On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the 26th “Clean Walk Tokachi in the Satsunai River” was held!
With the goal of preserving the healthy river environment of the Satsunai River—which has been named Japan’s finest clear stream—approximately 550 people participated, and citizens and related organizations worked together to clean up the riverbank.
And… the highlight of this event was, without a doubt—
🐴✨ Horses made their debut! ✨🐴
Horses raised at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine serve as river environment monitors for the Obihiro River Office, and this time, they joined people in picking up trash!
The venue was filled with smiles and surprise at this unusual sight.This cleanup activity, which “connects people, nature, and animals,” is truly a new step forward that embodies the spirit of Tokachi.
Seeing children and horses working up a sweat together gave us hope that this will lead to a future with “zero littering”—it was a day filled with that sense of hope.
Opening remarks by Director Konishi of the Obihiro River Office
Warm-up exercises during the opening ceremony
Scenes from the cleanup activity
The cleanup activity proceeding alongside the horses
Horses and Children Interacting
