A new signboard was installed in front of the Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center announcing the new Hidaka Mountains Erimo Tokachi National Park designation.

Don't forget to check out the map of all national parks in Hokkaido and the map of Geoparks in Japan.

Edo Yama-tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi) and Nanakamado (Japanese rowan) are in bloom around Mt. Apoi Foothill Park and the Geopark Visitor Center. Mt. Apoi is becoming more crowded with climbers on the weekend.

↑ Edo Yama-tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi)

↓ Nanakamado (Japanese rowan)

April 10^th: I had just finished cleaning the bio-toilet in Horoman Gorge when I looked up and saw this.

A falcon was flying in a circle around and around in the sky. They must have found an updraft and used it to soar through the sky.

Katakuri flowers blooming next to the Horoman-gawa Inari Shrine

April 24: The cherry blossoms around the Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center are blooming.

April 26^th: Lovely weather today, and the magnolias and cherry blossoms are blooming.

The KANxKAN Series are activities for local people and are a collaborative effort by the Samani Folk Museum, Samani Public Library, and Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center. It is a way to learn about the town's history and nature through a wide variety of activities such as crafts, outdoor walks, lectures, and more.

In 2024, there will be more outdoor events than ever before! Come and enjoy learning about the rich nature and history of the town. For more details, please check the "Announcements" section of the Samani Town home page.

KANxKAN Activities in May

Translucent Paper Crafts, hosted by the Samani Public Library

Date: Saturday, May 25 10:00-11:30

Location: Central Community Center

KANxKAN Activities Exhibit

A panel exhibit showcasing the KANxKAN activities will be open to the public from April 10-17 at the Samani Community Center Gallery 21.

The Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center recently held a KANxKAN Lecture Series on February 17^th (Sat) with 12 participants. An oilpaper umbrella is one type of Japanese parasol made with a bamboo or wooden frame and oiled paper. In the mid-Edo period, stores lent umbrellas to customers free of charge, with the name and number of the store written on them. These umbrellas were so numerous throughout Edo that the name "bangasa" (numbered umbrella) was widely used.

The KANxKAN Lecture Series are monthly events co-hosted by the Samani Public Library, Samani Folk Museum, and Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center that cover a variety of topics. In this event, each facility gave an explanation related to the parasol, and visitors observed thin slices of peridotite and porphyrite, rocks found in Samani, with a polarizing plate and made parasols decorated with peridotite patterned origami paper. Making the parasols was difficult, but everyone enjoyed the challenge.


Making parasols

Many participants were very interested in the "Shanshan Umbrellas" donated by San'in Kaigan Geopark in 2015.

An article about the event was published in the March Samani Koho.

http://www.samani.jp/koho/202403p12p15.pdf

〇　Upcoming KANxKAN Lecture Series Events

The events will be held every month. The next event is "Bookmark Making and Reading the History of Samani" on April 20^th (Sat) at the Samani Central Community Center

〇　KANxKAN Lecture Series Exhibit

An exhibit will be held to introduce the activities of the lecture series.
April 10-17 at the Samani Central Community Center Gallery.