Takayama Village
Mutsuo Sorimachi

In order to leave a store enabling shopping in the village, the inhabitants united and established a corporation. The store they took over from JA ( Japan Agricultural Cooperatives ) and has groceries and everyday items is in the 11th years since the start of its operation.

We want to leave our grandchildren and children a store where they can buy ice cream.

Because the store of JA Suko Yamada Branch was decided to be abolished 10 years ago, in 2007, “Furusato Center Yamada” was established by local inhabitants who faced with the crisis that “we will be unable to go shopping if this goes on” with the slogan that “Leave a store our grandchildren and children where they can buy ice cream”. They raised 30,000 yen per lot from inhabitants who agreed with the purpose and inherited the store with the investments of 7,740,000 yen they raised.
When entered the store, groceries, fresh products, daily dishes, liquors, and everyday items are all in line. In one corner of the store, there is a space partitioned by the wall and like a “salon” where inhabitants can enjoy tea and talking together.
In the store, coin-operated rice mill machine, mail, courier service and others are handled. Just like the original phrase that “Leave a store our grandchildren and children where they can buy ice cream”, sometimes ice cream is sold out in the summer and fail to arrive in time. It is a lineup can be felt local colors, such as Dedicated paper bags for garbage, Soap using Effective Microorganism (culture broth of microorganisms) called as EM, and Grilled Buns “Oyaki” with dried Japanese radishes or nozawana (Turnip Greens).
The reason why the inhabitants' solidarity here in Nakayama district is particularly strong is exactly in “water”. The local inhabitants had to cooperate in order to carefully use water drawn from other district. Takayamamura also have the same problem that the increasing number of disadvantaged shoppers due to aging, as many other regions. “It is necessary to make such a place that the elderly step a foot out the door first and enjoy talking together. We will also enrich the direct sales place of vegetables made by elderly, we want to provide product lineup that meets the needs of the region.”, Sorimachi says.

Interviewed in October, 2017
Writer : Hideko Takahashi / Photographer : Hiroyuki Tamura