Hello everyone. My name is Tomohiro Nakamichi and I live in Shibecha town. This "Shibecha Weather" will introduce the charms of Shibecha Town from my perspective. In the second part of the series, I will introduce a guesthouse and restaurant called "Kurasu Koto Kina" in Nijibetsu. The owner is Keiko Nakamoto. The home-cooked food she makes is delicious, and more than anything, the atmosphere created by the people who gather at Kina is very warm and always filled with smiles.

The exterior of "Kurasu Koto Kina"

Kina does not have a set menu, and when you order, they will create a menu that is tailored to that person. They offer powerful meat-based dishes for people who do physical labor, healthy vegetable-based dishes for children with allergies and those who are health-conscious, and all of their dishes are homemade with Keiko's heart and soul. "It's not like we're eating from the same oven, but eating a meal together makes us feel closer. I think food is a much more important element than people realise," he says. His words carry weight.

This day we had Japanese food. Keiko-san comes up with the menu every time. I'm excited to see what will come out.

While running the guesthouse, Keiko also has another side to her. That is, she is a traveler who has traveled to the far north many times. She has been to Canada and Alaska many times, camping in the wilderness and canoeing down the headwaters of rivers, and has made many adventures that would put any adventurer to shame. I've also been to Alaska to photograph wildlife, so the stories I hear from Keiko are really interesting and we're always talking about travel and life.

A photo book documenting a journey. It contains a record of a harsh journey that is unimaginable from the outside

Keiko teaches us that the most important thing is to "accept each day." Since moving here, I've realized that the people who have put down roots in this place and are living here are all truly enjoying their lives. They work with the sunrise, go home when it gets dark, eat dinner with their families, and go to sleep. They enjoy that kind of everyday life. I've always been aiming for something, saying "I want to be XX. I want to do XX." At first glance, it seems like a dream-filled, glittering path toward a goal, but in other words, I was never satisfied with the current situation. I always felt a sense of inadequacy, thinking, "There's nothing XX in my current life. XX is missing." I tried desperately to fill that gap by increasing my social connections and trying desperately to grab something. However, after moving to Shibecha Town, interacting with the people there, and meeting Keiko, my values began to change little by little. "What are you trying to accomplish in such a hurry?" One day, Keiko suddenly said to me with a laugh. "Don't rush, don't rush, just take it slowly." I felt like something inside me had collapsed. In exchange for aiming for something, I was unable to notice the important things right in front of me. Then, little by little, I began to see many things. The rich expressions of my dogs, the changing of the seasons, the gentle breeze caressing my cheeks, the little flowers blooming in their designated places, the warmth of the sunshine, the blessing of rain... the list goes on and on. In fact, everyday life is filled with a lot of happiness and miracles.

The beauty of the sunset, spending everyday life with my dog. I can now see the little joys of life shining brightly.

"My goal is to stay the same. Because now is enough." I can feel what Keiko is saying from her heart. In order to survive in the countryside, where the environment is harsher than in the Kanto region or cities, what is needed is not lofty goals, nor strong mental or physical strength, but the simplicity of accepting each day. Kina, with the space that Keiko creates, is now an indispensable place for me. The meaning of "Kurasu Koto Kina" comes from Keiko's wish that "people stay here as if they were living here." Even in the name, you can feel Keiko's warmth. Perhaps wealth is not about gaining something, but about realizing what you already have. Since meeting Keiko, I have come to think that way. Currently, a video of my interview with "Kurasu Koto Kina" and Keiko is being released on the channel of the Shibecha Town Regional Revitalization Team, of which I am a member. The Shibecha Town Regional Revitalization Support Team Channel delivers a variety of content, including introductions to various businesses I have interviewed and Shibecha News, which brings you the hottest news from Shibecha Town. I am particular about the quality of the images so that even people who have no connection to Shibecha Town can easily watch, and I have made efforts to make it easy to watch even for people who do not know Shibecha. If you have time, please check out the Shibecha Town Regional Revitalization Channel. Hokkaido is now in the autumn mood. From now on, the cold weather seems to be drawing closer to winter. When the sorghum in front of the government building bears fruit, autumn finally begins. The Hokkaido squirrels that I always meet seem to be more busy than usual stuffing their cheeks with fruit, as if they know that winter will come early. I am a first year student in Hokkaido, and I hope to enjoy the changes that occur every day while also cherishing the things that do not change, and be grateful for each and every day.