Nakagawa

It’s a village with a population of over 5,000, which is surrounded by some of Japan’s finest mountains in the south of Nagano-Pref. More and more people of rich sensibility are moving to the village there are no famous tourism resources. What is the source of an invisible attraction not only landscape and nature? A new journey to explore the beauty of Nakagawa Village begins.

It’s a blessed land any crops grow well in a mild climate. Frugal also good life may be reflected in human nature of the villagers. Everyone is friendly and generous with somehow humility.
The villagers have accepted newcomers from outside or new concepts without prejudice in their generous open spirit. Village Mayor Itsuro Soga is one of them. He moved to the village with his family after he was elected for the first time in 2005, he has been leading the beautiful and self-sufficient village Development without depending on government. Now, he is a spiritual pillar for the villagers. Why artists and writers move here is increasing, it may be because they were attracted to an open atmosphere in the whole of the village.
The villagers say that characteristic of the village is “lukewarm”. But, no one is negative and they feel cozy rather. “Lukewarm” maybe inextricably linked to “just right”. I think that everyone can live without exaggeration here.

Interviewed in May, 2014