Leverage Volcanic Belts! "Geothermal Marche" Heats Up in Tokyo
The Geothermal Marche (organized by the Geothermal Marche Executive Committee) was held over two days, March 26 and 27, at Futakotamagawa Rise in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, with the aim of fostering public understanding of geothermal resource development.
This event, held since February in three locations across Japan—Kyushu (Kokura), Tohoku (Sendai), and Hokkaido (Sapporo)—all potential geothermal resource development areas, culminated in Tokyo.
On the first day, vegetables grown using geothermal energy were sold at the venue, attracting many buyers. On stage, geothermal-themed dances were performed, and "Geothermal Entertainers" like Kikuchi Usotsukana and Ochanomizu Danshi energized the crowd.
Geothermal power, capable of stable electricity generation, is anticipated as a "domestic baseload power source." Yet despite Japan being one of the world's most volcanic countries and possessing the world's third-largest geothermal resources, this fact remains largely unknown. Meanwhile, areas with geothermal resources are often mountainous regions facing concerns over declining birthrates, aging populations, and industrial decline.
At this event, workshops were held in past host cities to explore approaches for linking geothermal resources to solving local challenges, involving students, residents, and businesses. On the Tokyo stage, as a summary, a panel discussion was held featuring community designer Ryo Yamazaki, who also supervised the workshops.
Mr. Yamazaki stated, "Geothermal energy needs exciting science communication that hints at a new era and future," adding, "When informed individuals and regions connect, it creates potential for new innovation." Kikuchi Usotsukanaï also remarked, "Knowledge is the first step to expansion," while Ochanomizu Danshi drew laughter from the audience by saying, "If we can create a platform for sharing geothermal information, maybe we could benefit from geothermal energy too."
Finally, Takaaki Kameishi, Representative of Reverse Project, and Susumu Namikawa, Representative of Dentsu Inc. Social Design Engine, joined the discussion. Kameishi emphasized, "It's crucial to understand geothermal's essence and think with a future-oriented perspective." Namikawa proposed, "Visualizing geothermal energy could enable its branding." Yamazaki concluded, "Geothermal energy has the potential to foster ethical consumption—choosing what we believe is right—and ethical business practices."
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