Author: Benkei

An exhibition of Mount Fuji Ranger Picture Report 2025 has been held at the Kofu City Library in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan organized by the Yamanashi Prefecture Promotion Council for the Mount Fuji Charter from December 9, 2025 through December 21, 2025. Mount Fuji and Aokigahara Forest areas are rich in nature; however, the areas have been polluted with industrial and household wastes causing environmental strain despite the areas are inside the National Park and being a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 2013. Don’t you think something is wrong?

[right/middle] Japanese Goldthread (Coptis quinquefolia), a seedling of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata), Monotropastrum (Monotropastrum humile), Destroying angel (Amanita virosa) [right/low] Ice stalagmite, Futarishizuka (Chloranthus serratus), Tamagotake (Amanita caesareoides), Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus)

[left] ~3000m: Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris); ~2400m Treeline: Japanese accentor (Prunella rubida), Spotted nutcracker (Nicifraga caryocatactes); ~1500m Mountain forest, Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Japanese leaf warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus); ~800m Northern Mount Fuji area: Willow tit (Poecile montanus), Varied tit (Sittiparus varius), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Chestnut-eared bunting (Emberiza fucata). [right] (In different locations) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris), Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus), Chestnut-eared bunting (Emberiza fucata), Japanese robin (Larvivora akahige)

[left] (Chicks and adults) Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Japanese leaf warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas), Mute swan (Cygnus olor), Cinereous tit (Parus cinereus), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus). [right] (In different locations) Cinereous tit (Parus cinereus), Willow tit (Poecile montanus), Coal tit (Periparus ater), Varied tit (Sittiparus varius), Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki)

Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Fruits of flowering dogwood trees, Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida

Mariko Chigira is a paper collage artist based in the city of Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Her exhibition titled Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here” has been held at the Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum in the city of Minami Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan from June 15, 2025 through March 10, 2026.

Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum: https://www.minamialps-net.jp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025_minamiALPS_chigira_A4.pdf; https://www.minamialps-net.jp/cat_news/384555#; https://www.minamialps-net.jp/

Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

A 115-year-old cedar tree, born in 1890 and 115 years old in 2005; Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese cypress -(Chamaecyparis obtusa), Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora), and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here,” Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here,” Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Minobusan Kuonji (Mount Minobu Kuon Temple) is the head temple of Nichiren Shu (sect) Buddhism located in the town of Minobu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. https://kuonji.jp/english/

Also, please refer to the GALLERY, MINOBU 2017/01/05 (https://etsuo.tokyo/photogallery/#MINOBU).

Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

The Okunoin Approach East Course: https://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/hiking/east.php

Mount Minobu Kuon Temple and its Okunoin, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Japanese cedar trees, Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomeria

Momi fir (Abies firma): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_firma, Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina): Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgeworthia_chrysantha, Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Shikizakura (Cerasus × subhirtella ‘Semperflorens’ Miyoshi), Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

(In Japanese) https://www.hananokai.or.jp/sakura-zukan/shikizakura/; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AD%E3%82%B6%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A9

The base station of the Minobusan Ropeway is located behind Mount Minobu Kuon Temple and connects between Kuonji Station and Okunoin Station in just 7 minutes. The elevation of Kuonji Statin is 390 meters above sea level. Okunoin Station is located at the sumit of Mount Minobu and it’s elevation is 1,153 meters above sea level. The distance between the two stations is 1,665 meters.

Mount Minobu Ropeway: https://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/; https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/recover/minobusan-ropeway.html

I had an opportunity to visit the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It was created to research and develop next-generation energy systems, primarily focusing on Power-to-Gas (P2G) technology to create a CO₂-free hydrogen society. P2G is a technology that converts surplus renewable electricity (from wind or solar) into storable gaseous fuels like hydrogen or synthetic natural gas. All current P2G systems start with electrolysis splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. In a “power-to-hydrogen” system, the resulting hydrogen is injected into the natural gas grid, or is used in transport or industry rather than being used to produce another gas type.

Power-to-Gas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-gas

Yamanashi Prefecture is a significant hub for hydrogen and fuel cell research and development (R&D), featuring a strong academic-industry cluster centered around the University of Yamanashi, world-class facilities like FC-Cubic, and the Hydrogen Technology Center, focusing on the entire hydrogen cycle from production (including green hydrogen) to use, fostering innovation and attracting related businesses through supportive government initiatives. 

Komekurayama Solar Power Plant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komekurayama_Solar_Power_Plant

Yamanashi Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Support: https://www.yiso.or.jp/yhfc/en/index.html#gsc.tab=0

Yonekurayama Next-Generation Energy Systems Research and Development Village: https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/newene-sys/nesrad.html (Komekurayama can be read as Yonekurayama in the Japanese writing system)

Some equipment in the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/09/2025

Also, please read the related article, Hydrogen As a Next-Generation Energy Source: https://yamanashietsuo.net/hydrogen-as-a-next-generation-energy-source/

FYI

Launch of Suntory’s Green Hydrogen Park Hakushu: A New Journey in Energy “Born from Water, Returning to Water”: https://www.suntory.com/sustainability/story/024/

Overview of P2G System at Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant and Suntory Hakushu Distillery: https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/newsroom/press/archives/2025/pdf/251011e0102.pdf

Technical Development, Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center: https://www.iwatani.co.jp/eng/business/rd/hydrogen/high-pressure/

Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Hydrogen_Energy_Research_Field; https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/800013531.pdf

The Kitayatsugatake Ropeway is located in the Kitayama region in the city of Chino in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The Base Station of the Kitayatsugatake Ropeway is 1771 meters above sea level.

Ropeway Base Station, Kitayatsugatake Ropeway, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 12/06/2025

Kitayatsugatake Ropeway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitayatsugatake_Ropeway

Needle ice and snow, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 12/06/2025

Needle ice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_ice

Enkianthus perulatus (dodan-tsutsuji): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enkianthus_perulatus

Lake Yamanaka with Mount Fuji in the back, Yamanakako-village, Yamanashi, 12/05/2025

Early evening moon, Yamanashi Prefecture Fujikawa Craft Park, Minobu, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

A papercutting exhibition titled Flowers, Cats, and the Beatles “CUT CAT BEATLES” by Kinue Yokokura has been held at the Fujikawa Papercutting Museum in Yamanashi Fujikawa Craft Park in the town of Minobu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan from October 4 through December 21, 2025.

Papercutting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercutting; https://papercutters.org/about-papercutting/

Flowers, Cats, and the Beatles “CUT CAT BEATLES” by Kinue Yokokura, Fujikawa Papercuttng Museum, Yamanashi Prefecture Fujikawa Craft Park, Minobu, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasequoia_glyptostroboides

Dawn redwood, Fujikawa Craft Park, Minobu, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

https://yamanashietsuo.net/colorful-autumn-color-trees-in-minobu-park/; https://yamanashietsuo.net/colorful-autumn-color-trees-in-minobu-park-2024/

Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sasanqua

Sasanqua camellia, Fujikawa Craft Park, Minobu, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

Following the concerts at Yamanashi Prefectural Citizen’s Culture Hall in Kofu yesterday, an Andean music ensemble from Peru INKAÑAN held two more short concerts at AEON MALL Kofushowa in the town of Showa in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan on December 4, 2025.

INKAÑAN at AEON MALL Kofushowa, Showa-cho, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

INKAÑAN at AEON MALL Kofushowa, Showa-cho, Yamanashi, 12/04/2025

AEON MALL Kofushowa: https://en.aeonmall.global/mall/koufushowa

Peru, the Republic of Peru: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru; https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per%C3%BA