On August 23, the ceremony for 5th anniversary of Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark and 80th anniversary of Unzen national park was held at Unzen Memorial Hall in Unzen city, Japan.

The chairman of Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark, Mr. Ryuzaburo Furukawa (Mayor of Shimabara city) declared the opening of the ceremony, and the executive chairman, Mr. Hidesaburo Kanazawa (Mayor of Unzen city) made a speech and said “We all have responsibility to protect wonderful nature in this area and inherit them to the following generations.”

Senior Vice‐Minister of Environment, Mr. Kitagawa and the Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture, Mr. Nakamura also made congratulatory speeches as guests.

In addition, the Institute of Seismology and Volcanology of Kyushu University and the first chairman of Geopark council were commended for their distinguished merits in developing Unzen Volcanic Area Geopark. An executive committee of local festival, NPO Corporation conserving the environment in the park and volcanologist researching Shimabara Peninsula were also given prizes for their efforts.

The council will keep promoting Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark and Unzen national park while conserving the environment of them which extends over Shimabara, Unzen and Minamishimabara city.