Abstract
A new approach to promote coastal works with public agreement was tested experimentally at the Kinoppu coast in Ohata Town in Aomori Prefecture. The new seacoast law enforced on April 1, 2000 requests public agreement to initiate new coastal works. In this study, a public hearing method was developed to exchange views on coastal works at the Kinoppucoast. A method to reach consensus between engineers in the administration, consultants, academic people and inhabitants through discussions and field trip was created toobtain public agreement on coastal works of this coast. Public hearing was carried out four times at the Kinoppucoast. Based on the discussions, various measures were proposed, including construction of a safe promenadealong the rocky coastline and an access road from visitor's house to the beach along a small river, improvementof a gently sloping revetment and the transformation of the aquaculture facility into a swimming pool for students.
