Hello! I'm Kotori Mae, a 2nd year student at the International College of Technology.
This time, I'd like to introduce part of our Engineering Design IIB (ED) class.
First, in the 2nd year ED course, we engage in activities aimed at regional revitalization. As part of this, we cultivated Beni Haruka sweet potatoes in the fields and learned about business while selling roasted sweet potatoes at the Roadside Station Sena. Then, aiming to expand new sales channels, we collaborated with Kuru,ru. in Ono to sell Kosen Beni Haruka sweet potatoes baked in clay pots and original goods at the end of November.

The Kosen Beni Haruka project in ED has been passed down and refined by seniors from the second cohort, but initiatives like collaborations were new to us. Despite some nerves, we put a lot of effort into creating a new logo for the collaboration and expanding our merchandise lineup.

Kuru,ru. specializes in clay pot-baked sweet potatoes, and this time we borrowed their method to sell Kosen Beni Haruka sweet potatoes baked in clay pots. We sampled them ourselves and found that even though they were the same Beni Haruka variety, they were creamier and sweeter, really highlighting the difference between regular baking and pot baking.

Furthermore, building on improvements made since our sales at Roadside Station Sena, we sold merchandise as capsule toys this time. Seeing the children who came to the store excitedly saying, “I hope I get this one!” or “This one's cute!” while excitedly spinning the capsule toy machines. Seeing increased recognition not just for the baked sweet potatoes but for the Kosen Beni Haruka characters themselves really boosted the brand, which made us very happy. Also, the people who visited our shop showed great interest not only in the sweet potatoes but in the ICT itself. We were able to share information about our initiatives and the college in Ono, creating opportunities to talk about each other's regions and fostering valuable exchanges.

As a side note, since we took turns selling, we had time to explore Ono during breaks. The folks at Kuru,ru. lent us rental bikes, so we cycled along the coast and tried Ono's famous soy sauce soft serve. Experiencing this unique Ono tourism made me realize anew, “We've successfully spread our Kosen Beni Haruka brand to a new place.”

As the business team, it was rewarding to directly contribute to regional revitalization and gain sales experience while still in technical college school. The Kuru,ru. staff actively communicated with customers visiting the shop. They also kindly shared tips with us about pot-roasting and roasting sweet potatoes, engaging in conversations. Seeing their attitude of enjoying interactions with various people while sharing the same goal of regional revitalization made me realize that simply selling isn't enough. Even small exchanges create opportunities to learn about each other's regions and highlight the importance of communication. I want to apply this lesson to our future regional revitalization activities. We also sold roasted sweet potatoes at the Platinum Festival and came up with special menu items for our visitors. I was really happy that so many people enjoyed it!

Kotori Mae

Project 1：Creating Name Tags

Hello everyone, this is Brandon Wohlfarth, one of the Engineering Design teachers for the 1st year students. Within our Engineering Design course here at ICT, students get the chance to work on a wide range of projects, but to help “introduce” the students to the design process, their first project was to create individualized nametags.

There were some criteria that the students needed to follow during the project: their nametag needed to be able to be worn, it needed to fit within a certain volume, it needed to be made using the 3D printers and/or laser cutters that we have here at Hakusanroku Campus, and it needed to visually show important characteristics about the designer.

During this project students walked through how to come up with ideas, practiced prototyping, and learned about the connections between features and functions. This project culminated in a presentation where the students were able to “introduce” their nametags to their classmates, and practice their English-speaking skills.

What I enjoy the most about Engineering Design is that, unlike tests and quizzes, there isn’t just one right answer to how to solve the problem. It was very interesting to see how the students decided to approach the challenge ahead of them. Many students focused on creating something that helped introduce their hobbies, or maybe a certain source of media that they enjoyed, allowing them to add parts of their personality into their final creation. This is just the first design experience for the students, so I am looking forward to where they go from here.

Project 2：Solving Problems through Teamwork

Within the first semester the first-year students also worked on a team project in Engineering Design IA. The goal of this project is for students to observe the world around them and identify the “Worst thing that they use everyday” and try to find a solution their individual pain points regarding the topic selected. An aspect of this project that I enjoy seeing is how students perceive and approach different challenges or inconveniences that they experience in their daily life. Each group tackled a very different problem, but they still needed to understand how an object is used, what are important features needed to complete a desired function, and a little about how people are an important part in designing a new product. We always get some interesting projects when we do this activity, so I am excited to share them all with you.

