#Japan #Tokyo #SATOYAMA Initiative #SEED DESIGN #Soil Mag.

Exploring the Satoyama Connection Between Taiwan and Japan

In February 2026, a Tokyo-based publisher, Two Virgins, will release the Japanese editions of the highly anticipated 'Taiwan SATOYAMA Initiative Picture Book' series. This second installment consists of four captivating works that tell unique stories about Taiwan's Satoyama: The Song of the Black-faced Spoonbill, Crossing the Hundred Percent Bridge, The Little Taiwan White Fish Creates a Big Wave, and The White Stone Rises on Land, the Black Stone Dives into the Sea.

To celebrate this publication, an event was organized, with a keynote address by the CEO of SEED DESIGN, Mr. Chen Hsien Chih, alongside Ms. Sota Yukiko, the editor-in-chief of the Japanese cultural magazine Soil mag. This gathering provided an insightful opportunity to rethink the value of Satoyama—areas where humans coexist sustainably with nature—against the backdrop of ongoing challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. It aimed to engage both Japanese and Taiwanese perspectives on preserving these traditions for future generations.

Understanding the SATOYAMA Initiative

The SATOYAMA Initiative is an international effort aimed at promoting sustainable practices that protect biodiversity and enhance human welfare in secondary natural areas formed through human interaction with nature, like Satoyama. In Japan, regions known as Satoyama and Satoumi exemplify how balance between human activities—such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing—and nature can maintain biodiversity while providing essential products and services. This initiative received its foundational impetus from a partnership between Japan's Ministry of Environment and the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). You can learn more about it at the official site: SATOYAMA Initiative.

Features of SEED DESIGN

Founded with a passion for storytelling, SEED DESIGN is a renowned design studio in Taiwan that focuses on illustrating the relationship between nature and humanity. The studio embodies a meticulous approach to interpreting local land, culture, and history, promoting a deep understanding through creative expressions. Since its inception, SEED DESIGN has received numerous international accolades, including the prestigious iF Award in Germany and the Golden Design Award in Taiwan. Their efforts extend beyond publishing and into various exhibitions that illuminate the beauty and value embedded in local stories. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

Keynote Speakers

The event featured influential voices, including Mr. Chen Hsien Chih, who introduced the picture book series and the challenges showcased within Taiwanese rural landscapes. Ms. Sota Yukiko, who leads Soil mag, outlined key societal issues, such as Japan’s interaction with wildlife, demanding a reevaluation of humanity's cohabitation with nature. This discourse highlighted how similar difficulties arise in Taiwan, reflecting a shared need to establish proper boundaries in human-animal interaction as environmental habits change due to urban encroachment.

On the topic of media's role in preserving culture, Mr. Chen illustrated how picture books serve an essential purpose for passing knowledge across generations without age bias, describing the initiative's philosophy as intuitively accessible via art. By centering illustrations with emotional resonance and straightforward language, they aim to bridge young minds with timeless wisdom. Ms. Sota echoed this sentiment, emphasizing her commitment to archiving wisdom and history through her publications to inspire future generations.

Event Highlights

The event comprised several segments, including heartfelt opening remarks from Yusuke Goto, a board member of the publisher, who expressed gratitude to attendees for gathering during a busy season. A video message from Chen Jun-Yen, the Director of Taiwan's Council of Agriculture, and Watanabe Tsunao, the head of the SATOYAMA Initiative's international partnership, set a global context for the celebrations surrounding the release.

Following the presentations, an engaging talk session examined diverse ecological frameworks among different communities and the significance of cooperation across generations for sustainable community development. The overarching conversation focused on nurturing the planet's future through both traditional and innovative approaches, ultimately calling for collective action to achieve societal goals reflecting sustainable values.

Conclusion

Concluding the event, the speakers reaffirmed the importance of the younger generation in driving sustainable practices. A significant shift in social perceptions was acknowledged, with former notions of rural living as a failure evolving into an asset recognized for fostering new perspectives and technologies contributing positively to community futures.

The release of the Taiwan SATOYAMA Initiative Picture Book series serves as more than just a promotional effort; it captures the essence of interweaving Taiwanese and Japanese narratives surrounding shared environmental ideals. By illustrating creative solutions orchestrated by local communities in response to global issues like climate change, these books embody a hopeful blueprint that can encourage readers across regions to reassess their relationship with nature and take meaningful steps toward a sustainable future.