A story that keeps a light burning in our hearts, decades from now

A film project by the NPO Fujimae Higata wo Mamoru Kai (Society to Protect the Fujimae Tidal Flat), marking 20 years since the tidal flat was listed under the Ramsar Convention, was selected for Patagonia International Inc.’s environmental grants program. On the Fujimae Tidal Flat in Minato Ward, Nagoya, we produced the commemorative film and held its screenings.

The film can now be seen at the Fujimae Tidal Flat visitor center.

Believing that a film alone would not travel far enough, we proposed planning and running the screenings ourselves, combining film and design into a hands-on experience on site.

Background

Listed under the Ramsar Convention in 2002, the Fujimae Tidal Flat is a treasure trove of nature. But the generation who can speak firsthand about the campaign to save it is growing older, and its memory is at risk of fading.

So we set out to make a documentary that could be handed down to the future — a film that would not fade, even decades from now.

What we did

• Planned, filmed and produced a documentary set on the Fujimae Tidal Flat (now screened at the visitor center)
• Planned and ran the screenings (Fujimae Tidal Flat Activity Center / FabCafe Nagoya / Patagonia Nagoya)
• Designed posters, stickers and visuals
• Put QR codes on the stickers, leading to a dedicated Fujimae Tidal Flat website

Results and reach

• Every screening was full (Fujimae Tidal Flat Activity Center / FabCafe Nagoya / Patagonia Nagoya)
• Many audience-survey responses said that even people with no prior knowledge could deeply relate
• After the screenings, a screening for environmental activists was held in Ōzone, Nagoya
• The film traveled beyond the prefecture, with a screening in Yamanashi
• More screenings are planned across Japan

From the audience

“I knew nothing about the Fujimae Tidal Flat, yet the story and everyone’s passion drew me in. I felt strongly how precious nature is, and how much this work matters.”
(Office worker, 30s)

“It made me realize there is a small step I can take, too. A heart that knowledge alone couldn’t move turned into a wish to act.”
(Homemaker, 30s)

“The film was of high quality, and I could feel the strong bond between the people protecting the tidal flat and the Patagonia staff. For the first time, I wanted to take part in conservation myself.”
(University student, 20s)

“I was deeply encouraged by the message that actions born from a small wish changed the future. It gave me hope for my own work.”
(Environmental activist, 20s)

Director’s note

Here in my hometown of Nagoya, people gave their lives to protecting this tidal flat. I wanted to pass their hopes on to the next generation — so that the environmental activists of the future might encounter this story and feel a fire lit in their hearts. I made this film with that wish: that it would not fade, even decades from now.
— Narita Jun