I provide guided tours of Hikone.
During tours, you may hear a bell ringing to announce the time. This bell, located on the side of Hikone Hill, has been telling time in the castle town since the Edo period (1603–1867). It rings five times a day: 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Hikone Castle is still an integral part of the lives of city residents.
I’m doing what I can so that Hikone Castle including the historically-important area around the castle will be inscribed as a World Heritage Site, its traditional value will be preserved, and the sound of this bell will reach people around the world.

I started watercolor painting seven years ago as a way to enjoy my retirement.
In a Hikone Castle painting/drawing contest last October, I received an award for one of my works. Unexpectedly, a Hikone craft beer company used it as one of their labels for a product that aims to support the castle’s inscription as a World Heritage Site. This is an honor, and I am very surprised and delighted.
The contest goes back more than half a century. It is one of events that everyone can participate in to build momentum toward inscription. I’m going to continue making paintings related to Hikone Castle.
My heart continues to be uplifted by people’s efforts toward its World Heritage inscription, and I’m doing my little part as well.

Japan will soon decide on a property to nominate, and we are now at the critical moment to achieve our long-cherished goal.
It is very encouraging and gratifying to see that Hikone City is not working alone, but is joining together with the prefecture of Shiga and surrounding municipalities.
The Edo period (1603–1867) was a time when samurai, who had previously fought in wars, became rulers and maintained a long period of peace. The value of Hikone Castle is the best example of how the governance system worked at that period. Now is the time for it to gain global recognition and connect to the future.
Along with everyone else, I will offer my best, albeit modest, efforts toward this goal!

The Hikone Chamber of Commerce and Industry encourages its member establishments to promote Hikone Castle’s inscription as a World Heritage Site. They can do so by, for example, placing stickers on company vehicles and flying banners. My company is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and has installed a 4-meter-wide banner on our company building, which can be seen from National Route 8.
We are determined to do what we can to become a company that will not be affected by the pandemic, aiming for inscription in 2024.
We look forward to working together with everyone.

I would like for Hikone Castle to be recognized by the world.
The castle clearly preserves the governance system structured by the samurai during the Edo period (1603–1867), a time of continuous peace.
In order to have it inscribed on World Heritage List, our business organization is actively working to raise awareness through wide-area cooperation. We also have produced videos to share the castle’s Universal Value. The enthusiasm of everyone living in the community will be a major force for its inscription. I also think that it’s important to provide hospitality to our visitors, cherishing the opportunity.

Trying to Inscribe Hikone Castle on World Heritage List Creating and Displaying Ichiban Shibori Beer POP Advertising
In December 2021, Kirin Brewery concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Shiga Prefecture. Based on this agreement, Kirin created three types of point of purchase (POP) advertising for Ichiban Shibori beer (draft beer mugs, cans, and bottles) to promote Hikone Castle’s inscription on the World Heritage list in 2024. The advertising has begun to be displayed at restaurants and supermarkets, mainly in Hikone.
We will continue to support the castle’s inscription with our Kirin Beer Shiga Plant’s Ichiban Shibori.

To launch a joint project for Hikone Castle’s inscription on the World Heritage List in 2024, the Hikone Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Young Entrepreneurs Group (Hikone YEG) and Junior Chamber International Hikone (Hikone JC) have joined forces for the first time under the name Takurami.
Using our experience and wisdom as young businesspeople who love our community, we are holding the Hikone Castle World Heritage Festival 2022 to build momentum among citizens and our regional consortium. We hope it will start a movement in the consortium for the castle’s World Heritage inscription.
* Our regional consortium consists of 23 organizations, including chambers of commerce and industry, associations of commerce and industry, and tourism organizations in five cities (Hikone, Nagahama, Omihachiman, Higashiomi, and Maibara) and four towns (in the districts of Aichi and Inukami), the Omi Tourism Board, and Biwako no moto DMO.

■Junior Chamber International Hikone (Hikone JC)
Established July 1953
FY 2022 President: Yokotsu Yuki (37). Slogan: Brave and Bold— For the Community’s Future!
No. of Members: 31 (as of April 1, 2022)
Between 20 and 40 years old

■Hikone Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Young Entrepreneurs Group (Hikone YEG)
Established October 1981
FY 2022 President: Matsushita Kazumasa (41). Slogan: YEG, Connecting to the Future With Smiles
No. of members: 86 (as of April 1, 2022)
Between 25 and 45 years old

"I am a third-year university student who graduated from Hikone Higashi High School, which is located near Hikone Castle.
I participated in an internship program at the prefectural government and was involved in setting up an Instagram page for two weeks to disseminate information about Hikone Castle to promote its World Heritage inscription.
While I was familiar with Hikone Castle during my high school years, throughout my internship I was reminded of everything great about it and wanted to convey this to more people.
From the younger generation, I would like to send out an enthusiastic message of support for Hikone Castle’s inscription. I plan to share with everyone around me the unique and wonderful characteristics of Hikone Castle.