A town surrounded by majestic mountains
located in the center of Hokkaido Prefecture.

Population: 330,000 people
Second largest city in Hokkaido.

Running through its center is Ishikari River.

Close by are Biei and Furano,
popular tourist areas with beautiful landscape.

Asahikawa Station.

A piano is placed by a train exit.

"Asahikawa Animal Piano"
Surrounded by cutouts of different animals.

Cameras were set up to watch people play.

- Why don't you play?
- Play what?

- Something famous.
- Ok, I'll play Lupin.

Local tech school student
on his way to go out with his friend.

"I didn't know you were that good."

A Jazz version of a famous anime theme song.

He's been taking piano lessons since he was 7,
choosing his own songs to learn from his teacher.

This was one of the songs he selected.
Mastered it, and now created his own version.

It's his first time performing
in front of his friend.

"What's different about songs from the 80s
like this one, is the strong impression it leaves."

"People are instantly amazed when I play this song.
That's why it's my go-to."

University Student from Sapporo City
came here for a day trip.

He's been playing the piano since he was 6.
Playing on a street piano is a hobby of his.

This is his favorite song.
Playing it gives him a sense of tranquility.

He came to Asahikawa City today
to play this piano.

Standing close by is his girlfriend.
They've been going out for 6 months.

She likes to come along and listen
whenever he goes out to play street piano.

"I like his gentle way of playing."

- It gives me some sort of a calming effect
and takes away my tiredness.
- Thank you."

60 years old.
Recently moved from Saitama Prefecture.

She stopped playing piano after high school,
picked it up again at 37 when she heard this song.

She started making frequent visits to the area
a few years ago to take photos of nature.

Fell in love with the wildlife unique to the region,
something she hadn't seen before.

Reaching the age 60, her passion for photography
began to grow even stronger.

After convincing her husband and son,
she moved here on her own.

"My family was supportive. They said you should do
what you love while you're still able to."

"Anyone can take good photos around here
since it's so beautiful."

"But living here gives you
a completely different point of view."

"It doesn't have to be a famous scene.
I want to take photos that speak to the heart."

Asahiyama Zoo.
The city's largest sightseeing spot.

A close view of the animals in their natural state
attracts the visitors.

Penguins are the most popular at this zoo.

Visitors can enjoy seeing them swim
from different angles at the underwater tunnel.

The cutouts surrounding the piano
at the station...

they were created by Abe Hiroshi,
a former zoo keeper and children's book author.

It is a depiction of animals gathering to
enjoy the sound of the piano.

Mother and Daughter
traveling from Kanagawa Prefecture.

She works at a medical device company.
Took some days off to visit Asahikawa.

The two are great travel companions.
They traveled around the world together.

It's their first trip in 9 years,
after health issues and Covid restrictions.

Spent two full days
enjoying the Asahiyama Zoo.

"There is a part where you can see seals
swim up a tube, and they do it so effortlessly."

"It's as if they're just floating upwards.
It was such a peaceful view."

"We were standing there for almost an hour."

"It's so much fun."

Freshman in high school
on his way back from school tennis.

He started learning piano when he was 6
after his mother recommended him to.

This was a song his father played in the car.
He fell in love with it and practiced nonstop.

He enjoys the breezy melody
and lyrics that speak to the heart.

Any time he sees a piano,
he can't help but play this song.

"As much as I enjoy playing in front of people,
it's also a great stress relief for me."

"It's very refreshing."

Musician living in the suburbs, 55 years old.

This is his original song,
depicting a ray of sunshine in a deep forest.

Born as a female, he always felt
a disconnect between body and soul.

Got into a music university, but the pain did not go away.
There were even days he tried to end his life.

He became a civil service worker after graduation.

At age 38, he had sex-reassignment surgery
and legally changed his gender to male.

Wanting to make his own path in life,
he quit his job and became a musician.

At age 48, he moved to this nature-rich city
and married a woman.

"There is no time to hesitate in life.
I realized it's up to me to make things happen."

"It's better to take action when you have
the idea, rather than waiting around."

"That's why I moved here, because I wanted to
live in the moment and stay true to myself."

Local living in the city.

She's been playing piano since she was 4,
now performing in places while raising her child.

She loves to sing with the piano,
performing at bars and events.

"I'm walking looking up
So tears don't fall down."

"As I walk crying
A lonely night."

She also performs live at hospitals
for patients and their families.

This song is often requested by them.

"After doing music for so long,
what I respect the most is the power of music."

"A little singing or playing can always
bring people together instantly."

"I continue to be amazed by music."