Nou-En

In rural Japan, as in many areas around the world, small communities are suffering from rapid population decline as young people flock to the cities. A self perpetuating cycle develops in which rural communities lose their youth to entertainment and work opportunities in the city, which cripples the local economy by leaving behind small towns and villages lacking an able workforce.
Here in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, the evidence of this can be easily seen on any walk or bike ride around the valley. In some villages more than half of the houses are vacant. Many fields have been abandoned and have begun the rapid transition back to a more natural state. Elementary schools with great facilities are being forced to close due to low enrollment. At our local elementary school this year's First Grade class has three students. Village elders possess a lifetime of priceless skills and knowlege that is not being passed on because of a lack of interested youth. Looking forward in time, it is worrisome to imagine the state of these communities if current trends continue.
Seeing these things, we here at Nou En have been motivated to work for positive change. Our aim is to encourage young people from around the world to return to rural communities. We organize enthusiastic volunteers (mostly through the WWOOF organization, http://www.wwoofjapan.com) to help local farmers in exchange for healthy food and invaluable local knowlege. We network and assist local organic farms with vegetable and rice production on a regular basis. We try to enthusiastically jump in and help local villagers whenever we can. In addition to these projects, we also have our own fields and gardens as well as chickens and goats that we care for.
Because part of our aim is encouraging people to want to live in the country side we also take time to enjoy the benefits of country living. We go hiking in the surrounding mountains, swimming in ponds and streams (especially during the hot humid Japanese summer!), barbecues with friends on weekends, kendo lessons at the local gymnasium and much more.
Mostly we try to provide a communal living environment where we work, learn, and grow together, all while striving to benefit and elevate the local community.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Hi! My name’s Emily Thornber and I’m a medical student from Oxford, England. I came WWOOFing in Sasayama to learn Japanese and to learn about Japanese culture, but I got so much more than that with the Nouen project. The goal to bring more young people into Sasayama is an admirable one, but it was the chance to meet lots of Japanese farmers that made the project truly amazing for me. They’re such hardworking people, but they’re also really fun and friendly – I think I even met my ideal Japanese parents! I had so much to learn from them that was really interesting, and I even learned a bit about myself, such as the fact that I love weeding rice fields! The project was an amazing opportunity to make lots of fantastic friends, and I think it’s safe to say that I’ve left a bit of my heart in Sasayama and will always be thinking of its black bean fields – thanks for everything guys!