The Origin and Development of Geoparks in Japan: Reflections from a Personal Perspective

This chapter provides a historical overview of geopark development in Japan, especially focusing on the initial stage. The author was a key stakeholder in these efforts, and the chapter is based on his personal experience. In the initial stage, excepting a few geoscientists, the geopark concept was virtually unknown. The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) was a major catalyst for introducing geopark activities into Japan. The first key stakeholders were academic societies and scientists, and it was realized at that stage that local administrative participation was vital for the growth of this concept in Japan. The Japan Geopark Committee (JGC) was established to evaluate the scientific merit of applications, and the first designated geoparks voluntarily set up the Japanese Geoparks Network (JGN). The first global geoparks from Japan were recognized in 2009, and this helped generate media attention and popular interest. Today, Japan has 35 national geoparks and 8 UNESCO global geoparks. The activities have become much more diverse compared to the initial years, the stakeholder base have become broader, and educational programs in geoparks have gained praise from evaluators; however, several issues such as conservation of geological heritage and long-term plan for sustainable development needs more attention.