{"id":114,"date":"2025-05-16T18:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T09:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/?page_id=114"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:41:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T06:41:50","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/igp\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History of Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

History of
Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark<\/h2>\nFrom Local Project to Global Vision\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t

Geoparks as we know them today are relatively new, with the first European Geoparks established in 2000. The Global Geoparks Network was born in 2004 and became an official UNESCO program<\/strong> in 2015.<\/p>\n

But did you know that Itoigawa Geopark’s origins are even older still? In fact, we believe Itoigawa was the first place in the world to use the “Geopark” label<\/strong> for promoting geological heritage. Follow our story to learn more about how we came to be Japan’s First Global Geopark<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTimeline of
Itoigawa Geopark\t<\/h3>\n\t
    \n
  • \n

    1987 (Sh\u014dwa 62)<\/p>\n

    Enactment of the Fossa Magna and Regional Development Plan<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

    This plan, enacted by the Former City of Itoigawa, called for the establishment of outdoor geological conservation sites and a new museum in order to use local geological heritage for regional development and tourist promotion.<\/p>\n \n

    Front Cover of the
    Regional Development Plan<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    1990 (Heisei 2)<\/p>\n

    Fossa Magna Park (Fault Outcrop) Opens<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Fossa Magna Park as it appeared before renovation<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    1991 (Heisei 3)<\/p>\n The word “Geopark” is first used<\/b>\n

    Fossa Magna Park is branded as the first of several “Itoigawa Geoparks.” This is believed to be the first use of the word “Geopark” used to promote geological conservation and geotourism in the world.<\/p>\n \n

    The original “Itoigawa Geopark” Logo<\/p>\n

    Note: <\/b>While they used the same word which would later be independently coined by what is now the Global Geoparks Network, these “Itoigawa Geoparks” were much smaller in scale with no focus on sustainable development or community involvement.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    1994 (Heisei 6)<\/p>\n

    Fossa Magna Museum Opens<\/b><\/p>\n

    The Fossa Magna Museum opens as a natural history museum, showcasing an extensive collection of both local and globally sourced minerals and fossils.<\/p>\n \n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    1996 (Heisei 8)<\/p>\n

    \u014cmi Natural History Museum Opens<\/b><\/p>\n

    The Former Town of \u014cmi opens its own natural history museum inside the newly built Kirara Culture Hall.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2000 (Heisei 12)<\/p>\n

    A new type of Geopark emerges<\/b><\/p>\n

    Four geological conservation areas in France, Germany, Greece and Spain join forces under a new label: “Geoparks.” This new network is primarily focused on information sharing and cooperation in the field of geological conservation and research.<\/p>\n

    At around the same time, geological reserves are established in China under a similar framework.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2004 (Heisei 16)<\/p>\n

    The Global Geoparks Network is Formed<\/b><\/p>\n

    Geoparks in Europe and China join together to form a new network under the patronage of UNESCO. Geoparks evolve into regions which preserve and celebrate geological heritage alongside related natural and cultural heritage for the purpose of revitalization and sustainable community development.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2005 (Heisei 17)
    March 19th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Merger of 3 Municipalities<\/b><\/p>\n

    As part of the Great Heisei Mergers of 1999 – 2005, the Former City of Itoigawa merges with the Former Towns of Nou and \u014cmi to form the New City of Itoigawa.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2007 (Heisei 19)
    September<\/p>\n

    Itoigawa City announces intention to join the Global Geoparks Network<\/b><\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    December<\/p>\n

    Japanese Geoparks Liasion Council<\/b><\/p>\n

    Itoigawa City gathers together similarly interested municipalities and related organizations to create an informal network for developing Global Geoparks in Japan.<\/p>\n \n

    Chairman Yoneda speaks as President of the Japanese Geoparks Liasion Council<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2008 (Heisei 20)
    December<\/p>\n

    The First Japanese Geoparks<\/b><\/p>\n

    Seven regions (Apoi, Itoigawa, Minami Alps, Muroto, San’in Kaigan, Toya-Usu, and Unzen Volcanic Area) are certified as Japanese Geoparks, uniting to form the Japanese Geoparks Network.<\/p>\n \n

    Itoigawa Geopark Japanese Geopark Certification Ceremony<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2009 (Heisei 21)
    July 12th<\/sup> – 15th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Global Geopark Certification Mission<\/b><\/p>\n

    Global Geoparks Network President Nikolas Zouros and IGCP Executive Secretary Patrick McKeever visit Itoigawa Geopark to evaluate its candidacy for the Global Geoparks Network.<\/p>\n \n

    Visiting Nou Hakusan Shrine<\/p>\n \n

    Chairman Yoneda with Evaluators<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    August 22nd<\/sup><\/p>\n Certified as Japan’s First Global Geopark<\/b>\n

    At the 2nd Asian Pacific Geoparks Network Conference in Taishan Global Geopark, PR China, Itoigawa Geopark was certified as Japan’s First Global Geopark alongside Toya-Usu and Unzen Volcanic Area.
    Itoigawa Geopark’s Official Mascot Characters\u2015Geomaru & Nuna\u2015are unveiled.<\/p>\n \n

