The pages for Katsunori YAMAMOTO

About the HP

'Shikanoshima: A report on the Gold Seal' and revisions of the HP

(February 2000)

　
The home page by the name of "Shikanoshima and the Gold Seal" has been made public for two years now. The contents are on the nature and culture of Shikanoshima, simple and modest all through, but continual reactions have been shown by various people and organizations.
　Last fall, Ms. Motoko Suzuki, Waseda University Ancient Egypt Research Office, e-mailed us. This chance acquaintance gave us the privilege of including in our HP Professor Sakuji Yoshimura's article on "Shikanoshima. A Report on the Gold Seal." We have also touched up on the HP contents to make it easier to browse through.
The number of his to our HP doubled in the 2nd year. A check on IP address on TELENET shows that the hits are made by people interested in the subject, various enterprises, schools and institutes , and national and local government offices, not only from Fukuoka, but also from all over the country.
　
　 The reaction is much more than we expected. We are also told that our HP is being used for educational purposes. Many people appear to be interested in the regional nature and culture. Since the recent revisions, hits from outside the school have multiplied. 　 Besides my regular teaching and research work, I had my students undertake the making of this HP as part of their graduation study for the following reasons.

	To make them adapt in the use of several graphics software applications and creative in multimedia contents.
	By making the contents public, they will have a better understanding of procedures.
	They will learn to assume the responsibility in making a HP public.
	Through getting acquainted with the nature and the local residents, they will gain knowledge.
	They will gain the ability to analyze and exchange log file.

Miss Miyo IWATSUKA was the only applicant for the graduation study this year. However, her close friend, Miss Satomi ARIMURA did a lot to help. By the way, Miss Arimura, a graduation study hopper, showed a splendid quality in her personality and actions.　
　 Miyo's refined ideas and speedy actions were really surprising. She was absorbed day after day in improving and giving a warm feeling to the HPof the YAMAMOTO VILLAGE.
Miyo and Satomi devoted themselves in creating pages they chose until late at night In the last leg of the graduation study, they worked late every day and sometimes until dawn. I watched them work without saying much to them because no words seemed needed. They shared the desire to learn and worked in harmony.　
　Miyo, however, ran short of time and had to finish part of her work halfway. Regardless, they will always remember the accomplishment they achieved.
　According to Miyo's memorandum,

	* By being exposed to the making of a HP, learned to make useof various applications rationally. Feel that individuality in the creative sense and in presentation is important.
	*Just not enough time. Had to finish with some work undone. Wanted tovisit the isle and gather information for myself. Wish to have taken pictures there with a high-resolution camera.
	*Wanted to add music to the top page to make a HP of high impact.
	*Map pages of Fukuoka and Shikanoshima need improving.
	*Could not really enjoy the sense of accomplishment of making a good HP.
	*The time was too short, but feel happy about the experience, which could not be gained anywhere else.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Yoshimura, Ms. Motoko Suzuki, and Newton Press for generously allowing us to include the professor's article inour HP. 　

'In contact with the nature and culture of Shikanoshima' (Home Page, February 1998)
The students and I were looking around the areas nearby with the idea of making a study on HP while coming in contact with the natural surroundings we tend to overlook.
We checked towns and cities from Wajiro to Dazaifu, and our attention was finally focused on Shikanoshima . 　
When we were examining ways and means for presenting the area and its natural surroundings, the Shika Public Hall offered us its positive support and provided us with various reference materials. 　
We frequented the home of the president of the Society for Preservation of Shikanoshima, and learned a great deal about the historical events. Among them were the topics of the Gold Seal and historical cultural events.Some books and documents were offered to us for verification. 　
According to what we learned, Shikanoshima has a long history and has been called 'the Home of History' and 'the Home of the Manyo.' An investigation of just a few months is not enough to do it justice.　
Although we are amateurs and not knowledgeable , we decided to begin the introduction of the nature, culture, and history of Shikanoshima a little at a time on the net. 　
For the students, the attempt gave them a chance to get to know the nature and people in the area where the students lived. The students discussed ways to make the presentation night and day. This gave them a meaningful time in concluding their school life. 　
This is our first HP, and we were often baffled in doing work unaccustomed to us. 　 So please forgive us if the images, layout, links, and handling, etc., fail short of your expectations.

　My Hobbies
One of my hobbies is related to the HP subject: Wandering through the woods and mountains.
　 For 30 years, since my college days, I have been hiking with friendsthrough mountains nearly every month. Besides mountains and fields, we also　walked through Shikanoshima, Iki, Tsushima. Unfortunately, about 10 years ago, I found it physically difficult to cover long distances or rugged terrain.　I am trying to make myself physically fit for new challenges.
Mt. Tachibana is located close to our school. No matter how often I go there, the mountain gives me something refreshing and satisfying every time. 　
Mt. Tachibana borders on three towns, Fukuoka Higashiku, Shinngu-cho, and Hisayama-cho. It has a virgin forest of camphor trees, northernmost limit for them, and a national natural monument. Despite its low altitude of 367m, it is full of naturalblessings.
On the top, there are the ruins of Tachibana Castle. Sadanori Otomo built the castle and it was destroyed by Nagamasa Kuroda in later years. 　Its ruins and some stone walls still remain there.　
　 The mountain-top offers superb views of the surrounding area, from the Sea of Genkai, Hakata Bay, Fukuoka city and suburbs, to the mountains afar. There are many trails starting from various points.

The subjects I teach:Personal Computer Literacy
Culture Seminar
Exercise in Graphic Treatment
Basic Programming/Visual Basic
Exercise in Basic Programming/Visual Basic
Exercise in Programming Application/Visual Basic
Exercise in DTP
Graduation Seminar
Measurements (of another department)