KASAI SEASIDE PARK A Restoration of Nature

This is relatively a new nature site in Tokyo area. Not much attention has been paid to this latest spot yet, but it will be one of the important nature sites for naturalists in Tokyo. The park was created on a vast recliamed land on the Tokyo Bay, so this is an almost entirely artificailly created nature. You might find a contradiction in the expression "artificial nature", but this is such a case, and THAT makes this park a unique specimen of nature site. In present age of massive environmental destruction, nature is not something only to preserve, but in some case something to restore, and even to create. On a 100% artificially created land, a massive attempt has begun.

The park site was initially a seaside fishing village. During the post-war developing era, the region experienced land subsidence due to excessive industrial pumping, and bacame a tidal flat. Reclamation began in the 1980's, and restoration of nature was from the begininng part of the blueprint. There are two different types of restoration zones: bird sanctuay and manmade sand flats.

Largest Bird Sanctuary in Tokyo The bird sanctuary is 27 hectars in area, and embraces about one-third of the park site. It is the largest (and newest) bird sancturay in Tokyo.The sanctuary consists of two core ponds and sorrounding groves The two ponds are two different kinds: one is fresh water, and the other is brackish. This arrangement attracts wider varieties of birds because two different types of waters provide different kinds of habitats for plants and small animals which the birds feed on, hence different birds.

At the center of the sanctuary is the domelike watching center. On its second floor the observatory decks provide vantage points for observing birds. The structure has an exaggerated look since it was planned during the "bubble economy" era, when capital was plentiful. But as a nature center, its outer look should be more reserved, at least more natural. The watching center offers interpretation service available on Saturdays and Sundays. Stationing of staff with specialized knowledge is an important part of nature parks. But subtantial interpretation service is available only in a few parks in Tokyo yet.

An observation path runs between the two ponds. Note the stonewalls on both sides of the path. The ground is raised on top of the wall and trees grow on it, so that they together make a tall wall and shut out the human presence from birds' view. Humans can observe birds through observation windows.

This curious looking observatory deck looks down on the brackish pond. It reminds of the Big Thunder Mountain at the Disneyland, which is just across a river from here. Maybe that is the reason it looks like this?

Traditional seashore scenery is restored. A typical traditional seaside scenery is a set of "white sand and green pines". You see this typical sets in many ukiyoe prints. Actually, seaside pine groves (Japanese black pine) are not really a natural habitat. They became a typical seaside scenery during the Edo period (1600's-1800's) to prevent strong sea wind, but it was beautiful and was deopicted in arts, so it came to be considered the typical seaside scenery. Kasai's restored scenery is not created with white sand but with whitish stones filled up with concrete. The scenery is restored but the ecosystem is not. But the pine grove is faring well. You can feel the wind is successfully blocked when you retreat into the trail behind the grove.

The very edge of water is an interesting nature zone. For some reason, the edges are filled up with large stoneblocks. There are many cracks under and betwen the stones, which offer microhabitats for a number of imvertabrates. Among them, oysters are very conspicuous. Oysters are a valued delicacy, but their habitats are rather stagnant and nutrition-rich (in other words, deteriorated) waters with low salinity. Concrete blocks at the innermost part of Tokyo Bay close to the mouths of two large rivers are a desirable habitat for oysters. But of course the oysters here are not recommended to eat.

Manmade Tidal Flats The park's another nature site, the manmade sandflats were created for wildlife conservation and beach recreation. The flats are thus divided into two parts: the eastern flat is closed off for wildlife, and the western flat is much utilized for beach recreation like kite-flying. Many kinds of invertebrates are found at the sand flats. At least their presence is certain. Are the manmade sand flats faring well? The question has yet to be answered until the sorrounding ecosysytems will be better restored, at least till the quality of water is more improved. The beach-like flats look like natural sand beaches, but never think of swimming here, never even put your bare feet in the water. The water is just awful. I remember I brought my 3 year old kid and let her play with the water. The next day, she got a skin desease (impetigo) that lasted for days.

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