kahadavalley is a scenic spot that is said to have been named because it was blessed with aromatic products such as tea, shiitake mushrooms, and ayu. This time, we spoke to three members of MatsusakaCity 's Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team about their activities and the charm of the rich natural beauty of the Iinan and Iitaka regions, including Kahada kahadavalley.

​Click here for the profile of Masashi Asada, who is also the original creator of the movie “Asada Family!”

■Table of contents

• 1. About the MatsusakaCity Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team
• 2. Beautiful scenery of kahadavalley
• Kushida River
• Mezurashi-togePass
• 3. What we would like to work on in the future as a regional revitalization cooperation team
• 4. Photo taken by Masashi Asada

1. About the MatsusakaCity Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team

First, we would like to introduce the profiles of the members of the MatsusakaCity Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team.

What is the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team?
This is an initiative in which people move from cities to disadvantaged areas such as depopulated areas, and work to promote the area, engage in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and support residents, while attempting to settle and establish themselves in that area.

Yoko Yokoyama provides information on vacant house banks and holds workshops to pass on traditional local cuisine.

Yoko Yokoyama moved to Iinan from Ama City, Aichi Prefecture in 2019. When I lived in Aichi, I worked in an office job, but my health deteriorated and I quit. I originally wanted to live in the countryside with my husband, so I started looking for a place to move to. It was during this time that I learned about MatsusakaCity 's recruitment for the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team, so I applied immediately, and things progressed quickly, and I soon decided to move to Iinan. I am based in Iinan, but my husband still works at a bicycle shop in Nagoya, and we live half in Nagoya and half in Iinan.

Hiroe Iijima just became a member of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team in October 2021.

Hiroe Iijima moved to Iinan from Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture. I am originally from Saitama Prefecture, but due to a transfer, I ended up living in Aichi. I've always had a fascination with home gardening in areas rich in nature...and since I'm from a rural area, I also like looking at natural scenery. When I lived in Aichi, I happened to drive to Iinami and was fascinated by the beautiful natural scenery. Later, I learned on Instagram that they were recruiting for a community revitalization cooperation team, so I applied. Now that I have been successfully appointed and have moved in, I am looking forward to learning more and more about the charms of the Iinan and Iitaka areas!

Ryo Takasugi makes a living by working as a member of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Volunteers and running a design company. I use my knowledge and experience as a designer to actively promote local PR.

Ryo Takasugi moved to Iinan from Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture in October 2020. Since my wife's parents live in Matsusaka, I have been to Matsusaka many times before, and I love the rich natural scenery of the Iinan and Iidaka areas. By chance, I became a member of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Volunteers, moved my design company to Matsusaka, and continue to work through telework.

Yoko Yokoyama: Come to think of it, has Mr. Asada been in Tsu all the time?

Masashi Asada was away from Tsu for a while. I lived in Tsu until high school, then went to a photography school in Osaka, and then moved to Tokyo for about 17 years. In April of this year (2021), I returned to Tsu.

That's what Yoko Yokoyama said. Why did we come back this year?

Masashi Asada: The biggest reason is for raising children. My child was born in Tokyo, and when he entered kindergarten, my wife and child returned to Tsu first, but I had a lot of work to do in Tokyo, so I continued to work alone. Perhaps because I was born in Tsu, I had no idea that I would spend my retirement in Tokyo...I always wondered when I would return to Tsu. I want to raise my children in Tsu. Just when I was worried, it became possible to hold meetings remotely, and an increasing number of people were moving their bases outside of Tokyo and working actively. I felt a tailwind heading back to Tsu. Then, I decided to return to Tsu when my son became an elementary school student.

2. Beautiful scenery of kahadavalley

Kushida River

Together with the community revitalization cooperation team, we also visited kahadavalley.

Hiroe Iijima: The scenery of Kahada kahadavalley is so beautiful. Every time I pass a road where I can see the Kushida River, my eyes are drawn to the scenery.

Ryo Takasugi is great here. Around this summer, when I was tired from work, I happened to pass by kahadavalley, and I thought, ``Ah...I want to put a chair on that riverbank and just relax'' (lol). When I get stuck at work, I think I'll take a chair to kahadavalley and spend the day there.

Yoko Yokoyama It's good to play in the water in the summer, isn't it? I often come here with my dog.

Mezurashi-togePass

kahadavalley has many spots where you can enjoy beautiful and fantastic scenery, not just the Kushida River. Mezurashi Pass is a historic pass along the old Wakayama Highway that connects Iitaka and Wakayama, where Amaterasu Omikami of Ise and Amenokoyanen no Mikoto of Kasuga were worshiped. It is said that the name came from someone who happened to run into him on a mountain pass and said, ``Wow, it's a rare sight.'' The atmospheric scenery and episodes related to mythology make it even more mysterious.

The satellite office where we interviewed the members of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team is located right next to Mezurashi-togePass. The characters ``Chinfu'' are also designed on the curtains. The satellite office has three rental offices, a coworking space that can be used for meetings, and a kitchen space. It is fully air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi and optical fiber connections, making it perfect for telework and remote work!

Satellite office rental cost is 10,000 yen per month + utilities, etc. for each room. Please see here for details.

3. What we would like to work on in the future as a regional revitalization cooperation team

Mr. Masashi Asada, what kind of activities do you all plan to do as a community revitalization cooperation team?

Ryo Takasugi I am planning to turn an old folk house into a dining room and create a place where people can gather. This may be the same in other regions, but I feel that the aging population and the inability of young people to take root in the region are issues, and the students at the local Iinan High School, with whom I am involved as a community revitalization cooperation team, also It seems that after graduation, you often become estranged from Iinami. This may be even more so since there are many students who originally come from outside the area. We would like to encourage our students to remain in and be involved in the Iinan/Iitaka area even after graduation.

Yoko Yokoyama I am focusing on passing down the unique ``konnyaku making'' of the Iinan and Iitaka regions. In the past, it was customary for each household to grow konjac potatoes and eat them during New Year's, but this tradition is now on the decline. I am wondering if there is a way to make use of the large amount of abandoned farmland.

I'm curious about Masashi Asada's konnyaku making! What kind of konnyaku is it?

Yoko Yokoyama I ate konnyaku made by an 88-year-old grandmother in the area called Hase in the back of Iidaka, and even when I ate it as sashimi, there was no smell typical of konjac, and I was like, ``I've never had konjac like this before!'' It's delicious. Generally, it is hardened using slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), but in this region, it is hardened with lye made by pouring hot water over the ashes of burned perilla, which eliminates the characteristic odor. We are holding workshops in Matsusaka and Ise to spread the word so that konnyaku in the Iinami and Iitaka areas will not disappear.

Hiroe Iijima: I'm thinking about being in charge of posting on SNS or YouTube.

Masashi Asada You might be able to see Iijima's success as a YouTuber.

It might be Hiroe Iijima (lol). I'm still in the planning stage, so how should I get the word out? I'm excited.

Mr. Masashi Asada I often go to various places to promote the area, and sometimes people who come from outside the area find it fresh and attractive, but people from within the area take it for granted. hand. It would be great if you could use the perspective of an outsider to further enliven the town. Also, it might be important for you to enjoy your life here and share it with others. The same goes for the photography I'm working on, but I think it's important to have fun first. I think there is something that can be conveyed by the way you are enjoying yourself. So, please be interested in various things and have fun!

4. Photo taken by Masashi Asada

The members of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team moved there because they fell in love with the rich natural scenery of kahadavalley. From the striking pose, you can feel his enthusiasm as he says, ``I'm going to liven up Matsusaka!''

Article production: MSLP