NHK Hokkaido's "Local Friends Stay" started in April 2021. 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 treasures." This series delves into the charms of various regions in Hokkaido in a way that is completely different from conventional reporting.


Domingo previously published an interview with Director Koshimura, who was in charge of the Soya edition broadcast in April (Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here). This time, we spoke with Director Osumi, who was in charge of the Kimobetsu Town edition broadcast in May.

What charms of the town did he discover during his one-month stay? And how did the stay change Director Osumi himself? Please read on to find out!

"I'm living as if I'm a member of Kimobetsu."

—What was your impression of Kimobetsu Town before you went there?

To be honest, I didn't know anything about Kimobetsu Town. You could call me a Hokkaido novice; I've been in Hokkaido for a year and a half, but when Mr. Kato, our local friend for this trip, applied, I saw the characters for Kimobetsu and had to ask, "Is this pronounced 'Kimobetsu'?" That's how little I knew. I started from a point of not even recognizing the area called Kimobetsu. —Had you never even passed through Kimobetsu Town?

I might not have ever crossed Nakayama Pass from Sapporo. I had no image of it at all when I first met Mr. Kato, and from there, I started to learn about Kimobetsu Town.

—I'm sure you went through a lot of changes during your stay, so I'll ask about that later. But after staying in Kimobetsu for a month, what is your impression of it now?

I'm living as if I'm a member of Kimobetsu. I live in Sapporo, but I've never had that sense of belonging. I don't have any regular spots, nor have I participated in community initiatives. Now, I feel more like "my town" is Kimobetsu, even though I only stayed for a month, more so than I feel like a citizen of Sapporo.

—I'd love to hear about the changes that led you to feel that way. This time, Mr. Tomohiko Kato was your local friend, and I believe he introduced you to people in the community. What did you first talk about?

Mr. Kato runs a cafe called tigris, so I first went there privately for a coffee.

I went to thank him for applying, but since I was there on my own time, we talked more casually than about work. I was overjoyed when he told me about some incredibly delicious places. The bakery and cheese shop he recommended were of such a high level, and when I stopped by a direct sales market, there were so many varieties of potatoes. That day, with the bread, cheese, and vegetables, I felt like I had the most authentic Hokkaido food experience since coming here.

Discovering Kimobetsu During My Stay

—What did you feel were the town's characteristics after actually staying there?

Kimobetsu Town has Mt. Yotei and Mt. Kimobetsu, but after living there for a month, I realized that the "river" really defines the character of the Kimobetsu area. The town itself is formed on a plain along the river, and agriculture, the town's key industry, benefits from it. As a symbolic example, a nationally known asparagus canning factory was built in Kimobetsu because the clean water was perfect for washing white asparagus. Furthermore, wherever you go, there are beautiful views along the river.

—Kimobetsu is sometimes described as a hub between Sapporo and Niseko, but you don't really see the river when you're just driving through, do you?

No, you don't. But if you get out of the car, it's right there. There's an incredibly beautiful path along the riverbank, and I walked there every morning and evening during my stay. After filming wrapped up, I looked through the photos I took during my stay and realized I had taken nothing but pictures of the river. Even though I wouldn't use them for the broadcast (laughs).

Here are some of the photos.


This is the path along the riverbank, and it goes on for kilometers. From the center of Kimobetsu, you can walk to the river in no time.

Meeting Freeskier Yuta Shimomura and Butoh Dancer Shibu Brozo

—I'm sure you interviewed many people this time. Could you share any particularly memorable episodes? I know it must be hard to choose...

(Flipping through his notebook) Let's see... It's difficult to choose just a few. I want to talk about everyone...

I'd say Yuta Shimomura, who returned to the town. Watching him, I thought, "If there's someone like him, people will be drawn to his talent and gather around him." He's a skier, but he practices "freeskiing" not as a sport or leisure activity, but as a form of "expression." He skis as a testament to his existence, just as a painter paints or a musician composes.

Freeskier Yuta Shimomura

Mr. Shimomura has skied in North America, Alaska, Oceania, and Hakuba, but he returned to his hometown, realizing he hadn't yet skied the mountains where he grew up, and is now trying to make them his canvas. I thought that was wonderful and cool. He's young, but there's something captivating about him when you listen to him.

—Is it like you saw in Mr. Shimomura a kind of straightforwardness that we might be losing in our daily lives?

That's exactly it. Even with something like skiing, in competitions, you're compared to others, and while some enjoy it as a leisure activity, to be able to declare that your way of life is skiing is truly fascinating. He also told me with sparkling eyes, "I have so many things I want to do in the future." The three of us, including Mr. Kato, or just the two of us, would talk endlessly about what we wanted to do in the future. We became such good friends that we went camping together and even slept in the same tent (laughs).

—So, meeting people like him is why you now feel like a "member of the town," as you mentioned at the beginning. If you have any other episodes, I'd love to hear them.

(Looking at his notebook again, pondering) Let's see... Shibu-chan (Shibu Brozo). Shibu-chan is also someone who truly enjoys her life.

Butoh dancer Shibu Brozo

When the cherry blossoms bloomed, she would have a picnic at the best spot, and when she harvested alpine leeks, she would share the paste she made with me. She truly enjoys the land of Kimobetsu every day. As a Butoh dancer and artist, she expresses this feeling in short phrases.
This phrase really makes you stop and think, doesn't it?

—So the environment of Kimobetsu, including its mountains and rivers, attracts people like them.

I think so. Perhaps people who seek a different way of engaging with nature than in nearby Niseko, Kutchan, or Rusutsu are gathering here. From a commercial perspective, other areas might be better, but I think many of those who choose Kimobetsu want to connect with nature quietly.

—They are people who wish to be with nature in their daily lives, and perhaps more people like them will come in the future.

Finding Myself Comparing Everything to Kimobetsu

—Thank you so much for your time today!

Thank you! On a side note, even after my stay, I visit various towns for work or sightseeing, and I find myself comparing the population size, industry, and the way people live to Kimobetsu (laughs). When I'm being shown around other towns, I've caught myself saying "In Kimobetsu..." so many times and had to apologize. "Sorry, I have a habit of comparing," I'd say (laughs).

I've been introducing the town to so many people, and in fact, an acquaintance of mine is visiting Kimobetsu today. Kimobetsu has become that much of a benchmark for me.

—It sounds like the stay was a truly wonderful experience for you as well.

This is just my one-sided feeling, and I believe it's only meaningful if the townspeople feel the same way, but I feel a personal connection to the Kimobetsu area, and I realize that it connects to my daily work. I always knew in my head that media professionals are also members of the local community, but I'm moved by the fact that I was able to experience it so deeply.

(End of interview)

Through his stay, Mr. Osumi now declares, "I'm living as if I'm a member of Kimobetsu." He shared the charms of Kimobetsu not just as a "fan" of the town, but as a "member." Why not visit the town and see for yourself?

We've been hearing from the directors who have stayed in various places for "Local Friends Stay." Now, a new series by Mr. Osumi, titled "The Adventure of Locals and Media," will start on Domingo, detailing what happened before and after "Local Friends Stay" was created.

These are the real stories of people striving for the future of Hokkaido's communities.
The series is scheduled for a total of 6 installments starting from September 17th (Fri).
Please look forward to it!