The program 'Local Friends Stay' started on NHK Hokkaido in April 2021. The concept is: “A director stays for one month with a ‘local friend’ who has deep connections in the community to discover the region’s treasures.” This approach delves into the charms of various regions in Hokkaido in a way that is completely different from conventional reporting.

Domingo has been keenly following this project. What did the regions look like through the eyes of the directors who were actually there?

This is the second part of our interview with Director Koshimura from NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station, who was in charge of the Soya segment in April!

(Click here for Part 1!)

—Were there any other particularly memorable experiences?

Being able to talk to people who are deeply rooted and dedicated to their community was a huge thing for me. I'm from Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture, a commuter town for Tokyo. I've also been working for four years now, and my first assignment was in Sapporo, another big city. Whether it was Kawasaki or Sapporo, I lived there simply because they were convenient, not because there was something special about them.

So, honestly, I never felt I had much to say about my hometown or the places I've lived, neither their strengths nor their weaknesses. If someone asked me what Kawasaki is like, I'd probably just say, “It’s a commuter town for Tokyo, the Den-en-toshi Line runs through it...” and that's about it. The region wasn't part of my identity. There were times I felt a bit sad about that.

The people I met during this project were those who had found a reason to live in their place, or were trying to create one. So, it was truly wonderful to be able to speak with people who live with a completely different mindset.

To be honest, my only images of Wakkanai were tako-shabu (octopus shabu-shabu) and Cape Soya. For Toyotomi Town, I had only been to Toyotomi Onsen. So, when I actually went and stayed, I found so many attractions beyond those things. It was a very refreshing experience.

Also, my previously shallow image of Soya deepened. I learned about the people protecting the Japanese huchen (Itou) in Sarufutsu, the people pouring their energy into music and bands in Toyotomi, and the snowboarding scene in Wakkanai—charms I never knew existed.

The people I met during my stay passionately talked about things like, “There’s this interesting person in this town,” or “I want to do this in this town.” They were involved with their community in some way, finding or creating their own reason for living there. Seeing them, my feelings turned into respect. For me, Soya is not just “charming”; it’s a place I “respect.”

—So it feels like you gained a treasure for yourself as well.

Yes, it does. Soya is over five hours from Sapporo by train, so it feels incredibly far away. But when you meet and get to know the people, the distance in your heart shrinks. And I think it's not just Soya; it's probably the same for every place. We have a limited image—like just tako-shabu and Cape Soya for Soya—simply because a place is far, we've never been, and we don't see the people's faces. I've come to believe there are many places that would feel incredibly close if we just got to know them.

—In the program, you reported using a selfie camera, and the atmosphere with the local people seemed so wonderful. It was impressive how you talked with them as if you were family!

My local friend for the Soya segment, Mr. Ozaki, runs a guesthouse. I was always working in the shared lounge, and even on my days off, I would just relax there, drinking coffee. Unlike a typical reporting trip, a long-term stay allows for leisure time. Mr. Ozaki was always at the front desk, so we had plenty of opportunities to talk together.

It was the same in other places. When I went to Rishiri, I stayed for a long time and worked at the shop where we did a live broadcast on a smartphone. I think that kind of atmosphere was possible precisely because it was a long-term stay where I could spend a lot of time with people.

So, what did you all think?
'Local Friends Stay' featured the Soya region in April, Kimobetsu Town in May, and Teshikaga Town in June. You can find summaries of each segment on the NHK Hokkaido blog, so please check it out!

'Local Friends Stay' Staff Blog

'Local Friends Stay' introduces the charms of various regions in Hokkaido. We hope you'll discover the deep appeal of these communities through the program.