Ms. Emi Kojima was newly assigned to Shimokawa Town, Hokkaido, in October 2020 as an immigration coordinator.

Originally from Mie Prefecture, she majored in forestry at a university in Kagoshima after graduating from high school. She also went to Germany for practical training and learned about sustainable forestry, including ecosystems and industry. At the time, however, she could not picture herself working in the forestry industry, so she went to work for an agency in Tokyo.

While he was blessed to work with many people in Tokyo and found it rewarding to contribute to customers, Kojima suddenly began to feel frustrated that he could not help everyone in his job, and that his work was not connected to his life, as he switched on and off between work and life without realizing it. I began to think that working is not connected to living.

I was working thinking that my customers were like my family, but I began to wonder if I would take money to tell this story to my relatives, for example. I also thought that if every minute of my life, every second, passes the same way, I would be happier if I could do my work as an extension of my life."

Kojima when he was working in Tokyo

Kojima-san was thinking about what he should do with his future, with a sinking feeling of discomfort in his heart. In March 2020, while he was conducting a normal job search, he happened to notice an article circulating on Twitter. Ms. Tachibana is an editor and worked for three years in Shimokawa-cho, Hokkaido as a town PR person. In the article, she describes her feelings before coming to Hokkaido, the twists and turns of her job, and what she thinks now. While reading the article, Mr. Kojima saw himself in Mr. Tachibana, who was 25 years old at the time and had come to Hokkaido as an unknown challenge.

I thought, "Now I can still take on challenges without second thoughts."

I immediately looked up Mr. Tachibana's contact information and contacted him directly. In talking with Mr. Tachibana, she was impressed one after another by his attitude of valuing human connections, the fact that he truly loves the town he lives in and the people he works for, and the fact that what he wants to do as an individual is connected to his work.

I thought, "Rather than thinking about it, the fastest way is to go to places where people like this are and experience it for myself. (Laughs)"

At that time, the spread of the new coronavirus had already begun, and it was difficult to go and see what was going on in the town beforehand. Kojima had only been to Hokkaido as a student, but he made the decision to go.

Then, in October 2020. In October 2020, Kojima's new life in Shimokawa Town began.
"It's only been a month and a half since I arrived here, but I've received gifts from people in the town because I'm in the neighborhood, and I've been asked if I'd like to work with them on an upcoming project. I have also been asked if I would like to do something together. I also play in nature while living in the area, and go into the mountains to pick dried flowers to enjoy at home. I am very happy to be able to feel the connection between people and their lives and work, such as when people in the town thank me for my work in public relations.

Kojima's story of how he came to Hokkaido can be found here. I feel that Ms. Kojima's attitude to live in the present time with her strong will and energy, sensing the subtleties of her own heart, teaches us a lot of things.