Kamimamakuchi

1. Summary: Paining the fences and working in the rice fields!
2. Background: Organized together with Satoyama Shizen Gakko Komatsu Takigahara (nature school), founded
in 2011 to teach attraction and importance of Satoyama forest. Depopulation (especially of
youth) is a serious problem here similarly in many other country sides. This village have only 20
families and few young people. It is difficult to keep traditional culture, so we aim to help
keeping this landscape/cultures and telling Satoyama’s attraction by young power! This village
have welcomed volunteers since 2013, and they tried to starting new project with them. Local
people really welcome to coming the new people!
3. Work: Main work is (1) painting the fences (more than 1km!), (2) harvesting rice, (3) cutting brush and
grasses for landscape preservation. We may possibly also support to event with kids/local
people and do some other work for the community.
4. Accommodation: The community center in the village. Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeing bag
is necessary.
5. Study theme Volunteers get knowledge about actions for developing local village. We will also have time for
discussion about “How to interchange and dispatch about Satoyama forest’s enlivening”.
6. Other activities: Exchange parties with local people, trekking and hot spring etc.
7. Location: Small village located in South part of Ishikawa prefecture. There are rice fields, shrine, and
mountains.
8. Terminal: Komatsu. From Osaka, it takes 3.5 hours by express train. From Tokyo(Narita/Haneda airport), 4
hours by express train/ 8 hours by highway bus (For Narita/Haneda airport, you need to arrive
by 8th afternoon/ can leave there after 21th noon.)
9. Requirement: High motivation to work hard and seriously and enjoy simple life. Need idea for local
revitalization.
10. Participation fee: No Fee
11. Language: English((Japanese is also welcomed!)
12. Other None