#Japan #Yokohama #GREEN×EXPO #NextGenGardeners

High School Students Selected for GREEN×EXPO 2027

The GREEN×EXPO 2027, an upcoming international horticultural exposition slated for 2027 in KanagawaPrefecture, Japan, is gearing up to showcase innovative gardens created by high school students. The expo aims to promote green living and the art of gardening on a global scale. This remarkable event marks the first occurrence of such an exhibition in Japan in 37 years. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, alongside the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is actively working on engaging students to participate in the preparation and presentation process.

Objectives of the Project

The government hopes to establish a collaborative environment where various stakeholders, including future influencers in the fields of horticulture and agriculture, can contribute significantly to the expo. Particularly, the expo seeks to leave a legacy that fosters relationships and initiatives cultivated through the event. The engagement of high school students is especially crucial, as they will not only create gardens embodying the theme “Creating Scenery with Flowers and Greenery” but will also engage in research activities that enable them to tackle challenges faced in this field. The ministry requested applications from high school students to form study and production groups that would work on themed gardens aligned with the selected topic.

Selected High School Groups

After a rigorous selection process which ran from April 14 to June 20, 2024, involving participants from 14 schools nationwide, five teams were successfully chosen for their innovative approaches to garden design and research.

List of Selected Teams:

1. Hokkaido Otofuke High School - Agriculture Club
- Garden Theme: Organic Flower Garden - Preserving the Abundance of Mountains, Rivers, and Oceans through Organic Practices
- Research Focus: Achieving sustainable agriculture using lactic acid bacteria and organic fertilizer.

2. Chiba Prefectural Narita Nishi High School - Team Tsumugi
- Garden Theme: Garden Weaving Culture - Solving Regional Issues through New Flora Cultivation
- Research Focus: Addressing local challenges through the sustainable cultivation of environmentally friendly flowering plants.

3. Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Seya High School - Future Co-Creation Lab
- Garden Theme: Yokohama-Seya Flower Loop Garden – Creating a Circular Community Garden connecting people and nurturing the planet's future.
- Research Focus: Understanding the elements of circular gardens and community gardening.

4. Mie Prefectural Yokkaichi Agriculture High School - Minori no Niwa Team
- Garden Theme: Elegant Self-Sufficiency
- Research Focus: Building spaces that intertwine growing, tasting, and sharing.

5. Kyoto Prefectural Katsura High School - Horticultural Business Department
- Garden Theme: Connecting to the Future! - Protecting Endangered Species & Environment Using Fertilizers
- Research Focus: Employing cyclic fertilizers for the conservation of endangered species outside their natural habitat.

Future Activities

The selected teams will undertake a series of research activities based on their established themes, culminating in the design and execution of their gardens at the expo venue. The ministry will provide advisory support throughout this process. Here’s a brief overview of some critical upcoming activities:

• - August 2024: Commencement of research activities with advisory assistance.
• - September 2024 (tentative): Kick-off meeting to facilitate exchanges among participants and site visits at the horticulture expo venue.
• - From November 2025: Preparations for garden production will begin.
• - From December 2025 to early March 2026: Garden production in the government exhibition area will take place.
• - From March 19 to September 26, 2026: Display and presentation of gardens as part of government exhibition efforts.

The garden area allocated to each group will be approximately 25 square meters, located near the exit of the exhibition hall, ensuring high visibility during the event.

To learn more about the project, visit the official website of GREEN×EXPO 2027.