What Makes Rural Japan So Friendly?

[00:00:00]This is Japan's secret village, officially recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in the country.

[00:00:06]Kosaka is located in northern Japan with a population of 4,000 people. Far away from the crowd of Tokyo, life here moves at a completely different pace. And there's a Japanese language school here called Akita Inaka School. Inaka means countryside in Japanese, and the school offers students the chance [music] to experience authentic life in rural Japan while studying the language. So, in this video, I'm going to experience daily life here, meet the local community, and see what it feels like being a foreigner in rural Japan. I'm going to spend a week in Akita Inaka School to see what Japan's [music] countryside can offer.

[00:00:41]Okay, let's go.

[00:00:53]>> [music] >> Akita Inaka School was established [music] in 2019, and since then, hundreds of students have come here to study Japanese while experiencing a more authentic side of Japan away from tourist-heavy cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. And I've personally been here several times before, [music] and spending time with students and experiencing parts of Japan that even I had never experienced my life while living Tokyo. But this time, I'm going to spend an entire week living alongside the students and joining all the kind of a different [music] activities.

[00:01:43]The students here don't just learn Japanese by foreign textbooks. Instead, they learn the language in a much more practical and immersive way. For example, they practice Japanese through activities like acting, where they memorize the and perform scenes together.

[00:02:05]>> [snorts] [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] [applause] [music] >> TODAY, WE CAME TO EXPERIENCE Japanese calligraphy. From the proper posture to the way you hold and use brush, everything is taught from the very beginning.

[00:02:57]That's how Japanese we did growing up like in elementary school. Shodo is not just about writing good letters. It's also more about [music] how to be patient, how to care about more details, those kind of things very prioritized in Japanese education. So, I think it's really important to get to know [music] like Japanese mindset. So, I think it's a good way to know how Japanese people think, how Japanese people raised by doing this kind of stuff cuz it's this is very Japanese thing.

[00:03:33]Once calligraphy class is over, it's time for dinner. Tonight, we're having kiritanpo, one of Akita's most famous local dishes. Kiritanpo is made by mashing cooked rice, shaping around wooden sticks, and grilling it over a fire. It's commonly served in a hot pot with chicken, vegetable, and a rich savory broth.

[00:04:35]>> [laughter] [singing] >> And through experiences like this, we are able to see a very traditional side of Japanese culture.

[00:05:11]>> [applause] >> I am Daniel. I'm from Austria.

[00:05:15]And found this school actually 7 years ago.

[00:05:19]So, I put it on my bucket list and for my 30th birthday, I gifted this to myself.

[00:05:26]>> [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:05:28]>> I've been to Japan before three times or two times actually. This is the third time. That's why I'm back for third time, but completely in the inaka.

[00:05:37]>> [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:05:39]I want to see how I wanted to see how the normal Japanese people in the countryside live.

[00:05:52]>> [laughter] >> Today's class is about samurai. By learning about its history, the students are also learning about foundation of Japanese culture itself.

[00:06:04]>> [snorts] >> I'm from Brazil.

[00:06:15]>> I'm a uh Nisei Japanese >> Brazilian.

[00:06:19]>> Brazilian. I came here because I saw in the Instagram Takashi was uh >> Oh, thank you.

[00:06:26]>> saying about the the school.

[00:06:28]>> Yep.

[00:06:29]>> I was I was wow, this this is for me.

[00:06:32]Not only the the Japanese >> Mhm.

[00:06:35]>> uh the language but also the culture and samurai stuff that I love.

[00:06:42]So, wow, this I think this is a great place to go.

[00:06:47]>> Once the class is over, it's time for the students to become samurai themselves.

[00:07:13]>> [music] >> Visiting a local junior high school is also one of Akita International School's most well-known activities. When [music] I first heard about this program, I was honestly surprised by how unique and invaluable it was. Having this kind of access to real Japanese school environment as a foreigner is actually pretty rare.

[00:07:41]>> My name is Yori.

[00:07:44]>> Yori is from >> I am Soma.

[00:07:49]>> I am Shinya.

