I moved from Kanagawa Prefecture to Kurashiki in December 2023 as a Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator.
It has only been about three months since I moved here. I’m still learning all sorts of things about Kurashiki from local residents and people who moved here before me.
The person who was especially kind and helpful in teaching me was Suzuki Nao, also a Community Revitalization Cooperator. She had spent three and a half years working on community revitalization in Kurashiki, making her a very senior colleague to me. In addition to talking about work, Suzuki and I went out to eat together, and I even visited her part-time workplace. She was also a great help to me in my personal life.
However, when I heard that Suzuki would complete her term as a Community Revitalization Cooperator in March 2024 and leave Kurashiki, I wanted to preserve her work in some form.
Here, I introduce Suzuki’s work: for three and a half years, she continued to think about the future of the Bikan Historical Area and devoted herself to community development.
The information in this article was current when it was published in March 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is a Community Revitalization Cooperator?
The Community Revitalization Cooperator program is a national initiative that helps people move from urban areas to regions facing depopulation and take part in activities that support those communities.
Community Revitalization Cooperators move their resident registration from urban areas to depopulated or other disadvantaged regions, where they engage in “community cooperation activities,” such as supporting community revitalization through the development, sale, and promotion of local brands and products, working in agriculture, forestry, or fisheries, and supporting residents. The program aims to help them settle and establish themselves in the region. Cooperators are appointed by local governments, and their terms are generally one to three years.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | Creating Local Vitality and Revitalizing Regions | Community Revitalization Cooperators (soumu.go.jp)
Kurashiki City also recruits Community Revitalization Cooperators, and as of March 2024, 12 Cooperators were active in Kurashiki City.
I’m one of them, but when I first saw the recruitment notice, I was surprised: “Kurashiki City is a depopulated area!?”
Even though they all belong to the same program, the missions (assignments) given to each Cooperator by their local government differ, so their activities and workplaces are also completely different. What they all have in common, however, is that all their activities contribute to revitalizing Kurashiki.
What kinds of people become Community Revitalization Cooperators, what activities do they undertake, and what paths do they follow after their terms end?
About Suzuki Nao
Suzuki Nao joined the Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator program in October 2020.
The receiving organization was Kurashiki Machiya Trust, a nonprofit organization, which restores and makes use of traditional townhouses in and around the Bikan Historical Area. Suzuki worked on the theme of “sustainable tourism.” However, Community Revitalization Cooperators serve fixed terms, and Suzuki’s term ended in March 2024.
After completing her term, she is set to join the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and continue her work on “sustainable tourism” in Thailand.
How She Became a Community Revitalization Cooperator
Suzuki is from Nara, studied in Fukuoka, and worked in Tokyo before her previous job. Although she had experienced life in various regions, she says she had little interest in Okayama or Kurashiki before applying to become a Community Revitalization Cooperator.
“I’ve never been able to treat as someone else’s problem the things happening in the world that I see in the news, or the things happening around me,” Suzuki says.
As a student, she actively took part in social contribution activities such as international cooperation and volunteering.
“I’ve always wanted to connect with all kinds of people, learn about each other’s worlds, and work toward a society filled with love and compassion,” she says.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Suzuki was unable to work as she had hoped in her previous job and was considering a career change. Around that time, a Community Revitalization Cooperator in Kurashiki told her, “There’s a Cooperator position open in Kurashiki. Wouldn’t you be interested?”
At first, she couldn’t imagine moving to Kurashiki at all. But the more she researched the work of Community Revitalization Cooperators and the city of Kurashiki, the more she wanted to become one.
The main mission of the Cooperator position Suzuki applied for was “restoring and making use of old houses in the Bikan Historical Area.” Nara, where she was born and raised, also has many historic wooden buildings, so she says she was very interested in working with old houses.
However, about four months after Suzuki joined the program, a new mission was added: “sustainable tourism,” which would later become her main theme.
Activities as a Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator
During her term as a Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator, Suzuki mainly carried out the following activities:
- Work with the Kurashiki Machiya Trust
- Work on “sustainable tourism”
Activity 1: Work with the Kurashiki Machiya Trust
The first was working with the nonprofit Kurashiki Machiya Trust, the organization that hosted her.
The Kurashiki Machiya Trust contributes to the community by restoring and making use of old houses in the Bikan Historical Area, and Suzuki took part in its activities.
