Daisetsuzan in Summer | Tomohiro Ichinose, Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
I previously introduced the Special Research Project course for the Faculty of Policy Management and the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies in an Okashira Diary entry (September 6, 2022, "Special Research Project"). This summer break, we conducted the project in early August at Mount Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido. When I last introduced it, it was the summer of 2022, when overnight trips were finally being permitted again after the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, there were only seven participants, including myself, to avoid crowded conditions. This time, however, we became a large group of 18 people in total, including students enrolled in the course and accompanying graduate students.
We chartered a large bus and traveled to various locations, mainly around the foot of Mount Asahidake, and we also climbed Mount Asahidake, which is relatively accessible. In the Special Research Project that I organize, students set their own themes individually or in groups and conduct their own research while visiting the site. In some cases, nighttime surveys are necessary to observe mammals or insects, while early morning is more suitable for birds. We often go out to look for creatures individually on-site, but since this area is a brown bear habitat, we had to move in groups at all times and were forced to abandon nighttime and early morning surveys.
The timing of early August was supposed to be the very last chance to enjoy the alpine flowers, but perhaps because Hokkaido was also hit by a heatwave this year, even the cottongrass could no longer be seen around the Sugatami Pond on Mount Asahidake. Among the Ezo pika, Ezo flying squirrel, and hazel grouse that the students had expressed a strong desire to observe, they were only able to see the Ezo pika. The other two species will have to wait for the next opportunity. It is not easy to encounter rare creatures during a limited stay.
I pride myself on being a "fair-weather man," but this time we were plagued by unfortunate weather, particularly a heavy downpour when we visited Hagoromo Falls. When we climbed Mount Asahidake, the weather showed occasional glimpses of sunshine through the fog until early afternoon, but it was raining again by the time we finally descended. Of course, the members were equipped for rain, so there was no hindrance to our activities, but we didn't have the luxury of observing creatures at a leisurely pace, and the creatures themselves don't come out in the first place. However, after finishing the Special Research Project itinerary, I climbed Mount Kurodake with some of the students, and that day was beautifully sunny; from the summit of Mount Kurodake, we could see all the mountains of Daisetsuzan, including Mount Asahidake. It seems there must have been a very powerful "rain man" or "rain woman" among us during the first half of the trip.
Now, the terms for Deans of Faculties and Deans of Graduate Schools are two years, and my term lasts until the end of September. This is my final Okashira Diary entry for this term, and I would like to thank everyone who has read it over the past two years.