During my college and newlywed years, I fully enjoyed the allure of life in Tokyo. After having children, I also lived in Yokohama. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture, I’ve also experienced living in Tochigi and Tokushima Prefectures. Thus, I am familiar with the charms of both urban and rural life.

In this era, I believe the option of living between the city and the countryside is viable. I hope more people can easily and affordably experience rural life. This is because I believe that the further we move away from nature, the more we lose our humanity both mentally and physically.

For instance, the more artificial and unnatural the manufacturing process of our food, the further it gets from being healthy. Human beings are inherently part of nature and cannot live without it. Ignoring nature will inevitably lead to negative repercussions in our lives.

No one, after breathing in the fresh, delicious air of the mountains, would think, “This feels awful. I hate it.” Seeing flowers brings a sense of beauty, and looking at the blue sky and sea makes one feel refreshed. Nature is always there, enriching our lives.

Currently, there are rising concerns about a food crisis. Professor Norihiro Suzuki of the University of Tokyo explains Japan’s food vulnerability in easy-to-understand terms using numbers in his book, “Japan Will Be the First to Starve: How to Protect Food Security” published by Kodansha + Alpha Shinsho. With extreme weather, rising oil prices, grain shortages due to the Ukraine war, relentless price hikes, and yen depreciation making it harder to buy food, 60% of the Japanese population could face starvation. What is needed to prevent this national crisis?

The government will not protect our health and livelihood. Realizing this, I decided to leave Japan 11 years ago. The situation has worsened since then. If a crisis occurs and overseas distribution stops, people in Japan will face starvation.

The mere thought of this is terrifying. In western Kanagawa Prefecture, I met people who started farming and created their own communities. Newcomers to farming often pursue it part-time to mitigate financial risks.

Without food, humans cannot survive. Rural towns with accessible food production will become more prominent with changing times. Acting only after a crisis hits is too late.

As someone with a base in Yamakita Town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, I pondered ways for young people in the metropolitan area to feel close to rural life while maintaining their urban connections. I spent the entire day today organizing my thoughts into concrete plans.

Tomorrow, I plan to have a local person review my proposal, which I entrusted to my daughter. Additionally, I have an online meeting scheduled with a wedding planning company.

While exploring possibilities, I hope to shape something positive. I will keep you updated on this blog about the progress and realization of these ideas.