Nature Contact Lecture Series at Kawayu Visitor Center Kawayu Visitor Center will host two lectures in the Nature Contact series. In October, Tomoko Yoshikawa, Professor Emerita of the Faculty of Agriculture at Tamagawa University, will present “Life in Volcanic Lakes: Ecological Connections of Lake Kussharo.” In December, Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, Researcher and Specially Appointed Professor in the Faculty of Science at Hokkaido University, will give a talk titled “Why Is Lake Kussharo So Shallow? The Secrets of Atosanupuri Volcano Revealed by Recent Research.” Our region spreads around the Kussharo Caldera, shaped by major volcanic activity. Lake Kussharo, Japan’s largest caldera lake, stands as a symbol of Akan-Mashu National Park and has nurtured a wide variety of life thanks to volcanic bounty. To take a fresh look at this special lake and share its appeal and origins, we planned these two lectures. First, an exploration of the lake’s connections with its living creatures; second, a clear explanation of volcanic findings uncovered by recent research, delivered gently by each expert. We hope that encountering the grand natural story behind the familiar landscape of Lake Kussharo will give you a deeper understanding of and pride in the lake and the park. “Life in Volcanic Lakes: Ecological Connections of Lake Kussharo” Tomoko Yoshikawa, Professor Emerita, Faculty of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, will appear as speaker. Date: Saturday, October 25 — 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, second floor Admission: Free (no registration required; capacity 50) “Why Is Lake Kussharo So Shallow? The Secrets of Atosanupuri Volcano Revealed by Recent Research” Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, Researcher and Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, will be our guest speaker. Date: Saturday, December 6 — 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, second floor Admission: Free (no registration required; capacity 50) Kawayu Visitor Center Nature Contact Lecture Series Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, second floor Inquiries: 015-483-4100 / 9:00 AM–4:00 PM / Closed Wednesdays Organizer: Lake Kussharo Caldera Nature Contact Promotion Council https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/kawayuvcfureai2/