In Japan, Geography is taught mainly within Life Environmental Studies in the first two grades and within Social Studies between third and sixth grade. In the third grade (students aged 8-9 years),Social Studies focuses on observing social phenomena in the immediate vicinity of the school and in the local area . In their fieldwork, children observe land use and local features, after which they create a map of their neighborhood. These activities in the local area provide them with experiences of places. Children first observe the location and functions of local fire and police stations.

Specimens have the advantage of visualizing depositional characteristics and provide basic information on historical anthropogenic activities. In this study, we discuss the vertical Sedimentation characteristics visualization using stripped specimens and resin specimens.

In recent years, various disasters have occurred across the country, and Japan Society of Urban and Regional Planners(JSURP) is working to promote the use of evacuation map “Nigechizu”. To enable more people to implement "Nigechizu", it is necessary to prepare base maps more easily. This presentation summarizes the process of creating base maps using “GSI Maps Vector”, and the requests for improvement, and reports on the results of “Nigechizu” workshop in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, based on the base maps. “GSI Maps Vector” made it easy to add local information and create maps centered on the desired locations. In addition, we confirmed that maps can be created using only a browser, even without specialized GIS knowledge. On the other hand, it was necessary to devise a way to create A1-sized maps with matching scales.

Island communities in Japan face serious demographic challenges, including population decline and aging. The Ogasawara Islands, however, have a relatively stable population, partly due to an influx of new islanders engaged in tourism. This study explores their motivations, challenges and contributions. Gindings show that lifestyle preferences - such as seeking natural environments and better work-life balance - motivate relocation. Social integration is shaped by support from long-term residents, amid geographic isolation and limited services. New islanders contribute to tourism sustainability through specialized tours and environmental education. Their experiences highlight the potential of lifestyle migration to support revitalization in remote island communities.

In school geography in Singapore's secondary schools, the Syllabus, a curriculum, is being implemented for the Lower Secondary (2021), Upper Secondary (2023) and Pre-University (2024) courses. This presentation aims to identify the role of “Geographical Concepts” in geography teaching in Upper Secondary and Pre-University courses in Singapore through case studies. For this purpose, first, the “Syllabus” is analysed; second, the practices of teachers B in Upper Secondary School A and teacher D in Pre-University School C were investigated through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with practitioners B and D, as well as their practices. Third, the analysed “Syllabus” and the “Geographical Concepts” are examined through a case study. Third, based on the analysis of the syllabus and classroom practice, the role of geographical concepts in Singapore school geography practice will be clarified.

The disaster preparedness of voluntary disaster prevention organizations for a Major Eruption of Mt. Sakurajima - Focusing on the evacuation from the Yahata school district in the center of Kagoshima city -

In recent years, food tourism has garnered attention as a method of tourism promotion, contributing to the revitalization of local economies and the diversification of tourism resources. This study focuses on the "Kure Maritime Self-Defense Force Curry" project in Kure City, which was historically the site of a naval district. The project aims to promote tourism by replicating the curry served aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels at local restaurants. According to interviews with relevant organizations, this initiative not only supports the tourism industry but also strengthens local pride and identity. The project provides tourists with an opportunity to experience naval history, while also helping residents reaffirm their identity as a "Naval town."

I concern the current education of geography is not well connected with actual needs and application to the real social, due to the general behaviour of professional geographer and marginalization of foreign geography. The number of internationalized young people are thereby decreasing.I picked up the newest Common Geography Test for University Admissions and tried to make clear tendency of the way of thinking of aforementioned professional geographers.My conclusion is that professional geographers must deepen the ties and discuss with businesspersons with a certain geographical knowledge to improve the quality of the tests and the development of the discipline.

Using the 2020 census population by age in small areas, 33 housing estates with diverse generational compositions were found to have no progress in population aging. This study uses this analysis to consider the factors that led to the formation of housing estates composed of diverse generations and the actual state of generational cycles.

In housing estates where there is demand for residence due to features such as a high-quality living environment, relatively low land prices and rent, and convenient living and transportation, generational cycles have been confirmed not only in apartment buildings but also in detached houses.

