Katsuyama 2

1. SummaryRenovating the traditional houses and supporting the local festival!
2. Background: Organized together with Ohara Eco Project (OEP) and Katsuyama city government since 2009.
There were 600 inhabitants in Ohara village with 90 houses, but now only 1 elder! OEP was
founded by the Foresters cooperative and local people in 2006 and have rehabilitated 3 houses
of cultural heritage. Depopulation problem is serious in most of mountain parts in Japan and
many fields and forests are abandoned, so we will try to improve the situation by voluntary
power!
3. Work: We will 1) help to renovate the old house by carrying the stuff, changing the floor, etc., 2) do
other work for the community (e.g., reviving the abandon fields, chopping the fire woods,
maintaining forest paths) and 3) supporting the local festival in the village (e.g., making paper
lanterns). And do some other work for the community.
4. Accommodation: Renovated house (traditional house!). Sleeping bag is NOT needed! Food will be provided.
5. Study theme: Volunteers get knowledge about actions for developing local village.We will discuss about
“Best practice to revive depopulated areas in each country and their networking”.
6. Other activities: Exchange parties, visit to the Dinosaurs Museum, local festival, etc.
7. Location: About 200 km north east of Osaka. Katsuyama is an agricultural city and famous for dinosaurs
discovery and Ohara is located at 500 a.s.l. and famous for deep snow (4-5 meters) in winter!
8. Terminal: Komatsu. From Osaka, it takes 3.5 hours by express train. From Tokyo, 4.5 hours by express
train/ 8 hours by highway bus (For Narita/Haneda airport, you need to arrive by 22th afternoon/
can leave there after 30th noon.)
9. Requirement: High motivation to work hard and simple life in the isolated area and respect to the local culture
and way of the local organization!
10. Participation fee: No fee
11. Language: English (Japanese is also welcomed!)
12. Other: None