1. Ukusta

This group decided to take on the challenge of designing a new stand for the ukuleles found in the Living Commons at the Hakusanroku Campus. They wanted to make something that would stabilize the instrument while also helping to improve the visual aesthetics of the space.

2. Nosepads

This group decided to devise an adjustable attachment that could fit with various glasses or sunglasses, in order to help match the shape and contour of different noses. Due to the size that this type of attachment would need to be, for demonstration purposes only, their prototype was an enlarged version of their design.

3. The Tangle Terminator

This group decided to envision a way to help organize their laptop charging cables to improve upon its ability to be stored inside of a backpack, as most students do. They found that inside of the backpack, the cables tended to become tangled easily, which lead them to address this issue within the scope of portability.

4. Magnamewash

This group wanted to find a way to help organize the use of the laundry facilities within the Hakusanroku Campus dormitories. They wanted to help solve the issues of not knowing who is using what machine in an easy to install, easy to use way that would transfer information quickly and clearly.

5. Sortaro

This group found that sorting trash can be a difficult and time-consuming activity, and as someone who even after years of living in Japan still has challenges understanding this system I can relate. They wanted to make something that would still properly sort various types of garbage, but be in one easy to use location.

6. Shampoo Guardian Project

This group wanted to address the lack of shelving space within the showers at the Hakusanroku Campus dormitory. They wanted something that could be used within the shower stalls on campus, that was easy to carry and to access the various bottles that they wanted to use while showering.

I am looking forward to what they do in the second semester!

Brandon Wohlfarth

 Hello, this is Arihiro Kodaka, and I am in charge of Engineering Design II for 2nd year students. At ICT, we place great importance on practical learning in collaboration with the local community. In Engineering Design II, students tackle agricultural challenges faced by the region and explore solutions from both technological and business perspectives. The Tech Team provides technical support for wildlife damage prevention to protect sweet potatoes, while the Business Team works to revitalize the community by marketing the protected sweet potatoes as a local brand product.

 In this class, students are expected to accurately understand the current situation, identify new approaches to revitalizing the local community, and establish clear design objectives to realize those ideas. To achieve this, it is essential for them to gain a multifaceted understanding of the significance and impact of cultivating crops in this region, as well as the resources and effort required. As a first step, the entire class participated in creating ridges in the field, planting sweet potatoes, and installing electric fences to prevent wildlife damage.

Please also refer to the Hakusanroku Journal written by President Maasaki Shikada,
“2nd Year Engineering Design: Beniharuka Sweet Potato Planting (May 26th, 2025)"

 Although it was already mid-April this year, more than 50cm of snow remained in the field, and the temperatures were still low, making it difficult to plant the seedlings. However, thanks to a miraculous period of continuous rain, the snow melted just in time for the scheduled delivery of the seedlings, allowing us to proceed with planting. However, the temperatures this spring were in the low 10℃, which was quite cold and not ideal for root development or growth. The seedlings didn’t look very healthy, and I was worried. Fortunately, in May, the temperatures finally started to rise, and I was relieved to see the seedlings beginning to grow.

 Even after the seedlings had taken root, we continued to monitor their condition. This year, I noticed that some seedlings had been pulled out. Upon researching online, we found reports indicating that newly planted seedlings can be an easy target for crows, which may be what happened in our field as well. Additionally, we observed that the electric fence had become loose due to the wire mesh getting caught on the binding wire used to secure it to the poles. Next year, we plan to install a camera to closely monitor what happens in the field after planting. We will be selling sweet potatoes again this year, so please enjoy our exceptionally sweet Kosen Beniharuka!

Arihiro Kodaka

 Hello. I am Masaaki Shikada, ICT President.
 On Thursday, April 24th, 2025, I helped plant Engineering Design II's "Kosen Beniharuka" seedlings for the third time. This time, I had a meeting at Kanazawa Campus, so I couldn’t travel to Hakusanroku Campus until after the meeting ended. By the time I arrived, the ridges had already been prepared and the planting had begun. This year I planted the second row from the west side. The soil was quite wet this winter due to the heavy snowfall, but I felt this made the work easier.
 This is the third time I have planted seedlings, and although I am getting used to it, I still worry about whether the seedlings I planted will grow well. The year before last, the potatoes did not grow very large, probably because it rained a lot. Last year, good weather and moderate rainfall resulted in large potatoes. We expect this year's crop to be as good as last years.
 All 2nd year students, Engineering Design II teachers, and Learning Mentors Domyson Abuan sensei and Sharmee Abuan sensei joined us to complete the seedling planting before 16:00. Then electric fences were installed and measures were taken to prevent damage from animals. We hope for another good harvest this year, following on from last year.
 Our school will hold an open campus on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd. In conjunction with this event, the annual baked sweet potato sale will be held at the Sena Road Station. If you have time, please visit the Sena Road Station and try some potatoes!
Click here for more details about Open Campus

Masaaki Shikada

Hello, this is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku Office. This time, I would like to write about the Engineering Design IIB final presentation held on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025.

