The natural environment provides human society with essential non-material values, such as cultural symbolism and local attachment, known as "cultural ecosystem services." But can these abstract cultural values actually influence how communities behave? According to a new study focusing on public schools in Hachioji City, Tokyo, the answer is yes.

In a study published in the journal Nature Conservation, researchers Kazuki Miyauchi and Associate Professor Takeshi Osawa from the Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences at Tokyo Metropolitan University investigated the relationship between nature-related vocabulary in school anthems and actual environmental education practices.

Lyrics serve as a vital medium for expressing nature within a cultural context. However, because popular or general songs are sung in many different places, their references to nature tend to be abstract and often lack a strong connection to a specific region. In contrast, school anthems are deeply rooted in specific schools and communities and are characterized by being sung regularly and repeatedly. Consequently, how local nature is depicted in school anthems can provide insightful clues into the relationship between the school, the community, and the environment

Researchers analyzed the official anthems of all 104 public schools in Hachioji City, Tokyo - where the surrounding mountains and iconic Mt. Takao serve as powerful natural symbols - surveying them simultaneously about nature-based programs and use of local green spaces. Of the 63 schools that provided valid responses, a clear pattern emerged.

Surprisingly, anthems referencing “高尾” (Mt. Takao) by name showed no significant correlation with nature-related programs, nor did lyrics correlate with broader outdoor school programs involving overnight trips to distant locations. But schools whose anthems included general mountain terms - such as “山” (mountain) or “峰” (peak) - showed a statistically significant tendency to utilize nearby green spaces for educational activities.

"This finding suggests a potential link between symbolic cultural representations embedded in school traditions and the actual practice of nature-related education."

- the researchers note in the study.

This research is highly significant because it demonstrates that natural expressions embedded in school culture - specifically through school anthems - may be linked to concrete actions in actual educational activities.

“It is well-established that childhood experiences in nature exert a strong influence on a person's future environmental awareness. The fact that local nature "lives" within school culture via anthems and correlates with outdoor curriculum suggests that embedding local ecology into cultural traditions can be a catalyst for children to learn to value their immediate surroundings.”

- the researchers explain.

While the study establishes a strong correlation, its scope was limited to mountain-related terms. The researchers point out that future studies should explore other natural elements, such as rivers, forests, and wildlife. The researchers also note that further investigation is needed to determine causality - whether the expressions in the anthems directly influence educational activities, or whether a region's overall pro-nature orientation is simply reflected in both the community's lyrics and its curriculum.

By expanding on these findings, we expect to provide new insights into how environmental education and regional development can leverage the powerful connection between culture and nature.

Original source:

Miyauchi K, Osawa T (2026) Are cultural ecosystem services expressed in school songs associated with nature-related educational activities? Nature Conservation 63: 237-245. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.63.180492

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