“How Soil Works” Outreach Class Held at the Kagoshima Museum of Environment
On July 24, 2025, IHI held an outreach class at the Kagoshima Museum of Environment*, located in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, as part of its environmental education efforts. IHI owns 1,322,400 m2 of property in the Nanatsujima area of Kagoshima City (the former site of the IHI Kagoshima Headquarters Representative’s Office), where it is engaged in electric power generation business. This local connection is what led the city to reach out to IHI to request the class.
This year’s class, whose theme was “How Soil Works,” was attended by a total of 22 people (children in third grade or above and their parents). The class was led by Project Associate Professor Kazuya Yoshimura of the Ochanomizu University Science & Education Center.
During the class, students observed the ecosystems of soil organisms taken from the grounds of the former IHI Kagoshima Headquarters Representative’s Office and the Kagoshima Museum of Environment. They also learned about how forests grow and about the food chain. Students used stereomicroscopes to observe and sketch organisms that live in the soil, learning about the soil environment of Kagoshima Prefecture, which is rich in nature, and the organisms that call it home.
Children who attended shared their experiences with IHI. One said “Now I want to learn about what other organisms live in the soil, on top of the ones I saw myself.” Another said “I learned about the important functions of the forest and the soil.” Yet another said “I had fun seeing and sketching lots of different organisms.” Feedback from the parents included the following: “There was a lot of interesting content for children, such as crafts and observation, so it was a lot of fun.” “We learned about how taking good care of the environment also helps with disaster prevention, and about how the activities of the animals that live in the soil make it possible for all kinds of plants to grow.”
Before the class began, IHI introduced some of the initiatives being carried out by the IHI Group in Kagoshima Prefecture. We explained our involvement in the electrical power generation business in Kagoshima City and in the launching of Epsilon Launch Vehicles from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kimotsuki. This provided the attendees with a better understanding of the ties between Kagoshima Prefecture and IHI.
Through outreach classes, the IHI Group will continue to build an even stronger relationship with Kagoshima Prefecture, where it does business, and develop the talent of tomorrow.
- * Kagoshima Museum of Environment: A center for learning about the environment and the environmental conservation activities of Kagoshima City