IBARA CITY, OKAYAMA PREFECTURE: Bisei Town becomes the first in Asia to be certified as a "Dark Sky Community (Community Category)" as a public-private-academic initiative and the local community unite to promote Ibara City's charms, launching a full-scale citizen-participation regional revitalization project.
Bisei Town in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, was certified as Asia's first "Dark Sky Community (Community Category)" on November 1, 2021 (Arizona time, USA). This marks the culmination of a public-private-academic initiative and the local community's efforts to promote the charms of Ibara City, launching a full-scale citizen-participation regional revitalization project.
Ibara City Official Website:http://www.city.ibara.okayama.jp/docs/2021110100020/
Over 30 years ago, Bisei Town enacted Japan's first "Light Pollution Prevention Ordinance." Since 2019, the Bisei Town Tourism Association and Ibara City have collaborated on the "Star Guardian Project," working together as a community to improve outdoor lighting environments and raise resident awareness, striving to create an environment where "stars are easily visible." These long-standing efforts have borne fruit, leading to this certification as a "Dark Sky Community" by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA, headquartered in the USA), an honor often referred to as the "World Heritage of the night sky." This recognition signifies that Ibara City is acknowledged as a town committed to preserving one of Asia's top-tier night sky environments, celebrating the unwavering dedication and activities of its residents.
With this certification as a catalyst, Ibara City is launching a city promotion project that unites government, private sector, academia, and the community to discover and share the city's appeal, driving regional regeneration. This fiscal year, under the concept of "Everybody is A STAR," we will implement various initiatives, including exchange programs with major urban areas, promotional activities via social media, and events, to allow people both within and outside the city to experience the charm of Ibara City and its people. Through this project, we aim to foster civic pride, create a network of related individuals, and revitalize the region.
What is a Dark Sky Sanctuary?
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
*1 certifies regions undertaking exemplary efforts to protect and preserve dark, beautiful night skies free from light pollution as "International Dark Sky Places." Certification requires meeting stringent outdoor lighting standards, demonstrating community commitment to protecting dark skies, and ensuring an environment where people can experience these night skies. Currently, there are five categories of Dark Sky Places (with one category having closed to new applications). As of November 1, 2021, the IDA has certified 187 locations in 21 countries. The category Bisei Town was certified in is "Dark Sky Community," which recognizes municipalities like cities and towns, with 36 communities worldwide (including Bisei Town) holding this designation.
In Japan, in addition to Bisei Town, Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park in Okinawa Prefecture and Kōzushima Village in Tokyo have been certified as "Dark Sky Parks," a category for places operated as national parks, forest parks, or eco-parks.
*1 The world's largest NPO dedicated to tackling light pollution, comprising astronomers and environmental scientists. Established in 1988, it is headquartered in Arizona, USA, with 64 branches in 18 countries worldwide.
Ibara City has various city promotion initiatives planned in conjunction with its Dark Sky Sanctuary certification.
Please click here for details (https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000007.000070531.html).
About Ibara City
Ibara City, a town rich in nature, is located in the southwestern part of Okayama Prefecture, bordering Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a place of serene and beautiful nature, fresh and abundant ingredients, enduring history and culture, and kind people who love and protect their natural surroundings and community. Bisei Town, in particular, known for its meteor shower legends, lives up to its name with beautiful starry skies, earning it the moniker "The Town Where Wishes Reach the Heavens." One of the city's primary industries, "Ibara Denim," is used in products by world-renowned brands and is cherished globally for its superior quality.
Population: 38,965 (as of September 30, 2021)
Area: 243.54 sq km
Main Local Products:
Ibara Denim
Meiji Gobo (burdock root)
Grapes
Processed pork products, etc.
Ibara City Tourism Association Website
https://ibarakankou.jp/
Ibara City Introduction Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7W8xoTokJc
Ibara City City Promotion Public Relations Office
Tel: 03-6427-1627