Here are some examples of that work:
- Operating Misaka House, an inn in a traditional townhouse
- Cleaning and renovating traditional townhouses
- Organizing the “Machiya de Class” event
She says that being part of the Kurashiki Machiya Trust gave her the opportunity to meet people who are passionate about community and town development.
Activity 2: Work on “Sustainable Tourism”
“Sustainable tourism” is tourism that maintains a balance between a region’s culture, economy, and environment, and enables it to continue developing sustainably from each of these perspectives.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines it as follows:
Put simply, sustainable tourism is
Definition of Sustainable Tourism | UNWTO (unwto-ap.org)
“tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, while addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and the communities that host visitors.”
“Tourism is a means of improving a region, not an end in itself. I think it’s important to remember that a region doesn’t exist for tourism; tourism exists for the region,” Suzuki says.
Suzuki’s ideal was for the Bikan Historical Area to be considered “a good place” by businesses, tourists, and local residents alike. She felt that for this to happen, it was important not only for her but also for people in Kurashiki to learn about sustainable tourism.
First, she joined an official training program to learn about sustainable tourism. After attending three days of lectures on Awaji Island, she passed the exam and earned an individual certificate in sustainable tourism.
Next, to share what she had learned about sustainable tourism with local residents, she held a lecture at Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan in the Bikan Historical Area, titled “Toward a Sustainable Tourist Destination: Considering the Future of the Bikan Historical Area Through Tourism.” She invited businesses that work closely with tourists, including the Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki Ivy Square, and Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel.
The lecture led to the creation of a forum for discussions among four parties: Kurashiki City’s Tourism Division, the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau, the Kurashiki Machiya Trust, and Suzuki.
During those discussions, Suzuki proposed installing a water refill station.
Suzuki uses a reusable water bottle herself. She thought that installing a water refill station would reduce plastic bottle waste and littering, helping protect the environment.
As a result, the station saw many users in summer, and usage reports showed that it had significantly reduced CO2 emissions.
“I think this was one of the activities that helped reduce the environmental impact,” Suzuki reflects.
Interview with Suzuki
We spoke with Suzuki Nao, a Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator, about her work.
What do you consider important in your work on the theme of “sustainable tourism”?
Suzuki (surname only)
I think the most important thing for sustainable tourism is to create a community where everyone feels comfortable—a place that is “good for businesses, good for tourists, and good for residents.”
Tourism is possible because the region itself exists, and if the region itself cannot be sustained, it will be difficult for it to remain a tourist destination or continue to be valued.
For example, it would be such a shame if the Bikan Historical Area became so tourist-oriented that no residents were left—it would be like a theme park.
The charm of the Bikan Historical Area lies in its continuing to be a place where people live, so I feel it would be a real loss if only the scenery remained…
I think it’s important for everyone to consider sustainable tourism in order to preserve the unique appeal of the region.
In the Bikan Historical Area, there is also a forum called “Kurashi-ki-ni-naru Area Platform,” where people from different backgrounds talk about “what kind of city they want Kurashiki to become.”
It’s a wonderful place to talk with people who are passionate about protecting and improving Kurashiki!
I hope that kind of forum will continue in the future.
Could you tell us how “sustainable tourism” became the theme of your work?
Suzuki
Three years ago, in 2021, the Kurashiki Machiya Trust was approached about creating a program for longer-stay tourism, so we started by gathering information about tourism together.
One day, our representative, Nakamura Yasunori, brought in an article about sustainable tourism. That was the first time I encountered the term “sustainable tourism.” It was about four months after I joined the Cooperator program.
But I had no idea what it actually involved or how to put it into practice. So first, I attended study sessions and visited places that were putting sustainable tourism into practice.
From there, I started talking with people around me about how it’s important to address the challenges facing tourist destinations in order to improve a region.
Rather than being interested in the tourism industry itself, I was driven by a strong desire to “use tourism as a starting point for building a sustainable community.”
“Sustainable tourism” wasn’t a theme I chose on my own; it was something I discovered together with the people around me.
How has your work as a Community Revitalization Cooperator affected you personally?
Suzuki
I’ve always enjoyed interacting with people, but since becoming a Community Revitalization Cooperator in Kurashiki, my interest in people and communities has grown even stronger.
I think that’s one of the best parts of being a Community Revitalization Cooperator: it’s a job where you really get to meet all kinds of people.
