Making Lake Suwa even more beautiful - Enhancing environmental conservation together with residents from local communities

Lake Suwa reflects the beauty of the four seasons. Ensuring that this precious treasure is protected for future generations requires ongoing cooperation between local communities and the companies that serve them.
At our Nagano Okaya Plant, we participate in the "Lake Suwa Adopt Program^*," a collaborative initiative involving the government, companies, and civic groups participating in beautification activities around Lake Suwa.

Sponsored by Nagano Prefecture, this innovative program divides the shore of Lake Suwa into 32 sections. Each participating organization conducts beautification activities in its assigned area.

Outline of the initiative

Kyocera has been committed to keeping Lake Suwa clean since 1991, even before the program began; and 2025 marks the 34th year that we have been involved. This year, we carried out three activities, with a total of 115 people participating to collect about 20 kg of garbage.
In addition, 15 employees from the Nagano Okaya Plant participated in the "Lake Suwa Cleanup" activity this year. Participants joined together on October 5th in two cities and one town around Lake Suwa. This is the first time that the community has participated in a cleanup covering the entire area.
Because Lake Suwa is the source of the Tenryu River, garbage can cause marine debris and microplastic pollution. Cleanup activities at the headwaters are an important initiative that contributes to the conservation of the marine environment.

Effects and advantages

Through the Lake Suwa Adopt Program, employees collected empty cans, plastic bottles, and other waste as part of ongoing efforts to beautify Lake Suwa. Participants commented that taking part in the cleanup heightened their environmental awareness and inspired them to continue engaging in such activities in the future. In an employee's comment from the Environment & Safety Division, who joined the Lake Suwa Perimeter Cleanup, they noted how the cleanup was "a valuable opportunity to strengthen our ties with the local community," while expressing their intention to continue contributing to environmental conservation.
These opinions show how this initiative goes beyond a simple cleanup activity—it also fosters greater environmental awareness among employees and helps build trusting relationships with the local community.