In October 2020, Megumi Kojima was newly appointed as a Relocation Coordinator in Shimokawa, Hokkaido.

Originally from Mie Prefecture, she majored in forestry at a university in Kagoshima after high school. She went to Germany for an internship, where she learned about sustainable forest management, including ecosystems and industries. However, at the time, she couldn't picture herself working in forestry and ended up taking a job at an agency in Tokyo.

While she was fortunate to have great colleagues and found fulfillment in contributing to her clients' needs in Tokyo, Ms. Kojima began to feel a sense of frustration. She realized she couldn't help everyone in her job and found herself unconsciously separating her work and personal life, feeling that her work wasn't truly connected to her life.

"I thought of my clients like family, but I started to wonder, 'Would I charge my own relatives for this advice?' Also, I realized that if every minute and second of my life passes by just the same, I would be happier if my work could be a natural extension of my life."

Ms. Kojima during her time working in Tokyo

With this growing sense of unease in her heart, Ms. Kojima contemplated her future. In March 2020, while going through the typical job-hunting process, she stumbled upon an article that appeared on her Twitter feed. Misaki Tachibana, an editor, had also worked in public relations for the town of Shimokawa, Hokkaido, for three years. In the article, she wrote about her state of mind before coming to Hokkaido, the ups and downs of her job, and her current thoughts. As Ms. Kojima read it, she saw herself in Ms. Tachibana, who had come to Hokkaido at the age of 25 for a leap into the unknown.

"I thought, 'I can still take on a challenge now without overthinking the consequences.'"

She immediately looked up Ms. Tachibana's contact information and reached out to her directly. While talking with Ms. Tachibana, she was deeply impressed by her emphasis on human connections, her genuine love for the town and its people, and the seamless connection between her personal ambitions and her job.

"I figured, rather than overthinking it, the fastest way was to go and experience it for myself. (laughs)"

By then, the COVID-19 pandemic had already begun, making it difficult to visit the town beforehand. Although Ms. Kojima had only visited the "standard" tourist spots in Hokkaido during her student days, she made her decision.

And so, in October 2020, Ms. Kojima's new life in Shimokawa began.
"It's only been about a month and a half since I came here, but I've had townspeople drop by to share food with me, or invite me to join in on upcoming activities. I also get to play in nature as part of my daily life, like going into the mountains to pick dried flowers to enjoy at home. In my PR work, the townspeople thank me, and I can truly feel the connection between people, and how life and work are intertwined. It makes me very happy."

Ms. Kojima has also written about her own journey to Hokkaido here. Attuned to the subtleties of her own heart, Ms. Kojima lives in the present with strong will and action. Her story has much to teach us.