The writer moved to Kurashiki from Kanagawa Prefecture in 2023.
As someone who has moved here myself, I often ask people I meet in Kurashiki where they are from. There are more people who have moved to Kurashiki from outside the prefecture than I expected, and on many occasions, conversations have come alive as we shared our stories about moving here.
Just as I was thinking that I’d like to connect with more people who had moved here, I learned about a networking event for people who have moved to the area hosted by Kurashiki City. The event offers a chance to connect with people who have moved to the Takahashi River Basin, particularly Kurashiki City.
Looking forward to meeting new people who had moved here, I decided to take the plunge and attend.
The information provided was current when this article was published in December 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the networking event for people who have moved to the area?
The networking event was hosted by the Kurashiki City Kurashiki Relocation and Settlement Promotion Office. It was held on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
It was open to people who had moved to the Takahashi River Basin from outside the prefecture, though most of the actual participants had moved to Kurashiki City. The highlight of the event was making moss balls. Participants took on the challenge of making their own original moss balls while enjoying connecting with one another.
Leading the workshop was the representative of Kurashiki Green Farm, Nakada Shozo. He is involved in local community activities through moss balls. Nakada also moved back to Kurashiki.
After making moss balls, there was time to enjoy snacks and chat at a leisurely pace. The treats were provided by Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator Miyazaki Nao. Miyazaki is a qualified dietitian and served up treats that are gentle on the body.
The event was held in a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Here’s a look at what happened on the day.
What happened on the day
The event was held in the kitchen at Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza.
The event begins! First, choose your favorite plant
Bright light streamed into the kitchen. Soil and moss for the nine participants had been laid out on the worktables.
Once everyone had arrived, it was time for introductions. Participants briefly shared their names, where they were from, and how they came to move to Kurashiki. Many had moved from the Kanto and Kansai regions, but some were from Kyushu or neighboring Tamano City.
As everyone listened to one another’s introductions, they found things in common, and there were even a few “Oh!”s of recognition. It felt like the event was about to get lively.
After the introductions, Nakada Shozo of Kurashiki Green Farm explained moss balls. The clay, moss, tools, and everything else they were about to use showed careful attention to detail.
First, participants chose which plant they wanted to use for their moss ball from among five varieties.
The plants included Japanese maple, Japanese black pine, Monstera adansonii, Japanese ash, and gajumaru (Chinese banyan). Each variety has its own characteristics and appeal, from plants that turn color in autumn to easy-to-grow options for beginners.
Some of the varieties were new to me, but Nakada carefully explained their characteristics, making it easy to choose a plant suited to my lifestyle.
One participant who works in customer service chose a plant to display in the shop, saying, “Maybe I’ll grow it at the store.” Moss balls don’t take up much space, so they make a nice, subtle decoration.
I chose a gajumaru. It looked as if it might leap out of its pot at any moment, and I fell in love at first sight with its charming, lively pose.
Make a moss ball and feel nature in the palm of your hand
Everyone had chosen their favorite plant, and it was finally time to start making moss balls.
First, we flattened the damp clay that would form the base.
The clay was an original product from Kurashiki Green Farm. It contains charcoal made from rice husks, which has purifying properties and is said to help prevent root rot. The moist clay felt cool and had a curious texture—not too hard and not too soft. We shaped it into a neat circle.
Nakada came around to each table, so we could easily ask him questions whenever we were unsure about something.
Participants worked in pairs, two to a table, and at every table, conversation flowed as people made their moss balls together.
Once the soil was flattened, we took the plants out of their pots and used the flattened soil to wrap around the rounded root ball. Apparently, it’s best to use paper to help stick it together rather than touching it directly with your hands.
Watching Nakada demonstrate, the soil started to look like anko, making it seem as if he were preparing Japanese sweets.
Wrapping the plant in soil was harder than I expected, and I struggled a little to get it to stick snugly. But since it was something I don’t usually do, it felt fresh and fun.
From all around the room, we heard people saying, “I did it!” and “How does it look?”
Next, we moved on to attaching the moss, the star of the show.
The moss was grown in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. It is a variety called haigoke, named for the Japanese word for “creeping” (hau) and the word for moss. It spreads sideways as it grows. We were told it is a common variety that can be found in everyday places such as parks, shrines, and temples.
The moss provided was rectangular, but we stretched it out until it was thin enough to wrap around the soil, just as we had done with the soil itself. Touching it with my bare hands, I could feel how fresh and moist it was, and realized that the moss was alive. It felt like a long time since I had touched moss with my bare hands.
We wrapped the moss around the soil in the same way as before. Perhaps we had gotten the hang of it during the previous step, because everyone attached the moss smoothly.
Finally, we reinforced it by winding thread tightly around it so the moss would not come loose.
The thread used for this step was made from 100% cotton, a natural material, and is also used to sew jeans in Kojima. We finished our kokedama with environmentally friendly thread that will eventually return to the soil.
It seemed that each plant required a different technique for winding the thread. With advice from the Nakadas, everyone completed their own kokedama. Participants grew attached to their original creations, and smiles spread across their faces.
With some advice, I also made a kokedama with a gajumaru tree.
Somehow, the gajumaru seemed even more vibrant, too. I decided, “I’ll display it in the living room and greet it every morning.”
Time to mingle over delicious snacks
We lined up the kokedama we had made by the window, and a photo session began.
Some kokedama were solid and stable, while others had a lively, dynamic feel. Each had its own character, and it was fun to compare them.
The kokedama were soon surrounded by participants who had turned into photographers, and everyone took group photos as they pleased. It was like parents taking pictures of their children at a school open day.
The kokedama photo session wound down, and we started to feel a little hungry.
Miyazaki, a Community Revitalization Cooperator with Kurashiki City, served homemade rice-flour baked cheesecake and cookies, along with coffee. The kiwi-shaped cookies turned out to be matcha-flavored, not kiwi-flavored. The playful, adorable cookies and gently flavored cake warmed us up.
As we shared our thoughts about the treats, the conversation naturally broadened.
The people around me got into a lively discussion about how easy it is to live in Kurashiki. Many had moved here because they were drawn to the convenience of everyday life, and I nodded along in agreement.
The topic of “What made you decide to move to Kurashiki?” came up, and the participant sitting next to me said, “I loved the atmosphere of Kurashiki, and it was great that I could get by without a car.”
People often think that you need a car to move to the countryside, but in Kurashiki, you can live without one if you live near the station. I also moved to Kurashiki without a car, so I could really relate to what made them decide to move.
There was no shortage of topics unique to people who had moved here, such as “how to make friends in a new place” and “what makes Kurashiki different from our hometowns.”
Before we knew it, time had flown by, and the networking event came to an end in a very warm atmosphere.
From the Writer
This was my first time attending a networking event for people who had moved to the area. I was a little nervous about what it would be like, but the atmosphere was calm and friendly throughout, so I had a great time.
Because it was a small group, I was able to talk with a good range of people.
I had vaguely thought, “It would be nice to make some friends,” and thanks to this event, I got to know a few people and later made plans to go out for a meal together. I feel it was well worth attending.
Making kokedama gave us a shared topic to talk about, which made it easier for participants to chat with one another. If this event is held again, I’d like to take part enthusiastically.
Networking Event Information
| Name | Networking event for people who have moved to the area |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, November 9, 2024 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | 180 Sasaoki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | 500 yen |
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