[00:07:50]>> [laughter] >> Yori and Soma?

[00:07:53]>> Shinya.

[00:07:53]>> Shinya?

[00:07:54]>> I am May.

[00:08:19]>> So, we are visiting the cleaning time.

[00:08:22]So, in Japan, the students clean the school. Everyday, we have like 15 minutes cleaning time.

[00:08:30]What are your impressions of these things, too?

[00:08:32]>> The school is really nice. Uh the classrooms are relatively uh clean.

[00:08:37]So, we had not a lot of stuff to clean up.

[00:08:40]>> [laughter] >> But, still but still there was some stuff, some gummy that we had to pick up and yeah, went relatively fast.

[00:08:48]>> It's very different from the US, where it's always staff that clean the school.

[00:08:54]Here, it's the students.

[00:08:56]And I kind of like that system. I might I I'm sure I would have complained when I was doing it, but I think that I think it's really cool.

[00:09:03]>> I have to agree with Ian on that. It it I I always thought that it's it's it's a good way to teach like responsibility and and to take responsibility for for not just your own, but also all of your classmates and and schoolmates' actions. So, so it's a it's a good great way to make you part of of of society, part of team, part of the school. Yes.

[00:09:24]>> What I noticed is that when you so used to like clean stuff, like even at school every single day, like it's so easy to clean up your room. You know what I mean? And then that lasts your entire life.

[00:09:35]>> Thank you.

[00:09:47]>> So, how's your life in Akita Inaka school?

[00:09:49]>> Uh I really enjoyed it. I think Kosaka is nice and quiet. And so I I really enjoyed the environment.

[00:09:57]>> Nice.

[00:09:58]>> And then getting to learn more like uh natural speaking Japanese which I don't really get to learn when you like doing self-study.

[00:10:07]>> Yeah.

[00:10:08]>> Is people different from like big city in Japan?

[00:10:11]>> Mhm, I think so. Yeah, I think they're more friendly. Yeah. And they're more willing to like talk with you. I think in the city, I think everybody's so busy.

[00:10:21]>> Next, we headed to traditional sake brewery where you can take part in sake experience.

[00:10:35]First, we learn about the history of the brewery and explore the building itself before starting the experience. But what exactly is a sake experience? The brewery staff explain how sake is made and how it's traditionally [music] enjoyed in Japan.

[00:10:53]>> [laughter] [singing] [laughter] >> Then we get to taste and compare different kind of sake, each paired with meals that matches the flavor.

[00:11:42]>> [music] [music] [laughter] >> It's really nice.

[00:12:52]It's a good mix of culture. I feel really I like it here. It's nice. People are friendly and welcoming.

[00:13:07]>> [music] >> Are you tipsy or sober?

[00:13:09]>> Uh I'm almost maybe almost tipsy. Okay, okay, [laughter] okay, okay, okay.

[00:13:25]>> Most of the local people here don't speak any [music] English, but that's what makes this experience feel so special for the student learning Japanese.

[00:13:36]So, it's your second time in Japan, right?

[00:13:39]Can you describe your experience in Akita International University of Art?

[00:13:42]>> The school has to have a very very good method to to teach. [music] Yeah, cuz but I I I've never been the best student, never never. So, I [clears throat] if I can learn, everybody can learn.

[00:13:55]>> [laughter] >> Okay, cool.

[00:13:57]>> In a city like Tokyo, meeting Japanese people who speak English isn't unusual at all. But, here many of the locals had almost no connection to a foreigner before Akita International University of Art was established. And because of that, the interactions feel incredibly genuine.

[00:14:17]>> [singing] [music] >> Miya desu.

[00:14:55]>> Hi, eto kono coffee shop no >> Hi.

[00:14:58]>> Nanka tsukutta mokuteki wa?

[00:14:59]>> Kono coffee shop wa motomoto wa ano community place mitai na tokoro o tsukuritakute Akita International University of Art no gakusei to jimoto no hito ga nanka motto ko kigaruni hanashiaete gengo kokan toka dekitaritoka ano honto ni issho ni koryu shite manabiae ru ba o tsukuritai na to omotte ano gomi soko o renovation shimashita.

