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MHI Shikoku Office Holds "Satoumi Tour" to Promote Understanding of Need for Environmental Protection in Coastal Areas

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On November 9, the Shikoku Office (Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture) of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), jointly with the Shikoku Branch Office of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and other parts of both companies' groups, held a ”Satoumi Tour” as an activity to deepen understanding toward the need for environmental protection in coastal areas.

Listening to a talk on depopulation and the graying of society by a member of the Executive Committee for the Creation of Satoumi in Ogoshi
Listening to a talk on depopulation and the graying of society by a member of the Executive Committee for the Creation of Satoumi in Ogoshi

The event took place in the Ogoshi district of Sakaide City (Kagawa) in cooperation with the Kagawa Prefecture Environment and Forestry Department's Environmental Management Division and the Executive Committee for the Creation of Satoumi in Ogoshi. Blessed with fine weather, a total of 44 employees and their family members participated.

"Satoumi" is a term applied to a coastal area where biological productivity and biodiversity are increased through human interaction. The tour was conducted to have participants experience first-hand the various environmental problems affecting both land and sea in coastal areas.

To begin, in conjunction with the site's land area, a local hunter explained how changes in the environment are ravaging the nearby mountains, causing an increasing number of wild boars to come down into populated areas. The participants learned about the destruction this has caused to agricultural products.

In the afternoon, the topic shifted to water and the venue was moved to the coast itself. Here, the participants experienced "beachcombing," collecting, examining and categorizing shells and other items washed up on the shore. This was followed by a collective cleanup of the coastal area, with participants separating the collected trash according to the system espoused by the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) initiative. Through this activity, the participants experienced how trash is impacting coastal waters.

The day's activities, conducted in their home area, provided participants a highly meaningful opportunity to think about both local and global environmental issues.

Going forward, MHI Group will continue to proactively engage in community-based social contribution activities based on the CSR Action Guidelines "Care for the planet" and "Create a more harmonious society."

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Viewing a wild boar trap set by a local hunter
Viewing a wild boar trap set by a local hunter
Examining collected shells, referring to charts
Examining collected shells, referring to charts
Categorizing trash using the International Coastal Cleanup system
Categorizing trash using the International Coastal Cleanup system
Explanations by a guide enabled participants to deepen their understanding toward ocean trash.
Explanations by a guide enabled participants to deepen their understanding toward ocean trash.

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.