NHK Hokkaido's new program, 'Local Friends Stay Diary,' which started in April 2021, takes a completely new approach to showcasing the charms of Hokkaido's various regions. The concept is: “A director stays for a month with a ‘local friend’ who has deep connections in the community to discover the area's hidden treasures.” This method of reporting is a world away from traditional journalism.

Domingo has also been paying close attention to this project. What did the regions look like through the eyes of the directors who were actually on the ground? We had the opportunity to speak with Director Koshimura from NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station, who was in charge of the Soya segment that aired in April! Here is the first part of our interview.

- Thank you for speaking with us today, Mr. Koshimura!

Thank you for having me!

- What was your first impression when you heard about the show's concept?

The concept for 'Local Friends Stay Diary' was developed through discussions among a few of us younger directors, four of us including myself. It was actually another director who came up with the current idea. I never thought I'd be the one to handle the very first installment, but when I first heard it, I honestly thought it sounded interesting. It was simply a type of show I had never heard of anywhere else.
The idea of building a relationship with a region to convey its deep-seated charm has been around since its predecessor, '#LocalFriendsEncounterTrip.' But to truly convey that deep charm, being there for an extended period is the best way, so it felt like a very natural approach.

- How did you interact with Mr. Atsushi Ozaki, the local friend for the Soya segment that aired in April?

I first contacted Mr. Ozaki in late February. We started with a phone call, and then I thought it would be best to meet in person at least once, so I visited him in Wakkanai in early March. During our meeting, he mentioned a few people, and I was able to call them directly.

- How did you feel before you started this assignment?

I was very anxious before I went because the production style was completely different from any show I had worked on before. I usually do thorough research and decide on my subjects in advance. This was my first time shooting in such an impromptu, unplanned style, and I was worried because there was no guarantee I could convey a story through the footage. I had also spent time preparing with the local people, so I felt the pressure to create a program that wouldn't be an embarrassment to them.

- Did you do a lot of research on the region beforehand?

Actually, I did almost no research. When I called the people Mr. Ozaki had told me about, the only thing I asked was, “Will you be there during the month I'm staying?” I couldn't interview them if they weren't actually there during my stay, after all.

- What was your first day like?

My first day was March 28th. I first went to see Mr. Ozaki, and while we were having lunch, I asked him, “Could you introduce me to some interesting people in Wakkanai?” He introduced me to Mr. Wataru Kimura from the snowboard shop, who was also featured in the program. As soon as we finished lunch, I jumped on a bus to go meet him. I think I was meeting him and had the camera rolling within about two hours of hearing about him (laughs).

- Wow, so that's how it started! You must have still been feeling anxious at that point.

Yes, I was. Since I couldn't prepare in advance, I was worried about what I could even film while I was talking to Mr. Kimura. But it wasn't just anxiety; there was also a sense of anticipation and excitement. I usually work on shoots with a team, but this time I was doing everything by myself. The only things that were decided were the mission—“find the region's charm through a local friend”—and the deadline—“have a broadcast ready by Thursday.” How to conduct interviews, how to shoot, and how to edit were all up to me. So, I was able to focus entirely on the content, which was exciting even before I started.

- Were there any particularly memorable moments from your overall experience?

There were many, but Mr. Tetsuya Takahashi on Rishiri Island was incredibly helpful. Mr. Ozaki introduced us, and we met up on the ferry. Later, after we had finished filming on the island and he was giving me a ride, he quietly mentioned something like, “You can't revitalize the island alone.”

Mr. Takahashi's main business is running a store on the island, and he's always busy as the island's “jack-of-all-trades.” On top of that, he's also the head of a community development organization, producing sake and organizing events. Behind all this was a sense of crisis. He felt that for his own shop to survive, the entire island needed to be revitalized, and to think about the island, he first had to secure his own footing. His life and the island's future were directly connected, and he was working hard within that reality.

He realized there's a limit to what one person can do to revitalize the whole island, and to make a bigger impact, he needed to gather allies. But not everyone is quick to join the cause. That brief comment in the car gave me a glimpse into the struggles behind his efforts, and it felt incredibly real.

(The interview continues in Part 2!)