On Tuesday, September 14 and Wednesday October 5, we hosted the Moss Terrarium Course at WELLCO in Osaka Umeda Twin Towers for office workers.

An industry-academic collaboration agreement has been entered into between Hanshin Engei Co, Ltd., who is in charge of managing the greenery at Osaka Umeda Twin Towers, and Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Landscape Planning & Horticulture Academy and University of Hyogo Graduate School. The agreement concerns measures for improving quality of regional greenery and for regional revitalization in the area of 1-Chome Umeda. This includes support from Associate Professor Oyabu of our university, as the lecturer, and from students.

The goal is to provide opportunities for office workers to be around plants and other greenery and broaden their interest in trees and plants through processes such as hands-on manufacturing and promotion of management. With a capacity of 20 people, there were 90 applicants, so those who could participate were chosen by lottery, making this a popular event.

Before taking their seats, participants chose their favorite of the four types of vases that were prepared.

Long tweezers that most people don’t use often, as well as scissors, plastic spoons, and spraying atomizers were prepared. Each participant created their own human or animals figures, according to taste, using the moss that they were given as well as items such as decorative rocks and makeup sand (colored sand? “Makeup” is a little strange) that they were free to take.

The course was initially planned to be only one hour, but it went on longer as participants enthusiastically worked on their projects and lost track of time. Everyone their created unique and wondering moss atriums.

After the course completed, participants were given a questionnaire. We would like the participants to place the moss atriums they created on their office desks or at home as a reminder of their ability to grow as people.