The serene atmosphere of Oze, a beautiful highland wetland and one of the most popular hiking spots in the country, is no longer in danger, as NTT DoCoMo Inc. scrapped its controversial plan to launch a cell phone service in the region.
The serene atmosphere of Oze, a beautiful highland wetland and one of the most popular hiking spots in the country, is no longer in danger, as NTT DoCoMo Inc. scrapped its controversial plan to launch a cell phone service in the region.
However, since the plan was reported by the media last May, protests against the building of the towers poured in from environmental organizations all over the country. They argued that despite regulations, visitors would use cell phones if the cell phone service was available, disturbing the area's atmosphere.
They said cell phone noise would interfere with visitors communing with nature and would block out the sound of rivers, birds and the area's serenity, an important part of the natural environment. They said silence was an important part of the natural environment.
Nevertheless, there are concerns that an increasing number of visitors, now totaling more than 400,000 a year, threatens to further disrupt Oze's natural environment. During the mizubasho season, as many as 10,000 hikers per day come on weekends. It is often pointed out that Japanese are careless when visiting scenic spots.
A cell phone service in Oze would undoubtedly have turned the valuable natural swamp into a popular sight-seeing spot.
As the mizubasho season approaches, Gov. Kodera can take credit for having kept Oze free from cell phone noise and preserving the area's pristine atmosphere
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020505wo32.htm
Nikko National Park pages;
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nikko+national+park
Oze Wetland
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oze+wetland
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