Toyohashi City Powerful extermination machines and trading cards are also on display! “Alien Plant Busters: Invasive Alien Plant Countermeasures Exhibition” held at Toyohashi Museum of Natural History

[Toyohashi City] Powerful extermination mechas and trading cards are also available! “Alien Plant Busters: Invasive Alien Plants
Countermeasures Exhibition” held at Toyohashi Museum of Natural History ​
Toyohashi City Press release: July 8, 2025 To media representatives Powerful extermination mechas and trading cards are also available! “Alien Plant Busters: Invasive Alien Plants Countermeasures
Exhibition” held at Toyohashi Museum of Natural History
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-7951f294a3f30075e65b6826b0a5d0d6-384×543.png Are you aware of the “invasive alien plants” that are invading Japan one after another? There are concerns that this will have a
detrimental effect not only on the natural ecosystem, but also on our food and lifestyles, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and flood control. This summer, Toyohashi Museum of Natural History will hold a special exhibition for 2025 entitled “Alien Plant Busters: Invasive Alien Plant Control Exhibition,” showcasing everything from the ecology of invasive alien plants to extermination machinery and techniques. Commemorative trading cards will also be on sale! Toyohashi City has a track record of almost eradicating the first Japanese bush warbler found in Japan.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-3ead291bd8782ee19842d0ee6a2e6509-385×289.jpg In the past, Toyohashi was the first place in Japan to see the invasion of the world-famous invasive alien plant “Higataashi”. It was discovered early and, thanks to a rapid response from around 2011, with the cooperation of the Aichi Prefectural Government, the Chubu Regional Environment Office, Toyohashi City Hall, volunteers, local junior high school students, and other local people, it has been almost completely eradicated to this day. However, invasive alien plants can reproduce quickly, or leave seeds underground, making it difficult to determine whether they have been completely eradicated. Also, it is important to be careful because they may re-invade at any time. It may lead to a risk of flooding and damage to agriculture, forestry and fisheries! Early detection and rapid response are important
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-d9732dd1b3478da15b0514466be35034-1796×1332.jpg For example, the “water hyacinth” mentioned above grows by filling up waterways, so if it clogs them, it may cause flooding…! Also, if it grows in paddy fields, it is thought to drive out rice. Early detection and rapid response are important when dealing with invasive alien plants. Through this exhibition, we hope to deepen awareness of invasive alien plants and encourage each individual to become an early detective, which will also lead to environmental conservation. Very impressive! An actual machine currently used to fight invasive alien plants will be on display The “Alien Plant Busters Invasive Alien Plant Countermeasures Exhibition” will feature an actual “amphibious aquatic grass harvesting boat,” a mobile extermination machine that was introduced from overseas and is used both on land and in water. Also, the one-of-a-kind proprietary winch and clamshell, as well as various extermination techniques, are introduced.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-d1893c54c1ca4a4ea48d5c02ee171ef0-2605×1935.jpg In addition, there are detailed ecological models of invasive alien plants on display. If you find an invasive alien plant, you can report it! Original trading cards designed by the doctor are on sale Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-81339ba8275c885861192c9d56c87f8d-308×411.jpg Toyohashi Museum of Natural History is linking up with the special exhibition “Alien Plant Busters: Invasive Alien Plant Countermeasures Exhibition” to create cards featuring invasive alien species, mainly plants! To encourage people to pay attention to the local nature, the plant and insect experts have come up with the strongest trading cards that the professors came up with. Toyohashi Museum of Natural History Trading Cards Vol. 1 “Alien Plant Busters” will be released. Vol. 1: What kind of card is “Alien Plant Busters”?
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-ff2b75e132da1af3886cb8a91e23f9fc-742×557.png ‧ 50 types in total. 32 types of plants, 13 types of insects, 5 secret types (researchers, etc.) ‧ Cards come with photos capturing the characteristics of living things and original explanations written by the doctor ‧ 5 cards per pack (randomly included) 500 yen ‧ On sale at the Natural History Museum’s special exhibition reception desk. Cards feature noteworthy invasive species carefully selected by PhD researchers. We have carefully selected invasive species that are of concern. We also list important invasive species that have been found in neighboring prefectures but have not yet been discovered in Aichi Prefecture. Early detection of invasive species! QR reporting system also contributes to information gathering Depending on the type of card, it is equipped with a QR code that can be used to report information about the discovery to the relevant departments of the Aichi Prefectural Government or Toyohashi City Hall. By learning from these cards, you can develop the “eyes of the citizens” that are important for early detection and rapid response of invasive alien species that are likely to affect citizens, such as flooding. These original trading cards, which both adults and children can learn while playing, are perfect as souvenirs. Outline of “Alien Plant Busters Invasive Alien Plants Countermeasures Exhibition”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/25583/757/25583-757-21223854b4bb4543d9abd5d093ff71de-656×927.png Venue: Toyohashi City Natural History Museum Special Exhibition Room Event period: July 11 (Fri) – August 31 (Sun) 9:00-16:30 (entrance until 16:00) ※ Night Zoo: 9:00-16:00 (entrance until 15:30) Closed days: Mondays, 7/22 ※ Open on July 21 and August 11 Admission fee: 900 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, free for preschoolers *Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Garden admission fee required Person in charge: Shinya Hieda (Curator / Ph.D. (Environmental Science)) ～Special Exhibition Commemorative Commentary Session～ We will hold a total of eight special exhibition
commemorative commentary sessions, inviting “professionals in the field” such as those who eradicate invasive plants and those who operate and develop eradication machines. You can hear stories that you can only hear here, such as experiences on the front lines of eradication and the secrets of machine development! (No application required) Saturday, July 19th A world-class achievement from Aichi! The trajectory of the near-eradication of the invasive plant, Eastern alder. Sunday, July 20 Can the invasive plant, Long-tailed Alder, be eradicated? Saturday, August 2 Clamshell – A large crane arm that grabs invasive plants Sunday, August 3 The Yodogawa removal method that allows you to easily remove invasive plants by “turning them upside down” Wednesday, August 6 Alien aquatic plants and aquatic grass cutting boat Friday, August 22nd Protect Toyohashi City’s ecosystem! ～Invasive alien species lurking nearby～ Saturday, August 23 We’ll use a special rake to repel troublesome alien plants near water! August 24th (Sunday) Amphibious working machine from Sweden in Northern Europe *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.