Interview with Komorebi no Sato
Please tell us how Komorebi no Sato got started.
Akasaka
Komorebi no Sato was founded by people who met during the July 2018 torrential rain disaster.
Because we had met through the disaster, we wanted to “do something to support and assist others.” We started with the aim of providing disaster relief and supporting people who are socially withdrawn or have disabilities.
It was difficult to launch several programs all at once, so the first thing we tackled was supporting people who are socially withdrawn. Since our chairman, Yakushiji, is a farmer, we started by reaching out to people in Kurashiki City and Soja City who are socially withdrawn, asking, “Would you like to do some farming with us?”
Was there a particular reason you started a welfare program in addition to disaster relief?
Yakushiji
I once saw a news program about a young person who had been working hard, but one day suddenly became unable to face going to work, quit their job, and began growing vegetables with a farmer in the countryside.
Vegetables grow beautifully when you care for them, and fail to grow when you neglect them. I thought that living in contact with nature and communicating with it might also help people find a place where they belong.
Also, there are abandoned fields (※farmland left unused) and overgrown satoyama across Japan today. Even on my own farm, there are areas I can no longer keep up with, so I thought that having people who are socially withdrawn help with those areas could give them a sense of purpose and help them take the first steps toward returning to society.
What do you think makes Komorebi no Sato special?
Akasaka
We contribute to society by using bamboo, a local specialty. I think this is an unusual initiative among the many Type B continuous employment support facilities.
Komorebi no Sato also has many seasonal recreational activities, such as mochi pounding and nagashi somen, so we all enjoy ourselves while maintaining a good balance with work.
Yakushiji
We are very grateful that so many people support Komorebi no Sato. Many people helped us from the very beginning, and we are still able to carry out our activities thanks to them.
We hope to make continued use of the connections we have built to create ties between our service users and society.
What does a typical workday schedule look like?
Akasaka
Work itself runs from around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We drive service users between the workshop and their homes, so everyone goes home at the same time.
We work in cycles of 50 minutes of work followed by a 10-minute break. However, if service users seem focused on their work, we may extend the work period a little. We often adjust the schedule based on how they are doing.
At the worksite, there are not only instructors to support service users, but also service management supervisors with specialized knowledge of welfare, so we always maintain an environment where service users can work with peace of mind.
Yakushiji
Recently, thanks to service users becoming accustomed to the work, they have been able to produce larger quantities of piecework smoothly. They are also very good at getting everything ready.
At Type B continuous employment support workshops, wages are paid from the proceeds of production activities. Komorebi no Sato has steady sales from events and its own products, so we hope to continue paying stable wages in the future.
Do you have any memorable stories about the service users?
Akasaka
The moments when I can see the service users growing are what make me happiest.
When we set up a stall at events, people often ask how to use bamboo charcoal, and the service users explain the products themselves. One service user told us, “It’s fun to sell something I made myself.”
At first, all the service users are unsure about tasks they are unfamiliar with, but as time passes, they learn the steps and start taking initiative, working briskly. Their smiles also grow more frequent compared with when they first started. I was especially happy when someone told me directly, “I really enjoy Komorebi no Sato.”
Do you have any goals for the future?
Akasaka
First, I hope to continue supporting our service users and increase their numbers so that Komorebi no Sato can keep operating. To do that, we inevitably need funding.
We plan to develop products together with our service users and come up with various ways to deliver the finished products to as many people as possible.
We also want to contribute to society by continuing to protect the bamboo of our hometown, Mabi. We would also like to pursue activities that pass the appeal of the region on to the next generation by making toys and traditional products from bamboo. We want to share the appeal of bamboo not only with people from outside the prefecture, but also with local residents. Someday, we hope to make Mabi bamboo a brand.
We are also looking for people with disabilities to join us at this facility, which carries out this kind of social contribution. If you are interested, please feel free to come and visit.
Yakushiji
Komorebi no Sato is run with the support of many people in the community. We hope to continue working steadily by collaborating with people who bring a variety of ideas and knowledge.
We want to remain a place that can offer activities suited to each service user’s individual personality.
From the Writer
When I visited Komorebi no Sato, I was struck by how calmly and cheerfully the service users were working.
A comfortable, peaceful work environment and the right amount of social interaction may be among Komorebi no Sato’s strengths.
I had thought disaster recovery support and support for people’s independence were completely different fields, but I was surprised to see how the local specialty, bamboo, serves as a common thread. I hope to continue supporting their social contributions using local specialties.
Work experiences and tours are available at any time, so if you are interested, please visit Komorebi no Sato in person.
About Komorebi no Sato, a Specified Nonprofit Corporation
| Organization name | Specified Nonprofit Corporation Komorebi no Sato |
|---|---|
| Industry | Disability welfare |
| Representative | Chairman Masashi Yakushiji |
| Established | March 13, 2020 |
| Address | 154 Osabe, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 050-8884-6822 |
| Website | Specified Nonprofit Corporation Komorebi no Sato |
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