 The Engineering Design IIB class, worked on problem-solving projects on the social, natural, and industrial environments of the HAKUSANROKU (Foothills of Mt. Hakusan) region. Students were divided into two teams, the Agribusiness Team and the Tech Team. I will introduce the activities that both teams have been working on.

Activities of the Agribusiness Team

 The Agribusiness Team has been working on regional revitalization activities in HAKUSANROKU, including the Asagimadara (Chestnut Tiger Butterfly) marking event, roasted Kosen Beniharuka sweet potato sales, and traditional Ningyo Joruri (Puppet Theater).

Asagimadara (Chestnut Tiger Butterfly) Marking Event

 In a fallow field in front of the Hakusanroku campus, Fujibakama flowers (boneset) are being cultivated to attract Asagimadara. The Agribusiness Team is working on a project to revitalize the community by making the migrating Asagimadara a valuable local resource.
 This year, the Asagimadara Marking Event, organized by the Oguchi Community Development Council, the Hakusanroku Satoyama Revitalization Council, and the Asagimadara Fan Club, was held again. The Agribusiness Team participated in the event in a supporting role. The marking experience was limited to 30 participants by advance reservation, and in addition to assisting with the marking activity, the students planned events to ensure that the 30 participants could have a fuller experience. Their goal was to promote the charm of HAKUSANROKU while creating an opportunity for interaction between local residents and visitors.
 To attract participants to the event, the students created promotional posters for the Asagimadara Marking Event and displayed them at Hakusan Himenoyu Onsen, Oguchi Community Center and Sena Roadside Station. 
 Additionally, they set up photo spots, observation areas, and rest areas, in order to promote the event on social media. They also organized various activities such as selling Asagimadara-themed merchandise, hosting a keychain-making experience using a laser cutter, and setting up a capsule toy machine. The capsule toy machine, in particular, was more popular than expected and made many visitors happy.
 For more details, Arihiro Kodaka sensei, who is in charge of Engineering Design, has written about the Asagimadara Marking Event

Kosen Beniharuka Sweet Potatoes Sales

 The Agribusiness Team, with the cooperation of the Hakusanroku Satoyama Revitalization Council, has been cultivating Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes since first semester, utilizing a fallow field in front of the Hakusanroku campus. The students collaborated with the Kijitora Coffee Laboratory and Sena Road Station, aimed at revitalizing the local community by selling Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes that the students grew by themselves.

 This year, as part of a collaboration with ICT, Kijitora Coffee Laboratory sold "Chips Benya Soft" and "Benya Soft" made with Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes, while Sena Road Station offered "Beniharuka Sundae" and fresh Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes for sale. 

 Additionally, on Sunday, November 3rd and Monday, November 4th, 2024, the Agribusiness Team sold roasted Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes at the Sena Road Station store. Last year, with the aim of promoting the Kosen Beniharuka brand and building a fan base, original merchandise such as keychains and magnets featuring four mascot characters of Kosen Beniharuka were created. These were distributed for free as capsule toys to customers who purchased roasted Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes of a certain amount. This year, while inheriting the character goods created by last year's students, new acrylic standing figures were added to the collection.
 This year, the Kosen Beniharuka sweet potato harvest was excellent, with the harvest volume approximately 1.6 times greater than last year. As a result, more Kosen Beniharuka sweet potatoes had to be sold. To promote the brand more widely and boost sales at both the Kijitora Coffee Laboratory and Sena Road Station, a campaign was implemented. Customers who purchased a certain amount of Kosen Beniharuka related products at each store were given a free exchange voucher for a capsule toy.

 Last year, about 30 capsule toys were distributed, but this year, thanks to the many customers who visited the roasted Kosen Beniharuka sweet potato stand from the Kijitora Coffee Laboratory and Sena Road Station, 100 capsule toys were given out. Some customers even returned to buy other products just to get another capsule toy. Others, continuing from last year, mentioned, "We came to enjoy Kosen Beniharuka roasted sweet potatoes again this year." Ultimately, the sales were approximately 1.4 times higher than last year, and the students were able to achieve their goal of surpassing last year's sales.

