Written by: Aghna Agifta Taslim
Edited by: Rumaisha Ghina
Image: Japan’s unique firefly Genjibotaru (ゲンジボタル) caught in camera marking the beginning of summer in Beppu
The fireflies-watching event was held at the beginning of June. APU ECOS collaborated with Kamegawa Environmental Protection Club or popularly known as KEPC, an environment-related organization in Beppu that holds similar events. Through the event, they plan to educate the local people in Beppu regarding the importance of fireflies for the environment while also providing the opportunity to see the beauty of fireflies directly in their natural habitat.
Fireflies signify the beginning of summer in Beppu, their colonies inhabit a disclosed river near Osaka Iriguchi bus stop since the end of May. Aside from their unique beauty, fireflies are deemed as an indicator insect of its surrounding environment. Considering their nature of habituating clean and pristine environments, the rate of firefly populations may indicate the quality of their habitat.
Beyond the main event, the preparation took place almost a week beforehand. To sustain the life of fireflies, APU ECOS and KEPC also collaborated in the cleaning preparation at the usual habitat of the fireflies. On May 29th, APU ECOS and KEPC members cleaned the river bank from wild grasses and trash. This step is very important to undergo in order to provide a clean place for the fireflies to reproduce.
APU ECOS members also started to count the number of fireflies on the night after cleaning preparation. By utilizing tally counters, the members walked at the river banks and counted flickers of light that resembled the movement of fireflies. At the end, the numbers were compiled to be compared with the result from previous years. The step is repeated until the main event on Sunday, June 4th.
What makes this year’s fireflies watching event different from the previous years’ is the inclusivity of the visitors. Both parties are pushing the agenda of inclusivity in making a safe environment for disabled people and elderlies to watch the fireflies from the riverside. The trailway to watch the fireflies is narrow and dangerous, therefore detailed preparation is needed to minimize the possibility of any unpleasant accidents.
“Gaining the trust to make the event more inclusive is difficult,” Professor Mahichi admitted during the rehearsal day, “Therefore we have to be really careful and thorough in preparing the location.”
Image: APU ECOS and KEPC members preparing for the firefly event
The preparations done by both organizations were proven to be fruitful as the fireflies watching event ran smoothly on its planned date. The participants crowded the meeting point at 7 pm, where the event was opened by opening speeches given by KEPC members. While listening to the speech, children lined up in front of kakigori stall to buy snacks for their strolls later on.
When the sun started to set, participants gathered to watch a short presentation about the importance of fireflies for the environment. This was the part where the snacks came in handy, participants could eat their snacks while watching the presentation. The presentation itself was very insightful and entertaining, as the KEPC presenter threw questions in between the slides, followed by children chiming in shouting their answers in excitement.
From the presentation, participants could also see the data of fireflies from the year of 2013 until 2022. According to Professor Mahichi, they have found a gradual increase of firefly population throughout the years.
Participants started to walk along the riverside after the sky had completely turned dark. From the darkness of the river, everyone can see the flickering light of fireflies. Compared to the rehearsal day, there were more fireflies on the event day with brighter light, making it easier for the participants to document the fireflies using phone cameras.
The fireflies watching event was held with a goal to spread awareness about the importance of fireflies in the environment. Aside from its unique trait, fireflies as indicator insects play an important role in determining the quality of their surrounding environment.
If you are interested in Beppu’s environment, APU ECOS would be the perfect circle to channel your interest. Follow them on instagram @apu_ecos for more details.
On 4th of June, APU ECOS and Kamegawa Environmental Protection Club held an annual firefly watching event which was joined by APU students and Kamegawa residents, providing the opportunity to watch fireflies in their natural habitat while also educating them regarding fireflies and the importance of protecting their habitat in the environment.
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