In Tokyo’s office districts like Marunouchi, Otemachi, and Yurakucho, there’s a beekeeping project called the “Marunouchi Honey Project,” which has been running for 10 years. The honey collected is used in sweets at nearby hotels and is so popular that demand often exceeds supply. The project also serves as a morning activity spot for local workers, and the author, who works in Otemachi, joined in.
Annually, 700 kilograms of honey are harvested. On a rooftop in Otemachi, there are 10 beehives housing 400,000 to 500,000 bees. The fresh, sweet honey collected here is shared with participants.
The bees are observed doing their “waggle dance” to communicate the location of flowers to each other, likely pointing to nearby places like the Imperial Palace or East Gardens. Although surrounded by office buildings, the area has plenty of trees and green spaces where bees can find flowers.
The project aims to create a “coexisting city” that benefits both humans and nature. The goal is to plant more bee-friendly trees and flowers, creating an environment where people and wildlife can thrive together. The green of the Imperial Palace stands out amidst the cityscape, reinforcing this vision.
by MagazineKey4532