Stories about people, stories about life.

Hometown Stories.

As we grow older, new realizations can begin to take shape.

That's what happened with this couple, who've led a very tough life.

We can do anything
if we have each other.

If one of us has a problem,
together we can find a solution.

We're joined at the hip.

Nishiokada Haruki is 82 years old.

His wife Setsuko is 75.

What makes them so inseparable?

Deep in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, they farm a small plot on a hillside.

The steepest part slants at a 40-degree angle.

It's like working on a ski slope.

It still brings them endless joy.

They're like our babies.

Growing them doesn't
feel like work.

Caring for this precious piece of land sometimes requires arduous labor.

I feel trapped.
I can barely go on.

They climb up and down their hillside farm day after day.

What priceless rewards have they reaped?

In the western part of Tokushima Prefecture, small clusters of settlements are perched on mountain slopes.

Locals call them "sora," which means "sky" in Japanese.

The Nishiokadas live in one of these settlements - Sarukai Village.

Our crew first visited them in October 2022.

You're wearing matching hats?

They're the same size.

Almost identical,
but different colors.

Mine isn't as deep as his.

The shape's almost the same.

They always work together.

You can enjoy the view from here
or go down and take photos.

This is their beloved farm.

It's the steepest one in the region.

It covers an area about the size of five tennis courts.

Be careful,
it's quite steep.

Don't leave us behind.

Hold on!

You can barely stand up if you're not used to it.

The Nishiokadas amble smoothly across the bumpy terrain.

Their limbs are stronger than most people's.

The doctor said
my bones are pretty sturdy.

They stick together to help each other out in emergencies.

What do they talk about?

- So many bees.
- Yep.

- Carpenter bees too.
- Yep.

- Good weather tomorrow?
- Yep.

It's like I'm doing a monologue.

It's encouraging to
have each other around.

If we were by ourselves...

We'd quit.

Do you two argue?

Well, it takes two to have an argument.

In autumn, buckwheat flowers cover the slopes.

Around here, people rely on buckwheat to make it through the winter.

They're in full bloom.

It makes me so happy to see this.
We'll get a big harvest this winter.

Their three children have left the nest.

I'm trying not to mash the beans.

Setsuko and Haruki still follow a traditional way of life.

They are preparing a special rice dish made with buckwheat harvested the previous year.

The rice goes in here.

It's a part of a ritual offering to show their gratitude to the land.

We don't fill it to the brim.

It symbolizes our hopes
for a big harvest.

This ritual has existed for centuries.

Now, they are the last people in the village who still practice it.

"We dug a spring in
the mansion of Awa."

"Water flows."

"Our riches grow."

"What a blessing."

November.

Perfect day to harvest.

Sunny day, harvest day.

Harvesting buckwheat is their biggest task of the year.

The Nishiokadas have their own unique approach:

They begin working at the top of the field, while their truck is parked at the bottom.

That's because the plants at the top get more sun so they grow faster.

They slowly ascend the slope, over a hundred meters.

Since the land is too steep to allow the use of machines, all the harvesting is done by hand.

It takes two weeks to complete.

The buckwheat is carried in bundles, each of which weighs around 25 kilograms.

They descend to the very bottom of the slope.

This process is repeated six times a day.

Let's put them here.

Haruki is over 80 years old.

But something has been bothering him lately.

He's not as nimble as he used to be.

Setsuko is concerned as well.

The ones here are heavy,
so be careful.

We need to carry them in bundles.

My body can't keep up.

I miss my youth.

Haruki and Setsuko met for the first time 55 years ago in this house.

Theirs was an arranged marriage, but Haruki says it was love at first sight.

It was a gut feeling.
I knew we were meant for each other.

Setsuko is a chatterbox.

I'm a quiet person,
so it strikes a good balance.

However, their journey together has included a series of hardships.

In the early days, resources in the village were limited.

Locals helped to tend each other's land.

As the eldest son, Haruki took over his parents' farm.

But the farm didn't generate enough income to support his family.

He spent his winters working in the city.

They struggled to survive.

I had to earn enough
to support my family. It was tough.

I was constantly under pressure,

desperate to make a living.

When Haruki was away, Setsuko worked on the farm and took care of their children.

Haruki blamed himself for their difficult life.

I felt bad that all she could do here
was work on this steep farm.

Now, he's determined to make things easier for her.

So he continues to work on the farm, despite his age.

If one of us gets frail,
we won't be able to keep the farm.

It'll be like the lights are going out.

