Stories about people.

Stories about life.

Hometown Stories.

A small miracle is happening in a town in the mountains of Shimane Prefecture, western Japan.

Wow! Aren't you scared?

We want to play! Please let us!

The town of Omori sits at the foot of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a UN World Heritage Site.

With a population of about 400, the small town still bears traces of Japan as it was centuries ago,

when the area flourished from the bounty of its silver mine.

After the mine closed in the mid-20th century, the town declined to a point where its survival seemed uncertain.

But now...

Right OK, left OK,
right OK again.

Raise your hand and cross.

Ten years ago, the local nursery school had only two children.

But now there are more than 20.

Hi there!

- Good morning!
- Have a good day!

One year, the community had
10 newborns. That's amazing.

And the number of elementary school students has more than doubled in three years.

The population of little children continues to grow in this small town.

It's a surprise and a joy.
We're happy to have more children.

The town's charms are proving attractive to more young people, prompting them to relocate there.

Let's eat!

Spring has arrived, and another father and daughter have moved to the town.

There are no condos here.

I saw a bat flying yesterday.

We put out flowers casually, like this.

We never did it before we moved here.

In a small town at the foot of a World Heritage Site...

People are raising children and nurturing a community.

Here's their story.

It's early March.

Some new residents have arrived in Omori Town.

Ono Tetsuro and his daughter, 7-year-old Ichika, have moved west from their former home, which is close to Osaka.

They've relocated along with their dog.

They'll be living in a renovated house that's over 50 years old.

It's nothing like their previous home, a condominium in a big city.

Wait! Take off your shoes here.

You can't find the stairs?
They're somewhere.

Over there. Look!

- Here? I was wondering.
- You were?

But I had second thoughts.

Not there!
Here are the stairs.

Go on up.

This is the kitchen.
We have running water.

Tetsuro used to work as a graphic designer in and around Osaka.

This place will be his home and his office.

He used to lead a busy life, handling designs for all kinds of advertisements.

But around the middle of 2021, he lost his wife to a sudden illness.

She was only 37.

He wondered how he was going to raise his daughter.

Welcome to my store!
Would you like sandwiches?

At first, Tetsuro tried hard to juggle working and taking care of Ichika.

But he was finding it increasingly difficult to raise a child in an urban setting.

I often wondered if I wasn't
putting too much pressure on Ichika.

So, I started looking for a place
where we could have fun.

I'd got to know this town through work,
and thought it might be a good fit for us.

- Hello!
- Hi! Just a second.

We're here!

Matsuba Naoko, lives here.

Tetsuro met her when he visited Omori Town on business.

They've known each other for nearly five years.

After local elementary school students get out of school,

Naoko holds a class that opens them up to a variety of new experiences.

Every day, 15 students or more gather for the class.

She's helping the children connect with the community.

Tetsuro decided to move here partly because of Naoko.

Thanks for your help.

Naoko is taking Ichika out for a walk around town, along with her eldest daughter, Yuko.

Walk on your own, Mom.

Ichika and I will walk together.

Hello!
This is Ono Ichika.

Hi! Welcome.

Naoko wastes no time in introducing Ichika to people in town.

Hi there!

This is Ono Ichika.

In this small town, everyone knows each other.

- Here we are! This is...?
- Omori Elementary School!

Hello!

This will be Ichika's school.

It marked its 150th anniversary in 2022.

- May we come in?
- Hello there!

- How do you do, Ichika?
- Hello.

I'm Mr Degawa, the principal.
We've been looking forward to meeting you.

Nice to meet you, too.

You look nervous, Ichika.

Yes, she seems to be.

She was very talkative. But she's
nervous now she's at school.

Will she get used to the new school?

Don't worry.
I'll show you the ropes tonight.

We'll have a sleepover.

Tell her everything, okay?

Good evening!

Naoko has invited Tetsuro to her home.

Hello. Thank you for having us.

- Done with the move?
- Things are still lying around.

Here's Naoko's husband, Matsuba Tadashi.

They have five children.

After visiting the school, Ichika said
she had fun. I think she'll be fine.

She was a bit nervous in front of
the principal and others, though.

She was like that at school before, too.

Kind of quiet?

Ichika, will you do the honors?

- Say, "Let's eat!"
- Once everyone's ready.

- You say it, Dad.
- You do it, Ichika.

- Ichika should say it.
- I agree.

Let's eat!

Naoko actually moved back to this town with her family.

Here you go!
Lots of nori seaweed for you.

She gave birth to her first child in Tokyo.

After that, she decided to come back here,

so she could work and raise children in more tranquil surroundings.

You can use chopsticks already!

Her eldest son, Kota, will start sixth grade from April.

- Would you like to try some?
- Yes, sure.

He mixes some juice using homemade syrup made from a citrus called "hassaku."

Thank you.

It's delicious.

- He's very hospitable.
- Kids in Omori are all like that.

Tetsuro and Ichika are enjoying the first evening after their move, and it's a lively one.

We're happy you've come here.

We're excited to have you in the town.
We can do a lot of things together.

Our children are also
looking forward to that.

I didn't tell others much about
my wife's illness. I had to work, too.

I was an adult,
but I felt lonely and uneasy.

That's when you talked to us.

I couldn't have felt happier
or more encouraged.

Is it good?

You got some juice?

- You can have some syrup, Ichika.
- Shall we take some home?

Omori Town flourished from the early 17th century through the mid-19th century

thanks to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.

In the 17th century, Japanese silver is said to have accounted for a third of global production.

Even until the early 20th century, the town continued to attract artisans and merchants from all over Japan.

But the mine eventually closed, sapping the town's vigor.

People wondered whether the area would be able to survive the hardship.

