Relay Talk

Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, where I live is a compact urban area next to the sea and mountains. There are 138 inhabited islands in the Seto Inland Sea, including 24 islands in Kagawa Prefecture; 6 islands can be reached by ship from the Takamatsu Port. The nearest island is just a 30-minute trip from the Takamatsu Station. Very few cities worldwide can offer such an easy access to islands from a terminal station. I have been touched deeply by admiring the beauty of many islands in the Seto Inland Sea almost every day, walking near the sea and mountains with a camera in my hand on holiday, experiencing local festivals and cuisine. I feel great respect for local people who have fostered this culture.

The place where I live is 30 minutes by bicycle from the Takamatsu Station, about 10 km to the south; wheat fields shine golden here in spring. There is one of the Japan’s oldest waterwheels nearby – “Takahara Water Mill,” the imperial water mill of Takamatsu Domain, a registered tangible folk cultural property.

The “Vision for Digital Garden City Nation” initiative announced by Prime Minister Kishida is a concept aiming at solving regional issues and revitalization through digital technologies. The concept originates from the idea of “Garden City” proposed by Ebenezer Howard in 1898; after that, former Prime Minister Ohira Masayoshi, a native of Kagawa Prefecture, set out the “Vision for Garden City Nation.” What was the garden city Mr. Ohira dreamt of? I imagine that it might be a landscape of the Sanuki Plains where wheat fields coexist in compact harmony with cities.

On the other hand, one should pay attention to the fact that such peaceful rustic scenery is disappearing under the pressure of urbanization. For example, high-value added field crops are processed and traded worldwide via cross-border EC. Creation of a profitable primary sector is absolutely necessary for the beautiful rural landscapes of Japan to be passed on to future generations.

I have interviewed farmers, fishermen, and other people who have supported local culture. Older citizens to whom I am indebted decease every year. Before the baton of wisdom is passed from older citizens to the next generation, there are moments when culture vanishes beneath our eyes. A youth group rose to challenge of reviving traditional festivals, but it turned too late because there were no one left who knew the rhythm of traditional kagura dance. In every case like this, I can’t help feeling frustrated that I should have listened more when it was still possible.

According to the Statistics Bureau of Japan, Japan’s population decreases by more than 600 thousand every year. This is one and a half times as much as the population of Takamatsu City. One can expect that infrastructure maintenance in mountainous and island areas will become difficult with further depopulation. In the age of depopulation, cities must be compactly recreated to attract foreign investment inspired by unique cultural landscapes of the region. How to develop both economy and culture? I feel it as a big challenge in future. I would like the Setouchi area to promote sustainable regional development with balance between nature, culture, and cities.