On October 25th, the 6th Lake Biwa Family Seminar was held as part of the Kinki Rokin Social Contribution Project – Smile Plus, in collaboration with Kinki Labour Bank（Kinki Rokin）, the certified NPO Biwako Hojo no Sato, and Horiba Advanced Techno Co., Ltd. The theme of the seminar was “From Meta River to the World! ++ Connecting Through Eco Activities ++.”
The seminar consisted of two main sections: a presentation session and an outdoor activity. 33 parents and children attended the event.
💧 Presentation Session
The first presentation was given by the Horiba Advanced Techno team, a group of experts in water and liquid measurement.
Their talk, titled “What We Can Learn by Measuring Water,” explained that visible indicators like color and smell are not enough to assess water safety, and that proper analysis is essential. The session included a fun and interactive quiz, helping participants understand the critical role of water measurement in protecting both local and global ecosystems.
🕊️ ILEC Presentation: “Hummingbird Challenge – Delivered to Brisbane”
ILEC introduced how the poster created for the WLC20 exhibition at last year’s seminar was displayed at the venue.
Participants gained a tangible sense of how their local initiatives connect with the world through the experience of having their community activities presented at an international conference.
🌏 Meta Rangers’ Presentation: Insights from WLC20
The Meta Rangers, a group of elementary and middle school students actively involved in the Meta River cleanup and nature preservation efforts, shared their experiences at WLC20.
They expressed many reflections, such as: “Listening to stories about lakes from around the world made me want to take action and help solve problems,” “I was happy that my English was understood after working hard to speak,” and “I was encouraged by people from overseas, which made me feel good.”
It was inspiring to see how much the children grew by connecting with the world.
🌿 Outdoor Activity
Guided by Biwako Hojo no Sato, participants walked while picking up garbage along the way to the venue for bamboo bread making. Although the roads appeared clean at first glance, a closer inspection revealed a lot of small garbage near intersections, such as cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and plastic bottles.
Upon arriving at the venue, the participants examined the garbage they had collected. They learned that cigarette filters are made of plastic, which can contribute to microplastic pollution.
🍞 Bamboo Bread Making
After the cleanup activity, it was time for the much-awaited bamboo bread making! As the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread spread, smiles naturally appeared on everyone’s faces. Parents and children worked together to wrap dough around bamboo sticks and bake the bread, which sparked lively interactions among the participants. It was a fun, tasty, and thoughtful experience, giving everyone a chance to reflect on sustainability while enjoying the activity.
💬 Closing Remarks
Through this seminar, we hope that everyone was able to feel how activities in our own local communities are connected to the preservation of lakes, oceans, and the global environment. It was a heartwarming day where we all reflected on the importance of taking small steps and continuing to do what we can, no matter how little it might seem.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, cooperated, and supported us.
