Japan pref. supports Nicaraguan enviro learning program modeled after Lake Biwa boat school

The Mainichi

06-05-2025

OTSU -- Children in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua are learning the importance of the environment through a lake boat study program modeled after one in west Japan's Shiga Prefecture which has hosted hundreds of thousands of students in its decades-long history.
The Nicaraguan version of the "Uminoko" program takes place on Lake Managua, the second largest lake in the country, just like the namesake original program has been held on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake located in Shiga Prefecture, since 1983. So far, 634,283 children participated in the latter, which is for all fifth graders in the prefecture as part of an education curriculum like no other in the country.
During Shiga's Uminoko overnight tours, children observe creatures inhabiting Lake Biwa using microscopes and underwater cameras, and learn about local food culture and how to utilize common reed grass from the shores of the lake.
After a Japanese staff member at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s Nicaragua office learned of the contamination of Lake Managua, they proposed introducing the Uminoko program there, as the worker knew about the Shiga Prefectural Government's efforts to conserve and restore Lake Biwa.
After consulting with Shiga Prefecture in 2020, the JICA staffer proposed to the city of Managua about initiating the environmental learning program on Lake Managua, telling them that educating children about the environment would also have a positive impact on adults. The city expressed interest in the proposal, and commenced its version of Uminoko in 2021, which has been joined by some 1,200 fourth and fifth graders over the following four years.
Lake Managua spans 1,053 square kilometers, 1.5 times the 669-square-kilometer Lake Biwa. Due to years of domestic and industrial wastewater inflow, Lake Managua has become extremely polluted, making it impossible to use its water for drinking and in the agricultural and fisheries industries.
As the city of Managua does not own a dedicated learning ship like the one at Lake Biwa, it rents a tourist boat to carry out the roughly two-hour Uminoko day trip program. Aboard the ship, children observe the water of Lake Managua and its creatures, and discuss what needs to be done to clean the water with classmates.
In November 2024, the Shiga Prefectural Government, alongside Shiga University and the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation based in the prefectural city of Kusatsu, filed a project proposal with JICA to provide full support for the Nicaraguan Uminoko program. The roughly 60-million-yen (approx. $427,000) project includes improving the educational program, fostering instructors and promoting technical cooperation with local educational institutions. The proposal was subsequently adopted as part of JICA's Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project.
The Shiga government and other bodies will formulate basic plans utilizing the environmental learning know-how to resolve challenges facing Lake Managua, and aim to create learning materials, develop human resources and improve awareness among residents. They will also conduct mutual visits among officials in charge of the project.
At a recent regular press conference, Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki stressed the significance of the Uminoko program, saying, "The initiative will spearhead various countries' efforts to join hands for sustainable conservation of lakes and swamps. By leading the Nicaraguan version of Uminoko to success, I hope the initiative will spread to other countries and regions."
(Japanese original by Akira Kitade, Otsu Bureau)