PROJECT

Instructor introduction

NAME:RYUTA IGAWA(AGE:27) BLOOD TYPE:B BIRTHPLACE:SUWA CITY

Hello!
I grew up in Suwa until high school and then went to Yokohama National University.
I started living outside Nagano Prefecture for the first time. Afterwards, I got a job at an apparel trading company in Tokyo, but I couldn’t give up my love for Nagano Prefecture and decided to return home. I work for Otaki Village in Nagano Prefecture. I was impressed with the kayak experience there. I really liked it. Wondering why we couldn’t experience kayaking in Lake Suwa, coupled with the desire to work locally, was what made me start the Lake Suwa Kayak Project!


NAME : GOSHI OZU(AGE:25) BLOOD TYPE:B BIRTHPLACE:TOKYO

Hi!
I was born and raised in Tokyo, and came to Suwa to get a job. The more I got to know the area, the more convinced I was of the city’s attractiveness. There’s wonderful history, culture, and nature, but I think there’s still a lot of unexplored charm.
At everyone’s pride and joy, Lake Suwa, I met a young man who was doing kayak tours. Thanks to him, now I’m a guide too! I want to enliven Suwa through kayaking! I’m an engineer on weekdays, and a kayak guide on weekends.


Things we want to do

I want make Suwa a place where people gather.

When people gather, what we are capable of doing also expands. If you visit Suwa with a wish, your wish will be realized. I want to make it into such a place.
Whilst wondering how to get people to come, I thought “I need to increase the number of fans for Suwa!”
The Suwa area is full of many attractions, such as Onbashira, museums, Suwa Taisha, hot springs, fireworks, and Jomon culture. However, the attractions surrounding Lake Suwa are still few in number. So, I want to create a place such that as you enjoy playing, eating, and even the hot springs, you’ll suddenly realize that the day is already over. With this in mind, I decided to work on what I could do first.


Environmental considerations

In the past, Lake Suwa was clear and we could swim and fish in the lake. However, after a period of high economic growth, it has become difficult to swim now. Lake Suwa is the center of Suwa city. Improving water quality is not only a tourism issue, but also a matter of biodiversity and the responsibility for delivering water resources downstream. I consider Lake Suwa to be “a big empty house”. If you do not use it, it will be ruined. That’s why we promote creating an environment where many people can use Lake Suwa,  we want to increase the number of people who are interested, and work together to contribute to the beautification of Lake Suwa.