The yamagame (Geoemyda japonica Fan, 1931) is a small forest dwelling species found in the Ryukyu archipelago of southern Japan, namely on Okinawa Island, Kume Island, and Tokashiki Island. In an effort to protect this turtle species, the Japanese government designated them as a National Natural Monument in 1975 however this restricted research efforts. There is currently only one field study permitted by the Japanese government and is was started by Mr. Otani in the year 2000. The study focuses on the capture-mark-recapture of turtles throughout the year in Yanbaru National Park. At the field site, Mr. Otani has identified hundreds of unique individuals and has gained invaluable knowledge about their habitat, behavior, and ecology. Unfortunately, each passing year sees fewer and fewer turtles. The yamagame is listed as endangered, and is thought to be in decline due to continuous land development and poaching for the pet trade. The government has no ongoing conservation plan for the yamagame and without Mr. Otani’s study, there would be no way of monitoring the wild populations. Unfortunately, Mr. Otani has reached retirement age and needs help to continue the study. In 2019, Aya Narukiyo and Dr. Zach Bell heard Mr. Otani’s many stories about the yamagame and wanted to help him. By 2020, they founded the Okinawa Kame Centre, a nonprofit organisation focused on protecting and conserving the yamagame, and their habitat, on Okinawa Island.