Kamikatsu

Located in the center of Tokushima Prefecture, Kamikatsu-cho is the smallest town in Shikoku, one of Japan’s main island, with a population of about 1,500 people.A town of water sources, about 90% of Kamikatsu-cho is covered with mountains and forests, and is a place you would never reach unless you had a reason to be there. However, many must have heard the name of Kamikatsu-cho at some point in their lives. It is known as the town that leads “happa (leaf) business,” a business that sells leaves, and as the first town in Japan to declare zero-waste, which attracted attention from around the world. The Kamikatsu-chos people always think, choose, and take actions for the future of their community.

After passing through the city of Tokushima, I followed Prefectural Road 16 up along the Katsuura River into the mountains. After passing through several small villages, when the number of houses dwindles, I was relieved to see a sign saying "Kamikatsu-cho” thinking “I’m fi nally here and I was not lost.” There is no railroad station in the town, and it is a 50-minute drive from Tokushima City. It is not an easily accessible town by any standard. Nestled in the bosom of the mountains, Kamikatsu-cho is a zero-waste town that is attracting attention from around the world, and is the base of the leaf business that has brought a ray of light to regional revitalization.
It joined the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan association in 2005, the year of its inception. It is one of the regions that should be called the origin of the "Beautiful Village Movement" in Japan. After eight years, the cafe Polestar has become a hub of the town, the craft beer brewery RISE & WIN has been established, and the Garbage station has been transformed into a spectacular the Zero Waste Center “WHY”.
I heard about the journey the town took over the course, that the town and its people have become more and more attractive while they continued with their efforts. And I was surprised to be able to actually witness that. At the same time, when I talked to the people who are at the center of the Kamikatsu movement, I was impressed by how seriously and carefully they were confronting the question: What is the right choice to make at this present moment for Kamikatsu, which is unique to Kamikatsu?

Interviewed in October, 2021