Using the World's Treasure, Mount Fuji, as Teaching Material "Fuji Country Building Kids Study Program Workshop 2014" Held

On August 20, the "Fuji no Kuni Zukuri Kids Study Program Workshop 2014" was held at Sumida Riverside Hall in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Approximately 100 elementary school teachers from Shizuoka Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Sumida Ward, and Shibuya Ward participated. The event was organized by the "Fuji no Kuni" Creation Promotion Council (Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture) and the Mount Fuji World Heritage National Council, with support from the boards of education of Shizuoka Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Sumida Ward, and Shibuya Ward. Mount Fuji, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in June last year, has transitioned from a "treasure of Japan" to a "treasure of the world," gaining attention as a learning theme for children.

The "Fuji Kids Study Program," launched in 2011 to preserve the beauty of Mount Fuji for the next 100 years, has produced and distributed educational materials. This time, the program's name was changed to the "Fuji no Kuni Kids Study Program." Using Katsushika Hokusai's ukiyo-e prints "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" from the Edo period as teaching materials, the program aims to help children carefully interpret the depicted scenes of people. This allows them to learn about Edo-period townspeople culture and realize how Japanese traditions and culture, symbolized by Mount Fuji, are closely connected to their own lives and feelings. The goal is to nurture children's sense of "cherishing Japan."

 		 		 
 	Director Sugiyama's Opening Remarks	 	Part 1: Lecture by Teacher Umezawa	 

 

The workshop began with Director Yasuhiro Sugiyama of the Shizuoka Prefecture Culture and Tourism Department delivering opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. He explained the significance of the program and declared that Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures, together with the Mount Fuji World Heritage National Council, would work as one to promote its future dissemination.
In Part 1, Mr. Shinichi Umezawa, a teacher at Tsukuba University Elementary School who played a central role in compiling the National Council's educational material "Learning About the Townspeople Culture that Thrived in Edo through the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji," gave a lecture. Focusing on the theme of "Stimulating Children's Curiosity," he shared teaching tips using this material.

 		 		 
 	Teaching Materials: "Learning About the Thriving Townspeople Culture of Edo Through the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji"	 	Part 2: Panel Discussion	 

 

In Part 2's panel discussion, moderated by Teacher Umezawa and featuring elementary school teachers from Chuo and Shibuya Wards and a curator from Sumida Ward, participants actively discussed ideas for utilizing the teaching material "Learning About the Thriving Townspeople Culture of Edo Through the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" in social studies classes, including learning objectives and teaching methods. They presented proposals to the attendees.
During the final Q&A session, participating teachers offered various opinions and advice, demonstrating high interest and enthusiasm for the program.