But survive it did, thanks to two companies that were founded in the town.

One is Nakamura Brace, which develops medical equipment such as prosthetic limbs.

The company places a high value on the craftsmanship passed on by the many artisans who once lived in the town.

Now, it has established itself as an innovative firm with orders coming in from around the world.

The other one, Iwami-ginzan Gungendo, specializes in clothing and household goods.

The firm produces items that make use of local nature and traditional fabrics.

It has 30 stores nationwide, including some in Tokyo and Osaka.

This designer landed a job at the company, and relocated from Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.

I often use wild plants around the firm
as a motif for my designs.

Today, I'm drawing a shepherd's purse.
It's cute, this early-spring plant.

This man also moved to the town after getting a job at the company in 2012.

He loves the rich natural setting and walks in the mountains almost every day.

This is 'kuromoji', a type of spicebush.
It smells wonderful and it's really pretty.

These two companies, along with the local lifestyle, are attracting younger people to Omori Town.

A small miracle is starting to happen.

Welcome back!

Here is Naoko with her after-school children's class.

As a volunteer, she takes care of nearly 20 kids every day.

The group is off to dig up bamboo shoots, a fun event that happens in spring.

Oops!

It snapped!
You did a good job, though.

The children have really got the hang of it.

They dig up one shoot after another.

Local residents help organize the children's class.

All kinds of people, from teenagers to those in their 70s, assist with seasonal events.

Let's eat!

Say "thank you" to the people
who made the dumplings.

Shall I do it?

While in Tokyo,
I had limited help raising my son.

I'd talk to a small group of people,
like nursery-school teachers.

But here, all kinds of people
pitch in to help raise children.

It's like a community effort.

When children are walking around, people in town always talk to them.

Have fun!

Not many of you today?

That's right. Have a good one!

Naoko says scenes like this haven't changed since her own childhood.

Aren't you cold, Sora?
Stay warm and have a good day!

I'm looking after a child whose
grandma once took care of me.

Looking after each other may be
a natural part of the local culture.

Together, people in the town watch over the children as they grow.

Naoko's eldest son, Kota, is now a sixth-grader.

He's leaving home early in the morning to do some bird-watching.

Good morning, Haru-san.
Did you see any birds?

Just blue rock thrushes.

I often see males these days.

Let's go!

Moriyama Haruki is 68 years old.

People call him Haru-san.

- Is it a blue rock thrush?
- Yes, it is.

- It's hidden behind a tree.
- I see it!

Haruki has been a bird-watcher for 45 years.

Walking around the hills and fields with him has gotten Kota into observing birds.

He's spotted more than 100 kinds of birds already.

I tell my friends at school,
"Isn't that bird cute?"

If it's cute, they liven up.
If not, they're like, "No way!"

What birds are "not cute?"

I don't know. Crows maybe?

- Crows are cute.
- Yes, they have cute eyes.

I hope they change their view.

Right now, Kota is trying to photograph Asian house martins.

They build their nests in spring.

They move fast, so it's difficult for him to get good shots.

I bet they'll come out from there.
There they are!

The previous photos may be the best.

- Beginner's luck.
- What do you mean?

You got lucky as a beginner.

Kota is learning a lot of things.

House martins come out when
I turn off the camera. How could they?

It's not their fault.

Maybe I'm out of luck.

One morning in April...

It's been a month since Tetsuro moved to Omori Town.

I cut my finger the other day
with a kitchen knife.

I'm such a clumsy cook.

Ichika!

The new term is starting!

You got up early today.
No need to rush.

Ichika is now a second-grader.

Which one?

The one that Mom used to wear.

Ah, this one.

Good morning!

The first time Ichika visited the school she was a little nervous.

Maybe now she's getting used to her new environment.

"♪ The town looks very old."

"But it's full of history."

"There's a lot of greenery, too."

"We all love the town of Omori."

"The town of Omori!"

Some of Ichika's schoolfriends have come to her home.

It's her eighth birthday.

I also wrote a letter yesterday.

This is Ichika's age.

And...

Ichika's Mom's age is... 38.

Keep "3" and "8" together.

They're also celebrating the birthday of Ichika's late mother.

Here's her photo.

Thank you. You're sweet.

You got cream on your face, Ichika.

"♪ Happy birthday to you!"

"Happy birthday, dear Ichika and Mom!"

Tetsuro had been worried that his daughter might not feel at home in the town.

But he was pleasantly surprised.

People here say she seems like a native.
That's how used to this place she's become.

It's not that she's
very open and sociable...

The children here are very welcoming,
accepting her as one of them.

I really feel that way.

During the past month, Tetsuro has reduced his workload so he can spend more time with Ichika.

He's received some requests to do design work from businesses in town.

There's a bakery called Hidaka nearby.
The owners say they have a job for me.

People in town seem glad to have
a graphic designer among them.

I'm happy they're expecting me
to provide a new service.

My daughter is used to this place.
Now, it's my turn.

I'll look for ways to be of help here,
doing whatever I can.

I want to find a new lifestyle,
and start a new life in this town now.

Cheers!

This town at the foot of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was once prosperous and well-populated.

The spirit of welcoming newcomers with a warm, open heart is still alive and well.

It's been about a month
since we moved to Omori Town.

What's been most fun?

Everything.

Have you made friends?

- Yes. Well, not yet.
- Really? No friends yet?

- Sure you have!
- That's right.

I didn't mean it.

Who are your friends, Ichika?

- Everyone!
- OK!

On the way to the swings, we'd go,
"The cherry blossoms are beautiful!"

Really? That's great!

Raising children and nurturing a town...

The story has only just begun.

Omori Town in Shimane Prefecture.

Soon, it will be summer, the children's favorite season.