Bat Festival in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan

The 18the bat festival in Karuizawa, NaganoThe 20th anniversary of the Bat Study and Conservation Group of Japan(BSCJ)
In Celebration of the International Year of the Bat 2012

September 1st (Sat) and 2nd(Sun) , 2012 

An exhibition on The Wonder of the Bats has also been in session from 15th July to 31st October at Picchio visitor center in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan 

They are not birds but sophisticated flyers in the dark night sky using echolocation.

They live the ultimate energy efficient eco-friendly life.

The festival is full of these fascinating creatures.

Karuizawa, which is the venue of the festival is one of the most popular resort area in Japan and also the place where many wild birds and brown bears as well as bats live.

You will see bats in a new light in this festival.

 

Main hostPicchio

Sub-hostThe Bat Study and Conservation Group of Japan(BSCJ)

VenueChiyoda Ward Karuizawa Youth Nature Center

     〒389-0111 2041 Aza Yokobuki, Oh-aza nagakura, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano, Japan

     

Exhibition venue and Bat walk starting pointPicchio Visitor Center

      〒389-0194  Hoshino, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano, Japan

 

Reservation is necessary for accommodation (\4000), festival dinner (\4000) and bat walk (\400) on 1st September.

Reservations close on 10th August but the capacity is only 40 people on a first-come basis.

 

Program

September 1st  (Sat)  Mainly for kids and parents but also for adults

13001600 Come on!  Summer bat school will start !!

                 Bats! Bats! Bats!  Learn everything about bats

 ・School principal’s opening speech! Principal ; Terumoto Yamamoto(President of BSCJ)

 ・Guidance         Vice Principal; Yushi Osawa  (Wildlife photographer)

 ・13:3013:50 Not only caves!  Bats home

             Tomoko Yoshikura, Ph.D

 ・13:5514:25 Vampire? No!  Bats food 

             Setsuko Katsuta(Almas Ltd.)                

 ・14:4515:15 What is ultrasound for? Are they watching? Are they talking? What are they doing with ultrasound?  Bat’s language

             Mari Ishida, Ph.D

 ・15:2015:40 The ultimate eco-life Yearly bat’s life

             Yuzo Nakagawa (Wildlife photographer)

 ・15:4516:05 Tracking a bat’s lifeMomoko a bat’s secret life

             Chie Yanagisawa(Picchio)Miss Fumi Tanaka

 ・16:1016:20 Homeroom class

 

Unfortunately, the bat walk was canceled due to bad weather.

 ・17451945 Extra lesson; Bat walk  Let’s watch the bat’s boisterous dancing in the air

     17:1017:40 Registration starts at the Picchio visitor center (Reservation is necessary)

       Instructor:

Mitsuru Mukhoyama (NPO Bat Conservation Organization Board Chairman

    Kho Minesshita(Bat Study Conservation Group of Japan)

    Chie Yanagihara(Picchio)

20002200 Festival dinner (Reservation is necessary)

        Presentation of iBats project, Bat items auction

 

 ・13001600 Bat Doctors’ Question-and-Answer Session

        Akira Sano, Ph.D.

        Dai Fukui, Ph.D.(Division of Animal Resources, National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Korea)

 


September 2nd (Sun)

 9:0010:00  Special Guest

Sumiko Matsumura, Ph.D. Former Assistant Professor, Yamaguchi University, Japan.

Special speech for the 20 anniversary of the Bat Study and Conservation Group of Japan and her long time work at Yamaguchi University

        Long time Work on Natural History of bats

           ~ break ~

10:3011:00 More and more bat questionsbat research forefront

       Dai Fukui, Ph.D.(Division of Animal Resources, National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Korea)

11:0011:30 Living with batsThoughts from the view point of bats

        Mitsuru Mukhoyama (Bat Conservation Organization Board Chairman

11:3012:00 Eco-tourism in KaruizawaLooking at wildlife in Karuizawa for 20 years

        Shinya KuwataPicchio

 Unfortunately the excursion was canceled due to bad weather.

13:0014:00 Excursion The life of Momoko the bat

       A  Japanese Large-footed bat Momoko’s day-to-day life

A telemetry analysis of a Japanese Large-footed Bat reveals the bat’s roost and home range.Reservation is necessary

 

14:0015:00 General meeting of the Bat Study and Conservation Group of Japan

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