Hello everyone. This is Tomohiro Nakamichi from Shibecha Town.
Welcome back to "A Fine Day in Shibecha," my series on sharing the charms of Shibecha Town from my perspective. It's been about six months since I moved to Hokkaido, and as I've settled into a life surrounded by nature, I've gained a lot of new insights. I'd like to share some of those thoughts with you today. About half a year has passed since I moved to Hokkaido. It's been a whirlwind six months of adjusting to daily life, and I think it's a good time to take a fresh look at my life here.

My house is at the foot of a mountain, in one of the most remote parts of Shibecha Town. It's about a 30-minute drive from the Shibecha Town Hall where I work, and the weather here is often completely different from the town center. It can be sunny in town while a storm is raging at my place, and vice versa.

The weather can change dramatically in just an hour, and there's a certain excitement in waking up each morning wondering what the day will bring. Spring, summer, and fall are all so dynamic. Autumn, in particular, feels like it contains multiple seasons within it; I'm constantly in awe of the daily changes in nature.

Autumn in Hokkaido is very short, which seems to make its beauty all the more striking.

But because of that, you sometimes get to witness breathtakingly beautiful scenes, which is one of the true joys of living in nature. I've seen herds of deer walking across the plains as the sun sets, flocks of whooper swans flying in formation over a forest of larch trees, and fox families playing together on the road. My life and my state of mind have changed so much since my days in Chiba.

The footsteps of winter are already approaching in Hokkaido. I find happiness in the small details of nature.

The greatest benefit of living in nature is that it allows you to see things in a simpler way. To be healthy and have three meals a day. The blessing of the sun. The gentle spring breeze on your cheek. To put it more dramatically, you realize that the very fact you are alive is something to be grateful for.

When I was in the city, I felt swept up by the economic system. It was a time when methodology was rampant, my sense of self was fading, and I felt like I was being swallowed by the waves of society. I have no intention of speaking ill of the city; it was simply a matter of whether it was the right fit for me. I wanted to live more simply, to feel more alive, and to have my feet firmly on the ground. For me, a life in nature in Hokkaido has been a perfect match.

What I needed wasn't to add more titles, skills, or social recognition to my name, but perhaps to shed the armor I was wearing and focus on the act of "living." By living in nature, many things have been stripped away, and my mind and body have become simpler and lighter.

Since we started living in Hokkaido, our dogs have grown so much, both mentally and physically.

People who live in Hokkaido, especially those who live surrounded by nature, have something in common.
It's a certain "simplicity."

I've met many people who live even more in harmony with nature than I do, and the one thing they all share is this simplicity. I believe it's a strength that comes from accepting things and, in a good way, letting go of certain expectations.

Despite being in the midst of a harsh natural environment—and the winters in Hokkaido are truly severe—the people who have lived through it are all so simple. They don't ask for much, are grateful for the life they have, and cherish their connections with others.

"No one can live completely alone. We have to help each other. So, Nakamichi-kun, if you're ever in trouble, don't hesitate to ask for help. And if you see someone in trouble, help them without a second thought. That's what's most important for living here."

Someone told me that when I first moved here.
In these six months, I've learned that what you need to survive the harshness of nature isn't a resilient spirit or a strong body, but the willingness to help each other, to accept everything, to be grateful for small joys, and to live a simple, day-to-day life.

A napping fox. It's a reminder that both people and animals are just living their lives in nature.

Having lived here for six months, I've come to appreciate the charms of Shibecha Town even more. The biggest advantage is its excellent access to the rest of the Eastern Hokkaido (Doto) area. Shibecha once thrived as a key railway hub in Eastern Hokkaido, and I feel it still serves as a very convenient gateway to the region. It's almost equidistant to areas like Shiretoko, Nemuro, and Kushiro, which is incredibly convenient for me as I travel around Eastern Hokkaido for my nature photography.

Another charm is that, for better or worse, the traffic volume doesn't change much between weekdays and weekends. This allows for a peaceful daily life, and with its great accessibility, I feel it's a very suitable place to live in the Eastern Hokkaido area.

Shibecha may not have the flashiness of some neighboring areas, but for those seeking a quiet life, I feel it's a wonderful and very livable town. For that reason, I want to focus more on promoting it as a place to "live" in the future. On the Shibecha Town Community-Revitalization Cooperator channel, I'm regularly updating with short films capturing the autumn nature of Shibecha and features on the town's local businesses. We're about to reach 500 subscribers, and we're aiming for 1,000. I try to vary the format of the videos, which are created primarily with the hope that local residents will rediscover the charms of their own town.

I'm currently updating once a week, but I plan to increase the frequency to make Shibecha feel even more familiar and accessible. If you haven't seen it yet, I'd be very happy if you'd take a look.
The mornings and evenings in Hokkaido have become much colder, and winter is just around the corner. My first real experience of life in a snow country is about to begin. I expect it will be harsh, but I also know I'll get to see some incredibly beautiful scenery. With a mix of excitement and a little anxiety, I look forward to continuing my life here in Shibecha Town.

This is the third installment of my series. I'm truly grateful to everyone who always reads my articles.
I will continue to share the charms of Shibecha Town, and I hope you'll join me.