Meet Hiroyuki Terada at “Takeshiba Tidal Flat,” where people and nature come together in the heart of Tokyo.
Hiroyuki Terada of KOKOPELLI+ has made the waterfront his playground, hunting “creatures” and observing their world since childhood. He shares the hidden world of these "creatures" living in Tokyo’s urban waterscape, from a slightly different perspective through hands-on experiences.
Roots of interest in nature and waterside
I was born in Koto-ku, which is surrounded by canals, so, naturally, many of the places I played as a child were by the water or in nature. What got me interested was the moment I discovered that fish, shrimp, and crabs were living in a nearby canal that could hardly be called clean. I was amazed to find life in places where you wouldn’t expect it, and I became fascinated by the joy of discovering what only I could find. I guess I may be a natural-born waterfront hunter.
Relaxing waterfront
Whether it’s the sea, a river, or a pond, just being near the water somehow makes me feel refreshed and relaxed. It’s hard to explain why I feel that way. But when I approach the water, I end up gazing at the surface for a long time, searching for “creatures” below, and observing their behavior when I find them. My fatigue or physical discomfort seems to have faded away without even realizing it.
Hiding Creatures
You don’t need to go far, but take a close look at the water near where you live. What I do is choose a spot, and once I settle on it, I try to become part of the landscape like a rock by the water, blending into the surroundings, and watch quietly. While doing so, your presence merges with nature, and you’ll find “creatures” that were hiding suddenly come to life and begin to move. Once you experience that, your perspective on waterfronts will completely change. Since the behavior of these “creatures” varies with the seasons and with the weather on the day, you will never get bored. I highly recommend giving it a try.
Message to MICE organizers
【From Hiroyuki Terada to MICE organizers】
People often imagine stylish spaces with illuminations when they think of urban waterfront. But there’s a completely different world hidden there—one woven by resilient creatures. Please come to the waterfront to catch a glimpse of that world with a different perspective, led by a quirky guide who has a unique way of experiencing the waterscape. I’d be happy if you came to explore Takeshiba Tidal Flat with that kind of mindset.
information
【Hiroyuki Terada】
Representative of KOKOPELLI +
KOKOPELLI＋
- As the representative of KOKOPELLI+, an organization that plans and leads environmental education programs and ecotours, while working to restore natural ecosystems in urban areas to promote a way of life that brings people closer to nature, he conducts fieldwork in urban and waterfront environments with a specialization in aquatic life, particularly fish. At Takeshiba Tidal Flat, he serves as an advisor on habitat restoration and site management, working to create a vibrant and appealing tidal flat.