“Ayu of the Nagara River System” was designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in December, 2015. Despite supporting a population of 860,000 people and flowing through urban and residential areas, the Nagara River has had its clearness preserved amidst the activities of the local people, continuing to nurture ayu in its pristine waters. Both of the clear water and its ayu have been deeply connected to the region historically, economically and culturally. The Nagara River System is characterized by its close connection with the whole system of satokawa which describes the link between the inhabitants’ lives, aquatic environments and fishing resources.
GIAHS stands for ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System’. The initiative was established by the FAO in 2002, with the aim of ensuring the passing on of globally important regions where the environment and land are leveraged in the practice of traditional agriculture, forestry and fisheries, in which all of these factors come together with a farming culture and landscapes to form a comprehensive system.
In total 37 sites in 16 countries have been designated as GIAHS as of October 2016 around the world.
/Chile
Chiloe is a home of potato and two hundred varieties of native potatoes are still cultivated. Their ancestral farming practices have been handed down from generation to generation mostly by women,
/Iran
In the Central Desert of Iran, the Qanat Irrigation technology has been developed since 800 BC. Qanats minimize evaporation loss and enhance the cultivation of diverse crops.
/China
The agricultural system has continued since the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. Fish deters pests and weeds and works as fertilizer for the rice. The fish plays various roles such as daily food supply and source of income for the farmers.
/Tanzania
Due to the humid tropical mountain forest climate and the strong sunlight, farmland consists of four layers : shading fruit trees, bananas, coffee shrubs, and annual crops.
Eight sites including in Gifu, Niigata, Ishikawa, Oita, Kumamoto, Wakayama and Miyazaki prefectures have been designated GIAHS in Japan.
“GIAHS Ayu Day” is held on the fourth Sunday of every July and was established to commemorate the designation of the GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” in December 2015 with the aim of spreading awareness of the significance of the “Nagara River System” to the people of Gifu as well as promoting ayu which is a symbol of our clear waters and the prefectural fish.
Memorial events were held on the first “GIAHS Ayu Day”, Sunday, 24th July in 2016.
The GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” Promotion Association has decided to adopt a logo in order to promote the system to the public both through use of it in publication materials including pamphlets and websites as well as in related services such as productions of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, traditional crafts, and tourism.
This logo showcases the rich nature of Gifu in its center.
A Nagara River ayu swims in the clear blue water which flows down from Gifu’s lush green mountains. It lives and swims only in this pure water. This is integrated symbolically through the smooth curves of the logo, within the whole shape which represents the first letter ‘g’ of Gifu.
We hope this logo will come to be loved by all and that this environment so blessed by nature may be preserved forever.
Person(s) wishing to make use of the logo are required to submit an application to the GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” Promotion Association.
Use for Publication Materials -Logo Usage Consent-
Logo Usage Consent Overview
This usage consent is aimed at posters and flyers aiming to propagate the GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System”.
Person(s) using the logo for merchandise should read the Guideline of GIAHS Specialties of the Nagara River below.
Please refer to the simple design manual regarding the logo design in details below.
Application Form
Please click below to see further details.
▷Guideline of Logo Usage Consent (PDF)
▷Application Form (Word) ▷Application Form (PDF)
”Specialties of the Nagara River” Policy Usage Policy for Goods
Person(s) wishing to use the logo for goods should see the policy below.
>>Specialties of the Nagara River Policy
Logo and the Simple Design Manual
When using the GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” logo, its shape and color should not be changed.
Please read the simple design manual below and use the logo properly.
●Simple Design Manual (PDF)
▷Simple Design Manual No.1 ▷Simple Design Manual No.2
Logo Selection Process
○Application Period : Monday, 22nd February – Tuesday, 22nd March in 2016
○Total Number of Entries : 296
○Selection Meeting : held in April, 2016 by the GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” Promotion Association
《Winning Entry》
Mio Wakasugi (High school student, Gifu)
《Honorable Mentions》
Hideto Arita (Graphic designer, Hyogo)
Emiri Hari (University student, Gifu)
Contact Us
GIAHS “Ayu of the Nagara River System” Promotion Association (Secretariat : Satokawa Promotion Division)
TEL : +81-58-272-8455 FAX : +81-58-278-2695