily international exchange.
The university has an educational system that allows students to learn diverse specialized fields ('+α' such as culture, politics, and economics) based on their language skills. It offers an educational program 'USCPA Pathway Pro' aimed at acquiring the US Certified Public Accountant qualification, tailored to individual students' interests and concerns.