Distinctive measure projects / Sister city

The Reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork Plan

The oriental white stork, which is a special national monument of Japan , disappeared in 1971.
The protection movement was started in 1955, but there was a lot difficulty experienced with artificial breeding. Baby bird hadn't hatched for a quarter of a century, but in 1989, a long awaited baby bird was born. After that, a baby bird hatches every year and now we are raising over 110 baby birds.
After the artificial breeding had been started along the right lines, the next goal was returning the stork to the wild and making an environment in which the stork can live together with humans .
In 1999, Homeland for the Oriental White Stork which is the leading facilities of returning the birds to the wild, was opened. In 2000, the Toyooka Municipal Eco museum center for Oriental Wh ite Stork was opened, and we were ready to protect, propagate, research, and spread awareness . In September 2005, the first experimental releasing was done; returning to the wild in a human habitation which is unique approach, was just started.
While returning to the wild, we would like to reproduce and create the nature culture which is living naturally with the stork, and dispatch the process of creating the environment.

The baby bird was hatched for the first time under the artificial breeding. Full of delight in the breeding farm.(1989)		In 2003, the wild stork came flying. The billboard which said “Please quietly watch the stork”, was put up at the biotope paddy field.

We started our long-cherished wish to do the experimental releasing. 40 years since the artificial breeding was started; 34 years since the last stork exterminated; 5 storks returned to the sky again. (2005)		The stork which is artificially bred, is staying at nest tower. (2005)

The stork which is artificially bred, is flying with holding material in the beak for the nest. (2006)
		To support the released storks in making their nests, artificial towers are built in several places in Toyooka City due to the great effort of the citizens.（2006）

The environment and the economic strategy of Toyooka city

In Toyooka city, we are developing an environment and economic strategy to make a city in which the environment and the economy stimulate each other. Environmental Approach causes economic effect, and the economic effect makes environmental approach sustainable. We will be economically independent based on this cycle. Currently we are approaching these 5 strategies “Promoting the Local produce, Local consumption” “Promoting the Organic agriculture” “Developing the Stork tourism” “Accumulating the environmental and economical companies” and “Promoting the Eco-energy”.

The sardine processing company and the plastics company cooperated and developed the dog food. Pet dog health and use the waste effectively for the environment created this product. This is one of the successful cases of said strategy.

Naomi Uemura adventure prize

Naomi Uemura adventure prize was started since 1996 to carry on the worldwide adventurer Naomi Uemura's sprit. We give the prize to person or organization that did something brave and creative to the nature, every year. We are giving dream, hope, and courage to people through the prize which is the only in Japan, also we are spreading the Uemura sprit.
	Naomi Uemura adventure prize an award ceremony

•The 1st (1996)
Takashi Ozaki – The first reach the top of the Hkakabo Razi(5881m) which is the highest peak in Myanmar .

•The 2nd (1997)
Akio Yonago – He overcame losing left hand, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean by the yacht.

•The 3rd (1998)
Yoshiharu Sekino – He Tried to traverse 50,000 km opposite direction of the Great Journey.

•The 4th (1999)
Mitsuro Ohba – He dominated the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic Continent on foot by himself.

•The 5th (2000)
Michio Kanda – He succeeded in flying over the Himalayas Nanga Parbat (8125m) by the hot-air balloon.

•The 6th (2001)
Yoshitaro Nakayama – He ran the 9400km in Central Asia along the Silk Road.

•The 7th (2002)
Taeko,Yasushi Yamanoi – They succeeded in reaching the Gyachung Kang peak (7952m) of Himalayas .

•The 8th (2003)
Hiromasa Ando – He succeeded in traveling 14,927m in Siberia in winter by bicycle.

•The 9th (2004)
Tamae Watanabe –She was the oldest female to reach Rortse (8516m) .

•The 10th (2005)
Tadashi Nagase – He traveled 40,000km all over the world with the bicycle-drawn cart.

Yoshio Toui prize “Word of Life”

Yoshio Toui who was called “Pestalozzi of Japan”, left a lot of words which support people's minds and way of life. In Toyooka city, we raise words which support lives, the same as his words from all over the country, and we take over as the “word of life”.

• From the Word of Life / Yoshio Toui prize winner in 2004 “The word that helps my life, from my mother”. You can cry alone, but you can't smile alone. (Mr. Tatsuya Suzukawa / Osaka city) • “Word of Life” of Yoshio Toui The sun does not wait for dawn to break and rise, the morning downs because the sun risies. The things can be seen eyes are supported by the things can not be seen eyes. You are the main character of your own. You are the leader to make you splendid.

The Yoshio Toui prize “Word of Life” winner announcement party

The Memorial Projects of Typhoon No.23

October 20th 2004 , Toyooka was attacked by the typhoon No.23. This typhoon took the honorable lives of 7 people, took livelihood from people, and damaged the beautiful countryside. We made good use of our experience, and we are working on various memorial projects. Not to forget damages from the flood, we set up poles to show the water levels. For teaching the precept to children, we go to all kindergartens and primary schools in the city every year to do disaster prevention / disaster reduction lessons, and disaster drills. Also to create a strong forest in the disasters, we plant various plants.

The bank was broken and muddy water covered the urban area of Toyooka. (2004)		We put poles to show the flooded level. (2005)

The memorial disaster prevention / disaster reduction lessons. (2005)		Planting the young plants to make strong forest in the disasters. (2005)

Return the children to the wild project

In Toyooka city, we opened the nature experience school in 2006. We want children to have rich inspirations, love the country, think about the meaning of life, and have morality and sense of justice through the experience in nature. Children can experience the primitive style camp, go down the river, climb the mountain, and observe various wildlife in the nature of Toyooka which has mountains, sea and rivers. We are trying to bring up energetic children through these activities.
		This “the nature experience school” is the part of returning the children to the wild project.

Toyooka city cooperates with four foreign cities as sister cities and friendship cities. We participate in cultural exchange through small groups and deepen our friendship.

Bulgukasa temple (Gyeongju city)		Gel (Yurt) in the Field (Mongoila)
Santa Barbara Castle ( Alicante city)		Tongariro Notioual Park (Ruapehu district)

Locations of international exchange cities