The 5th cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku begins — a place to embark on new challenges for a sustainable community

Interview with the Takahashi River Shijuku Office

Two people who know the first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku well

We spoke with Yamamoto Masanori, who has supported graduates as a member of the Takahashi River Shijuku office staff, and first-cohort graduate Kajitani Masashi about their thoughts on Takahashi River Shijuku.

After completing the first cohort, Kajitani worked as a staff member at Takahashi River Basin School. From the second cohort onward, he will support students alongside Yamamoto as an office staff member.

Looking back on the first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku

How did you first become involved with Takahashi River Shijuku?

Yamamoto (surname only)

Actually, I live in Okayama City, so I’m from the Asahi River Basin. But because of my work, I often had opportunities to meet people active in Kurashiki, and I became interested in how people understand the Takahashi River Basin as a region.

In 2020, Sakanoue Hiroshi, who had supported me since my student days, became the representative director of Takahashi River Basin School. Also, a young person like Toi Kengo, who makes a living by publishing blog posts, joined the board, which made Takahashi River Basin School even more appealing to me.

When I heard they were starting a new initiative called Takahashi River Shijuku, I thought it sounded interesting and decided to get involved as an office staff member.

Kajitani (surname only)

I heard that Takahashi River Shijuku was opening from a colleague who works at the traditional townhouse “Former Ohara Residence (Ohara House Katalyzer)” in the Bikan Historical Area.

I didn’t have any particular community activity I wanted to pursue, so I spent quite a while wondering whether to enroll.

I didn’t have any lofty ambitions, but I thought it would be an opportunity to meet people I wouldn’t normally encounter, so I took the plunge to gain new experiences.

Did you actually meet new people after enrolling?

Kajitani

Once I started attending the lectures, I found many of them fascinating, and I was able to enjoy learning.

I remember being captivated by the fascinating talk given at the first lecture by folklorist Professor Kanzaki Noritake, and feeling that I wanted to continue attending.

When Takahashi River Shijuku had just opened, I didn’t know many people and felt nervous about going to the lecture venue. But as time went by, I made more classmates I could talk to casually, and I looked forward to going to the lectures.

Having such good classmates is what enabled me to see the curriculum through to the end.

What kind of work did the office do for the first cohort?

Yamamoto

The office’s main duties were announcing lectures, editing videos for the archive, and tracking students’ credits.

In addition to administrative work, I was also responsible for supporting the students.

I answered questions about practical assignments and helped prepare presentation materials for the final presentations.

I think I was the person on the Takahashi River Shijuku team who worked most closely with the students.

Was there anything you made a point of doing when working with the students?

Yamamoto

I wanted us to learn and grow together through Takahashi River Shijuku.

Each student had their own areas of expertise, and I feel I learned a lot from them too.

I tried to treat them as fellow practitioners of community activities, so that we could maintain our relationships even after Takahashi River Shijuku ended.

What made the strongest impression on you?

Kajitani

Learning about the diversity of ways of life through the talks given by instructors and students.

The person who surprised me most was Matsuda Reihei, a former Community Revitalization Cooperator in Niimi City, who spoke as an instructor.

His story of starting a business in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture—a rural place where he had no prior connections—left a powerful impression on me.

I also won’t forget Okimura Maiko, a former Community Revitalization Cooperator in Asakuchi City.

She dropped out, saying, “You can always go to university whenever you want,” and her determination to pursue one thing after another that she wanted to do inspired me.

Some of the students have also gone on to work for local governments in Okayama or as Community Revitalization Cooperators after changing careers, and they inspire me every day.

Was the first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku a success?

Yamamoto

I certainly feel it was a success.

The first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku included people with a wide range of backgrounds and occupations, from their teens to their seventies.

I feel the greatest achievement was that a diverse group of people—including graduates, instructors, and the Takahashi River Shijuku team—built relationships where they knew one another face to face.

The first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku can be called one successful example of efforts toward a sustainable society in the Takahashi River Basin.

Looking ahead to the fifth cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku

Do you have a message for the fifth cohort?

Kajitani

I think many people enroll in Takahashi River Shijuku with a goal in mind, but you don’t necessarily need to have lofty goals.

In my case, I learned a lot of new things through the instructors’ talks, and Takahashi River Shijuku inspired me and helped me grow.

The connections you make with Takahashi River Shijuku instructors and graduates should also be a source of support as you carry out projects and events in the future.

Rather than worrying that you don’t have a grand ambition, I hope you’ll take the first step.

Yamamoto

Since it’s called a “shijuku,” you might think of it as a place to learn, but it’s also a place to create opportunities to put your own community-focused activities into practice.

You’ll also meet many people who will support you, making it the perfect place to take on new initiatives.

If you’re excited about taking on challenges for the future, I hope you’ll join Takahashi River Shijuku and become someone who helps lead the way toward a sustainable society.

From the Writer

Actually, I am also a graduate of the first cohort of Takahashi River Shijuku.

As Yamamoto and Kajitani said, I’m glad—and feel fortunate—to have met friends with whom I can have serious conversations about local culture, climate, and nature conservation.

Through Takahashi River Shijuku, I learned about the history of the Takahashi River region and met dependable people, which has made me enjoy the scenery along the Takahashi River even more.

At the same time, I’ve also felt how difficult it is to put efforts toward a sustainable society into practice.

Looking back at history taught me that the convenient life we enjoy in modern Japan, where we have no trouble obtaining food, clothing, or shelter, is not something to take for granted.

Perhaps we should be grateful to have been born in an era when we can take it for granted that tomorrow will come.

There is only so much one person can do, but to contribute even a little toward realizing a sustainable society, I have begun putting the appeal of the Takahashi River Basin into words and sharing it.

I hope that the idea of the SDGs in the Takahashi River Basin reaches many people, and that a sustainable river basin becomes a reality as soon as possible.

Get handpicked articles from Kurashiki Tocotoco on LINE