CAREERS & PATHWAYS | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

If I were to describe our work in a single phrase, it would be encouraging people to experience the national park firsthand while conserving its natural environment and landscapes.
Under the Natural Parks Act, we administer the park as a national government agency, working to balance conservation with appropriate public use across a wide area that includes both public and private land.

One of our daily tasks is handling permit applications and approvals within the park. For example, when someone proposes construction or other activities that may affect the landscape, we carefully review the details and grant permits where appropriate, often with conditions, to ensure they are compatible with the park’s natural environment.
While much of this work involves reviewing documents, we also frequently conduct site visits to understand the actual conditions on the ground. Another key part of our work is supporting the maintenance of mountain trails, signage, and visitor facilities, in cooperation with local governments and other stakeholders, so that visitors can safely enjoy the park.

However, what we value most goes beyond administrative procedures. We are constantly challenged to balance two sometimes competing goals: conserving nature and enabling people to experience it. Our essential mission is to find a practical and sustainable balance by working closely with local communities and engaging directly on the ground.

That perspective is essential for understanding Japanese national parks. In countries with vast land areas such as the United States, many national parks are largely composed of publicly owned land, and management tends to focus on setting aside and protecting extensive natural areas.
In contrast, Japanese national parks adopt a zoning system that designates areas of outstanding natural value regardless of land ownership boundaries. As a result, many private lands are included within the parks, where local residents’ livelihoods and communities have existed for generations. A key feature of this model is the involvement of diverse stakeholders, including local governments.
This framework—where land ownership and park administration are separate—creates both challenges and unique opportunities. Progress cannot be achieved simply through top-down regulation; instead, we need to visit sites, engage directly with farmers and business owners, and build mutual understanding through continuous dialogue.
While national park management in countries like the United States often places a strong emphasis on protecting large natural areas, management in Japan places additional emphasis on managing the relationships between nature and people, and among the people themselves. These steady, collaborative efforts are essential to the effective management of Japan’s national parks.

Differences in National Park Management Between Japan and the U.S.

The most defining characteristic of Aso-Kuju National Park is the coexistence of volcanoes and human activity. The world-class caldera and the vast grasslands surrounding it may appear to be "untouched nature" at first glance. However, in reality, these grasslands have been maintained for centuries through agricultural and livestock practices such as grazing and controlled burning (noyaki).
Without continued human management, the grasslands would quickly transition into shrubland and eventually revert to forest. As a result, the unique flora and fauna that depend on grassland ecosystems would be lost. In other words, this landscape is not shaped by nature alone; it is a form of "secondary nature" created through long-term human involvement.
Compared to approaches often seen in countries such as the United States, where strong emphasis is placed on protecting large natural areas, Aso-Kuju National Park focuses on how to pass down a landscape shaped through the interaction between people and nature to future generations. We believe this ongoing cycle is what gives Aso-Kuju’s cultural landscape its core value and global significance.

Exactly. Our work is not about simply restricting access to nature. Rather, we protect and care for it so that it is maintained in the best possible condition, allowing as many people as possible to be inspired by the landscapes of Aso-Kuju National Park.
Properly protecting nature means bringing out the full value and appeal of each place. For example, continuing controlled burns (noyaki) to maintain the grasslands not only supports the livelihoods of local communities, but also allows visitors to experience the strong sense of openness and beauty unique to Aso-Kuju. Maintaining mountain trails plays a similar role—it enables visitors to safely enjoy the best views while minimizing impacts on the ecosystem.

When nature is protected through the collective efforts of local communities over many years, it creates a sense of genuine inspiration. Those who experience it often feel, "I want to cherish this place." That feeling, in turn, supports future conservation efforts. Our goal is to create this kind of positive cycle, in which people develop a deeper connection with nature through its protection.

Each region has its own unique history, traditions, and culture, and our first priority is to understand and respect that background. We also try not to see ourselves simply as “the administration,” but rather to become part of the community and build genuine relationships.
By spending time on the ground and engaging with local residents in their daily lives, we are able to develop a deeper understanding of the local society and economy. This allows us to develop and carry out initiatives that align with real conditions on the ground. It is a slow and steady process, but by building trust through these close, grassroots connections, we are gradually gaining the cooperation of local communities. It may seem indirect, but we believe this approach is essential.

The greatest challenge is that there is no single right answer we can point to. Take controlled burning (noyaki), which is essential for maintaining the grasslands, for example. As agricultural practices change and local populations age, it is reaching the limits of what local communities can sustain. How should we involve outside volunteers? How can we develop new tourism-based approaches to support these efforts? Working through these challenges together with local residents—who are balancing the desire to preserve tradition with the reality that change is necessary—is not easy at all.
At the same time, this is what makes the work so meaningful. It happens when, after many rounds of discussion, local people say, “If that’s the case, let’s try it together.” And when, through these joint efforts, I see fresh green shoots emerging in spring from land that has been blackened by controlled burning, I feel a deep sense that our work is helping to carry this landscape into the future. Seeing that vitality and beauty, I truly feel that this is the most rewarding part of my work.

What we are aiming for now is to shift tourism from a model of consumption toward one of investment in conservation. Specifically, we want to build a sustainable tourism system in this region. National parks are increasingly expected to create a “positive cycle” in which visitors are not merely passive observers, but active participants in the preservation and care of nature.
First of all, I hope people will visit these national parks, which are among our shared treasures. I want them to be moved by their beauty, walk the land, and experience the presence of the volcanoes and the vastness of the grasslands. Through these experiences, I hope they develop a genuine desire to cherish these places.
Increasing the number of people who care about Aso-Kuju National Park, one person at a time—this is the essential first step in passing down this thousand-year landscape to the next thousand years.
For APU’s College of Sustainability and Tourism, Aso-Kuju National Park offers a familiar and valuable environment for hands-on learning. I would be delighted if, through the knowledge and experiences gained here, we could work together to enhance this treasure and share its value and inspiration with the world.