This study examines the relationship between Ainu place names and commemorative practices by Ainu people in the Tohoku region. Since at least the 1990s, people living in Hokkaido and the Tokyo metropolitan area have occasionally held commemorative events. In some cases, Ainu place names have served as a prerequisite for these commemorations. This connection likely stems from the fact traces of the Ainu presence in the Tohoku region have often been identified based on vague memories.

The alcohol consumption preferences of communities across Japan have been strongly influenced by the tastes that have been deeply rooted in the region for many years. On the other hand, alcohol consumption has been sensitive to fluctuations, influenced by so-called booms publicized by the mass media and other sources. The purpose of this report is to clarify the distribution of traditional popular alcoholic beverages across Japan and changes consumption trends in those regions, and to consider the factors behind these changes.

Metropolitan commuting flows reveal crucial insights into urban spatial dynamics; however, existing mobility models often struggle to capture the complex, heterogeneous patterns within these regions. This study introduces the Spatially Segregated Urban Gravity (SSUG) model, a novel approach that synergistically combines urban classification with gravity-based flow prediction to address this limitation.

This multifaceted approach enables simultaneous improvement in flow prediction accuracy and robust urban functional classification. Empirical validation across six diverse Japanese metropolitan areas—Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Sapporo—demonstrates the SSUG model’s superior predictive power compared to traditional gravity models. Our results unveil previously undetected patterns of spatial structure and functional segregation, particularly highlighting the divergent commuting dynamics between urban cores and suburban peripheries.

A bathymetric survey using a multibeam echo-sounder and seafloor sediment observations via ROV were conducted in the waters around the Hakata Strait, the western part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Polished rubble is exposed on the seafloor at the bottom of calderas, indicating that erosional processes are currently dominant. Concurrently, multiple large-scale sand dunes exist in the same area. The basal surface of the postglacial deposits, which corresponds to the glacial period surface, forms a gently undulating topography at water depths of ~40–50 meters. It is presumed that seafloor erosion and deposition occurred under Holocene sea-level highstands.

This report focuses on fresh vegetables that require domestic procurement to examine the actual state of the food chain leading to foreign-owned supermarkets and clarify the impact on farmers in West Java. Our survey results revealed that wholesalers and processors of fresh vegetables, as well as brokers, play a significant role in the food chain that reaches foreign-owned supermarkets. From the perspective of farmers at the upstream end of the supply chain, the shipping destination has remained unchanged over time. Consequently, it has been found that the recent increase in foreign-owned supermarkets has had only a limited impact on farmers.

We report monitoring data on needle ice creep and gully erosion on the bare slopes by landslides caused by the 2018 Hokkaido eastern Iburi earthquake (M6.7), and discuss a sediment runoff mechanism from slopes to a river system under the cold climate, including Hokkaido.

This study examines whether public toilets can be considered tourism resources. While often overlooked, toilets shape tourists’ cultural experiences through cleanliness, unexpected design, and physical engagement. Focusing on Shibuya’s design public toilets, we analyzed foreign tourists’ narratives, social media, and movement patterns. Results show that some toilets are remembered as “photo spots” or surprising cultural encounters, though they had a limited impact on large-scale tourist flows. Still, toilets serve as spatial anchors and symbolic experiences, especially for international visitors. We argue that tourism research must address such “invisible spaces” to redefine embodied experiences within urban tourism contexts.

Lake Ogawara is a brackish lake located in eastern Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. Throughout the Jomon period, ancient people lived around the lake and formed numerous archaeological sites. Some of these sites, such as Futatsumori shell midden, are part of the World Heritage “the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan”, and include some of the oldest shell mounds in Japan. We conducted coring surveys at three sites in alluvial lowlands around the lake for reconstructing depositional environment based on depositional facies, diatom and molluscan fossils and radiocarbon dating. Furthermore, we discussed the relationship between ancient human activities and paleo-environmental changes.

This study examines the transformation and current status of ban’ya (traditional fishing huts) along the coast of Hokkaido, focusing on the Okhotsk side of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Through aerial photo analysis (1974–2019), field surveys, and interviews, we clarified the decline and conversion of ban’ya along Hokkaido's coasts, while identifying cases of continued use in Shiretoko. These ban’ya function as spatial resources supporting fisheries under severe natural conditions. We argue that ban’ya are not merely fisheries facilities but cultural and ecological resources, forming part of regional socio-ecological systems.