Shiiba

Shiiba village is located in the very center of the mountainous area at the north-westernmost tip of Miyazaki prefecture in the Kyushu region. Although the village is as vast as the size of 1/4 of Tokyo, 96 percent of the land is mountain forest. The villagers have cleared small areas on steep slopes of the mountain and had cultivated and nurtured unique wisdom and skills to live. In this village where gods live in the souls of the villagers, the ancient old practices and traditional culture are still evident.

Driving for one hour from Kumamoto Airport through the 2,777 meter-long Kunimi tunnel, the landscape becomes more compelling with steep mountains that represent Shiiba village. Mountain forest occupies most of this huge village. Surrounded by mountains that are around 1,000 meters high, there are only small areas of level ground for people to live. The local people have lived with appreciation and respect to the mountain gods in this harsh environment.
In this village of deep mountains, an unique culture of ancient-old practices and traditional performing arts were nurtured, preserved, and succeeded in the daily life of the villagers to the present age: the legend of defeated soldiers of the Heike clan, sacred music and dancing called Kagura that is still being performed to offer to gods in 26 districts, so many folk songs, and the spirit of “Kateri” the term to describe the villagers’ characteristic of cooperating with each other beyond the boundaries of family and region. For the villagers of Shiiba who have the spirit of “give and take” and strong bonds with neighbors, the Kateri spirit must be an important hub in their souls that keeps the tradition and climate of the village.
Shiiba village is the only village left that preserves and practices the traditional slash-and-burn farming since the Jomon period (c. 1000–300 BCE). This method of farming uses no fertilizer or chemicals but cooperate with nature’s law. It is a Japanese traditional way of life of making use of what is there and living along with the nature. The village was certified as a member of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan in 2014 for its unspoiled scenery. Additionally Shiibayama region was designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems together with Takachihogo in 2015, which made the villagers recognize the charms of their village once again and led their confidence and pride to keep living in the village.
Even if the world is rapidly changing, there are so many precious and unique things in this village preserved by its people. Those are universal and unwavering. There is an old saying among the hunters in this village: “we need no game more than we need.” Living with the nature taught the Shiiba people what the most important things are. The time might finally have caught up with the Shiiba village.

Interviewed in October, 2019