Ningyo Joruri (Puppet Theater)

 The Higashi Futakuchi Bunya Ningyo Joruri is a traditional form of puppet theater that draws from the Joruri and Bunyabushi, which were popular before the emergence of Bunraku (puppetry). Currently, there are only four places in Japan where Bunyabushi is still being preserved, one of which exists in the Higashi futakuchi area of Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture. 350 years ago, local residents went to Kyoto, studied Ningyo Joruri and brought it back to HAKUSANROKU. Even today, it remains much the same as it was back then.
 With the goal of introducing this unique cultural heritage to more people and providing an opportunity for them to enjoy it, the Agribusiness Team visited the Higashi futakuchi Local History Museum, the venue for the Ningyo Joruri performances. Through interviews with them, they gathered impressions and identified challenges, using these insights to further their activities.

 

Ningyo Joruri paper crafts

 The students planned two events to help promote and revitalize the Ningyo Joruri tradition.
 The first aimed to show the appeal of Ningyo Joruri through the use of paper crafts. Students proposed offering papercraft models as souvenirs for visitors attending performances and making them available for download on a website, allowing people to enjoy them at home.
 The second initiative involved expanding the distribution of promotional flyers beyond public facilities in Hakusan City and promoting the event through posters. As a result, flyers could also be distributed at Sena Road Station and the Ichirino area, which attract many tourists during the winter season for winter sports. Additionally, based on discussions with members of the preservation society, the students created a Current Status Analysis Map, summarizing the ongoing efforts to preserve and promote the tradition.

 In this activity, students explored new experience possibilities with paper crafts and visualized the current state of Higashi Futakuchi Bunya Ningyo Joruri, and I believe that students were able to create opportunities for themselves to become aware of issues from a variety of perspectives. Although it was difficult to secure sufficient time for this activity at the end of the semester, students felt it was important to work together with the preservation society to think about the future of the project.

Activities of the Tech Team

 The Tech Team is engaged in technological development focused on utilizing AI and IoT for wildlife monitoring and notification systems, as well as controlling drones to deter harmful animals as part of pest control measures.
 In HAKUSANROKU, damage to crops by monkeys has become increasingly severe each year. To address this issue, the Tech Team has improved the accuracy of an AI-powered monkey surveillance system to over 90%, developed a function that sends notifications to farmers via LINE when monkeys are detected, and tested the effectiveness of drones in deterring them.
 This year, the team was divided into three groups to explore new ways to protect farmland: the Rover Team, which developed a patrol robot capable of navigating rough terrain; the Drone Team, which tested the precision of automatic takeoff and landing for drones; and the IoT Team, which developed a system to monitor rainfall and wind speed for drone operation.

Rover Team

 Newly active this year, the Rover Team worked to develop a rover that could patrol the farmland in bad weather and intimidate monkeys when drones are unable to fly because of weather conditions. The final goal is to have a rover move around the farmland automatically, but the first step is to develop a rover that can move around the uneven terrain of the farmland. The students proceeded with a detailed design based on their ideas of “what kind of rover” they wanted, such as how fast they wanted the rover to move around the field and how big and heavy they wanted it to be.
 The completed rover was to be tested on farmland, but the farmland was covered with snow, so the test was conducted on campus over concrete, asphalt, and grass with a light dusting of snow on campus.
 How to intimidate monkeys and how to automate the rover to travel over farmland are the next challenges.

Drone Team

 The goals of the Drone Team this year were to investigate the accuracy of a drone’s GPS takeoff and landing and confirmation of system operation. Furthermore, the drone storage box was made and installed on the farmland to enable takeoff, landing, and storage of the drone.

The operation of the developed system is as follows.
1. When the AI monkey detection system recognizes the monkeys, a notification is sent to the user via LINE.
2. The user remotely opens the door of the drone storage box.
3. Under user remote control, the drone automatically takes off and circles the farmland to intimidate the monkeys.
4. After the drone circles the farmland, the drone lands on the storage box.
5. The user remotely closes the door of the storage box.

 The confirmation tests were conducted on campus and confirmed the drone’s takeoff and landing accuracy. The drone storage box was controlled remotely from the cafeteria.

IoT Team

 The IoT Team is the bridge link between the user, the AI monkey detection system, and the drone or rover. When the system detects the monkeys in the farmland, the system sends information such as rainfall, windspeed, and images of the monkey to the user, and the user decides if the drone or rover is ready to operate in the farmland. These enhancements help robots avoid making decisions too quickly. Additionally, for quick maintenance, the software has also been improved to check if the system is offline, whether the internet is connected, and which camera is offline.

Yuri Makada