Father of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, Koizumi Hideo 1885-1945
Koizumi Hideo was assigned a post in Asahikawa as a teacher for the Asahikawa Junior High School (present-day Asahikawa Higashi High School) in 1911. For the next 9 years, he researched topography, geology and flora while traveling far and wide throughout the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. During that process, he named many of the mountains in the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. His research results were presented in the "Sangaku" (Mountaineering) bulletin of the Japanese Alpine Club, as "Geographical Research of Hokkaido Central Highlands". Thanks to "Daisetsuzan: Hiking Methods and Hiking Guide", which he wrote in 1926, the name of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range immediately became known among mountaineers throughout Japan. From these achievements, Koizumi is known as the “Father of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range”.
"Daisetsuzan Survey Council" Founder Arai Hatsuichi 1873-1928
Arai Hatsuichi, who was a businessman from Asahikawa who focused his energy into developing Sounkyo, contributed greatly to the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range becoming famous as a national tourist spot. The “Daisetsuzan Survey Council” that Arai established in 1924 made efforts to protect and introduce the attractiveness of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, by publishing "Daisetsuzan: Hiking Methods and Hiking Guide" written by Koizumi Hideo; conducting and publishing scientific research on the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range; and petitioning for the designation of alpine flora protection districts.
