Through an unexpected connection, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome faculty members from Nagoya University’s School of Agriculture, along with international students from Thailand and Cambodia. Over three days — June 10 to 12 — we had the pleasure of showing them around Yaotsu Town.
This program was developed through discussions with university faculty beginning around the end of April, and was built around the symposium “Life with Forests” (Mori no Aru Kurashi), held in Yaotsu in December 2025. [Details here]
The program combined town walks focused on history, culture, and the natural environment with hands-on experiences unique to the local area.
The small whirlwind set in motion by the “Life with Forests” symposium is our starting point — with the hope that it will one day grow into a great tornado, the circle of activity continues to expand, one step at a time.
Day 1 / Wednesday, June 10, 2026
In the morning, the group attended a session at the Tokai Regional Agricultural Administration Office to learn about nōhaku (agricultural tourism and rural homestays), before arriving in Yaotsu in the afternoon. At the Tokai office, they heard from Deputy Director Hayato Fukui — who had also delivered a keynote address at the “Life with Forests” symposium.
In the afternoon, we gathered at Yaotsu Family Center, where we introduced the 2024 nationally selected outstanding cases from the “Discover the Treasures of Rural, Mountain, and Fishing Villages” program (30 districts nationwide), along with an overview of how future programs are being planned and developed.
Following that, the group visited the area around the former Nishiori Tsunaba (timber gathering site), deepening their understanding of the history of the Kiso River waterway and its connections to the local community.
In the evening, the group enjoyed a hands-on gibier (wild game) experience at restaurant Gobō. Many thanks to Ms. Taki, Mr. Sawano, and Mr. Kubota at Gobō for your wonderful hospitality!
The evening was filled with laughter and lively conversation as everyone bonded over smoke-curing and barbecue, and the group also took a stroll out to Gobō Falls. The participants were wonderfully curious — their questions came one after another, and there were moments when we could barely keep up! We were deeply impressed by the genuine interest they brought to the history and daily life of the region, and it turned out to be a richly rewarding experience for us as well.
Stay tuned for the story of Days 2 and 3.
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