    Global Geoparks Network Certification<\/p>\n \n

    Geomaru<\/p>\n \n

    Nuna<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    November 3rd<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Sister Geopark Agreement Signed with Hong Kong<\/b><\/p>\n

    To promote international friendship and cooperation, a sistering agreement is signed with Hong Kong, at the time a Chinese National Geopark aspiring for Global Geopark certification.<\/p>\n \n

    Signing Ceremony in Hong Kong<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2010 (Heisei 22)
    Aug 22nd<\/sup> – 23rd<\/sup><\/p>\n

    First Japanese Geoparks National Conference in Itoigawa<\/b><\/p>\n

    Itoigawa hosts the 1st<\/sup> Japanese Geoparks National Conference, bringing over 1,000 people, including representatives from 33 Japanese Geoparks and Aspiring Geoparks to Itoigawa to celebrate Geoparks and exchange through presentations, panel discussions and field excursions.<\/p>\n

    The Jaapnese Geoparks Network have hosted a National Conference every year since, with only one break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2012
    December 25th<\/sup> – 26th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Japanese Geopark Revalidation Mission<\/b><\/p>\n

    Evaluators from the Japan Geopark Committee arrive in Itoigawa to assess and evaluate our progress and provide recommendations for improvement.<\/p>\n \n

    Evaluators Visit the Fossa Magna Museum<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2013 (Heisei 25)
    January 28th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Recertified as a Japanese National Geopark<\/b><\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    July 12th<\/sup> – 15th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Global Geopark Revalidation Mission<\/b><\/p>\n

    Evaluators from France and China arrive to assess and evaluate and provide recommendations for improvement.<\/p>\n \n

    Evaluators Visit Fossa Magna Park<\/p>\n \n

    Evaluators Visit the Fossa Magna Museum<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2013 (Heisei 25)<\/p>\n

    Recertified as a Global Geopark<\/b> (At Korea’s Jeju Island Geopark)<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2015 (Heisei 27)
    February 14th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Itoigawa GeoStation GeoPal Visitor Center Opens<\/b><\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    March 9th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Fossa Magna Museum Renovation and Grand Reopening<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Fossa Magna Theater<\/p>\n \n

    Fossil Valley<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    March 14th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Hokuriku Shinkansen Opens<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Tape-cutting Ceremony at Itoigawa Station<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2016 (Heisei 28)
    November 15th<\/sup> – 16th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Japanese Geoparks Network Revalidation Mission<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    At GeoPal<\/p>\n \n

    At GeoPal<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    December 9th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Recertified as a Japanese Geopark<\/b><\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2017 (Heisei 29)
    July 11th<\/sup> – 13th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    UNESCO Global Geopark Revalidation Mission<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    At Oyashirazu Community Road<\/p>\n \n

    At Niigata Pref. Kaiyo High School<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2018 (Heisei 30)
    January 31th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Recertified as a UNESCO Global Geopark<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Recertification Ceremony (Feb 2nd<\/sup>)<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    August 2nd<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Fossa Magna Park Renovation and Grand Reopening<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Opening Ceremony (August 1st<\/sup><\/p>\n \n

    Tape-cutting Ceremony<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    November 16th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Hong Kong Geopark Sistering Agreement 10 Year Anniversary Ceremony<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Sistering Exchange Meeting<\/p>\n \n

    Comemmorative Exchange<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2019 (Heisei 31)
    April 9th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Friendship Agreement with the Naumann Family<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Signing Ceremony (April 9th<\/sup>)<\/p>\n \n

    Friendship Agreement<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2020 (Reiwa 2)
    February 1st<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Itoigawa Geopark Global Certification 10th<\/sup> Anniversary Forum<\/p>\n \n

    Opening Ceremony<\/p>\n \n

    Open Talk<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    November 28th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Fossa Magna Museum Registered as a Satellite Museum of Niigata University<\/p>\n \n

    Satellite Museum Ceremony<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2021 (Reiwa 3)
    March<\/p>\n

    Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line Outcrop Registered as a National Natural Monument<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Fault Outcrop at Fossa Magna Park<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2022 (Reiwa 4)
    September 21st<\/sup> – 24th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    UNESCO Global Geopark Revalidation Mission<\/b>
    Delayed for one year due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.<\/p>\n \n

    At Shimohayakawa Elementary School<\/p>\n \n

    At N\u014dsui Sh\u014dten<\/p>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n

    2022 (Reiwa 4)
    December 16th<\/sup><\/p>\n

    Recertified as a UNESCO Global Geopark<\/b><\/p>\n \n

    Recertification Ceremony (December 17th<\/sup>)<\/p>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    History of Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark From Local Project to Global Vision Geoparks as we know them today a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":31,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/114"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1474,"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/114\/revisions\/1474"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geo-itoigawa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}