Setsuko came from a nearby village which also has hillside farms.

But before she got married, she had never been on a farm quite like this one.

My first impression of the farm
was how steep it was.

My family's farm was flat.

Haruki taught her everything about farming on such steep land.

Should we start cutting there?
Better if we both do it.

He told her they should always work together, no matter what.

And that she could move at her own pace.

She fell for his gentle, supportive nature and the quiet way he went about his work.

She believed they could make a go of it, no matter how hard things got.

After all these years, her feelings haven't changed.

He's kind and caring.

I never thought about leaving him.
I always wanted to be by his side.

I'm not helping him.
We help each other.

Because we're family.

Over the decades, the couple has adopted another custom.

This bench is Haruki's handiwork.

Setsuko brings him his favorite treats.

They take two breaks a day.

This is how they pass the time.

The sun is getting low.

The fall colors are so vibrant.

So pretty over there.

When I was young, I didn't understand
the value of this place.

These days, I relax and soak in the views.

I've realized so much as I've aged.

Now I'm glad I've spent my life here.

After the harvest, they spend
a month hulling the buckwheat,

and making it into "buckwheat rice."

The buckwheat is ready.

This is their first meal with
buckwheat harvested this year.

Freshly-harvested buckwheat.

- Bon appetit.
- Let's see how it tastes.

I'll be devastated if it's no good.

It's delicious.

It's winter.

An unusual amount of snow has fallen.

Haruki heads out alone, trudging through the powder.

When it snows, this town in the foothills is completely cut off.

Hello.

He visits his neighbors to see how they are holding up.

- It was cold when it got dark, wasn't it?
- Yes it was.

Hello.

Three decades ago, 50 people lived in this village.

Have things settled down
since your mother passed?

Yes, they have.

One resident passed away in December.

Now, there are only nine people left.

How do I say this...

It's a sad and lonely situation,

but seeing everyone in
good spirits puts me at ease.

There's one neighbor he's particularly concerned about.

Good morning.

Ura Yukio.

He's 95 years old.

Can't hear you.
My hearing's awful.

He lives by himself, without relying on relatives who live in town.

But I still like living at home.

Yukio also had a beloved hillside farm plot which he used to tend with his wife.

Since she passed away, he is no longer able to take care of it.

However, he still lives in the village.

I don't want to stay
in a hospital or care facility.

I feel more at ease living at home.

- Thanks for checking on me.
- No worries.

Bye-bye. Thanks.

Haruki receives a call from Yukio.

He needs some help.

He's having a problem with the electricity.

- The circuit breaker tripped?
- That's right.

Yukio used to be the person who looked after the community.

My hearing's bad,
My legs are weak.

I've gotten frail.

Well, I'm glad the power's back.

Thank you.
Thank you always.

Thanks so much.
Sorry for the trouble.

- Power's back?
- Yep.

One month later.

The community gathers together.

Yukio has passed away.

He died from a COVID-19 infection.

The eight remaining villagers did not stay long.

After returning home, Haruki got right back to work.

He began sowing seeds to harvest in April.

I was thinking about Yukio.

I'm also getting old myself.

I wonder how long we can
rely on each other like this.

I need to overcome my sadness
and lift my spirits.

He's working alone today.

It's a rare occurrence.

- Is he outside?
- Yeah, he is.

I told him to take this with him.

He left without it.

I haven't taken a break.
I'm getting tired.

Then, Setsuko shows up.

There you are.
Should I go over there?

I'll come to you.

She's brought him a little treat.

I'll give you half.
It's a big slice.

A big slice of cake.

It's huge.

Here you go.
I'll just have a little.

Move slowly
or you might get hurt.

It's so steep here,
you shouldn't rush.

Go slow.

Take your time.
If you can't finish today, do it tomorrow.

There's no rush.

It's getting dark.

A visitor has arrived from the foothills.

Hello.

I'm back again.

Buckwheat?

Still some left.

He hopes they'll teach him how to farm.

Look at his hands.
So rugged.

Look.

These hands.

Look at mine.
They're like a child's.

It'll be a while until
they look like that.

They're like battle scars.

They've shared joys and hardships throughout their days on this hillside farm.

It has some cracks.

I can't say what makes me happy,
but I do know that I am happy now.

Both of us are in good health.
That makes me happy.

I wouldn't be who I am
if I didn't live here.

It's like relaxing in paradise.

The Nishiokadas offer us a glimpse of what it means to cultivate a joyful life.