Residents, business owners, company executives, tourists—I think it was incredibly valuable to meet so many different people and get a glimpse into each of their worlds. I don’t think I would have met this many people in a regular office job.
Also, the way I look at tourist destinations has changed completely.
For example, when I visit a tourist destination, I now make a point of choosing things from that area or made by local people whenever possible. As a student, I consumed things without giving it much thought, but now I feel that I’ve started looking at what really matters.
I think I’ve also become more proactive about talking to local people when I travel, since becoming a Cooperator.
Apart from your activities, how was life in Kurashiki?
Suzuki
It was so much fun having casual conversations with people in the community—people at shops who knew me would ask, “How have you been lately?” and I’d greet the neighbors I always saw on my walks and the elderly woman next door.
I got to know so many people in the Bikan Historical Area that I hardly ever felt lonely.
I was also fortunate to be asked, “Would you like to work part-time at our place?” and got to work at the Japanese Folk Toy Museum, which carries folk toys and crafts from all over Japan, and Bicchu no Jizake Bar Suisuihi, a local izakaya loved by the community. It was a great experience.
I met artists whose work I admired, explained local sake to customers from overseas, and had all kinds of encounters at my part-time jobs, too.
The connections I made with other Cooperators were a big help, too. Once a month, the Cooperators in Kurashiki City would get together for a meal. We could talk about our concerns and share information about our respective areas, and I thought of them as friends.
After graduating from the Community Revitalization Cooperator program, you’ll be working with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. Why go from Kurashiki to Thailand?
Suzuki
I’d been very interested in international cooperation since I was a student, and had also done overseas volunteer work, so I was naturally interested in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. But it seemed like a big hurdle, and although I admired the program, I didn’t have the confidence to take the plunge. I stayed in that state for a long time.
But when I went to an information session for the JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (the general name for overseas cooperation volunteers), after an acquaintance invited me, my interest was rekindled.
JICA alumni encouraged me, and while I was considering whether to apply, I found an opening in Thailand for a position related to sustainable tourism. The moment I saw it, I thought, “This is where I can put what I’ve done in Kurashiki to use!”
What’s more, they were looking for someone with knowledge of sustainable tourism, and I thought, “That’s me!” It really took me by surprise.
I wanted to contribute if there were people struggling in a field I knew about and there was something I could do to help. And if it would be a step forward for me, too, I wanted to give it a try.
I don’t think I would have applied if there hadn’t been a mission where I could put my experience to use.
In Thailand, I plan to work on activities such as planning and running sustainable tourism programs and providing communications support.
Do you have any goals for your work in Thailand?
Suzuki
Above all, I want to build relationships of trust with local people. I’d like to communicate with people in all kinds of communities, not just those I work with.
Having seen people in Kurashiki come together to share their opinions, I hope I can create spaces like that in Thailand, too. I want to involve many people and think together about the future of the community.
Outside of work, I’d love to take part in local events, learn about the food culture, and cook together with people there.
Do you have a message for the people of Kurashiki City?
Suzuki
I’m truly grateful to everyone who has supported and followed my activities.
I’ve seen people gather after work to discuss local issues, saying, “What about this?” and “No, what about that?” Being able to witness that up close made me feel positive each time, thinking, “There’s hope for Kurashiki’s future.”
Sometimes I felt down, thinking that I couldn’t change things on my own, but I think being exposed to the passion of so many people gave me hope.
Through my work as a Community Revitalization Cooperator, I was taught so much that will enrich my life going forward, and I gained valuable experience that I can put to use in my next environment.
I’m leaving Kurashiki, but I hope it will continue to be a place where people can live comfortably for a long time to come.
I hope that opportunities for everyone to sit down together and think about the future of this community will continue to grow.
From the Writer
After the interview, the writer went to lunch with Suzuki.
On the way to the restaurant, Suzuki greeted people she met with “Hello, [name]!” and chatted with them. Then, after we went inside, a staff member said, “We’ll miss you when you’re gone.” Seeing that, I felt I caught a glimpse of the path she had taken over her three and a half years in Kurashiki.
To revitalize a community, you first have to get to know it.
And to get to know a community, exchange with the people who live there is essential.
I thought that the skills and experience Suzuki gained as a Community Revitalization Cooperator will surely serve her well after she graduates from the program.
I look forward to cheering her on in all that she does from here on.
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
Suzuki plans to share updates about her activities after graduation on Instagram.