[00:15:20]>> Renovation [laughter] shita no >> daibu ii kanji ni natte kita no have no thought.

[00:15:45]>> [laughter] [music] >> You came back here to work with the school again, and now you're visiting back again, right?

[00:16:03]>> Yes.

[00:16:03]>> What made you decide to come back to the school?

[00:16:05]>> It just felt like home, I would say.

[00:16:07]Just something where you don't worry about anything because you always have someone who can help you with your problems.

[00:16:13]>> Any message for those who are kind of hesitant to come to Japanese countryside [music] or like come to the school?

[00:16:19]>> Hmm, just do it.

[00:16:21]>> [laughter] >> Rather try and fail than never try at all.

[00:16:25]>> Yeah, I would say.

[00:16:26]>> What did you What did you learn from the experience here?

[00:16:28]>> It's not important [music] how much you own, but the experience you make.

[00:16:38]>> [singing] [laughter] [singing] >> People are not talking to the student to practice English, and they're not doing it for the money either. They simply want the people who came all the way to this small village to feel welcome, no matter where they're from, and that kind of hospitality feels very real here.

[00:17:08]>> It's good for the people here.

[00:17:10]>> I I I decided to make something that uh >> From >> It's a comfort food.

[00:17:15]>> That's good.

[00:17:20]>> [laughter] >> I'm Ian.

[00:17:25]I'm from Wisconsin in the United States.

[00:17:29]And what brought me to Ikity Nakas [music] School was sort of the promise of a completely [music] different side of Japan than what is normally seen. It's my first time outside of the US.

[00:17:46]>> You came to Akita, Japanese countryside, for 3 weeks staying.

[00:17:51]First time outside of the US.

[00:17:53]>> Pretty much, yeah. My entire life has been spent in the US. I've always grew up outside of big cities.

[00:18:01]>> Yeah.

[00:18:02]>> So, I think >> Oh, yeah.

[00:18:04]>> that maybe doing this was perhaps a little easier for me, but at the same time, I don't think the countryside is difficult. It's beautiful out here. The people are very friendly. I've already made so many memories here and just the memories I'm going to make the rest of this trip. I I'm going to remember the rest of my life.

[00:18:26]>> [music] >> Today, we came to make something the students can keep even after returning home. We are making a pottery that will later be shipped to their countries a few months after they leave Japan. And of course, professional pottery instructors teach everything from the very beginning.

[00:19:02]>> [music] >> Today we are making our own lunch. We are making soba from scratch together with local people who specialize in [music] a traditional soba making.

[00:20:07]>> [laughter] [music] [music] [laughter] [laughter] >> It is our way.

[00:20:48]I show.

[00:21:32]>> Today, I sprint off from the students and came [music] to the town hall on my own.

[00:22:15]I'm here to speak with the mayor and ask what he thinks about [music] Akita Inaka School.

[00:22:56]>> [music] >> Okay.

[00:23:32]>> [music] [music] >> I'm from Denmark.

[00:24:05]>> Yeah, I read about Akita International School when it opened like 6 or 7 years ago.

[00:24:09]>> Oh, really?

[00:24:10]>> In a in a Japanese newspaper and I thought that sounded really really exciting because it's something different from what you what you normally would expect of a language school.

[00:24:22]>> Right.

[00:24:22]>> Two years ago I went to a language school in Tokyo for 4 weeks. It was morning classes from 9:00 to 1:00.

[00:24:29]>> Right.

[00:24:29]>> And then after that you'd be on on your own, which is which is fine in in a town like town in a metropolis like like Tokyo.

[00:24:37]That's why I I thought that that the school is really good at arranging other experiences besides just the the pure language language learning. It always stayed at the back of my mind even though I read it for first time about 7 years ago.

[00:24:53]>> And you finally made it here. Yes. And Kokodayo Gakko.

[00:25:01]>> [laughter] [laughter] >> So this is my last day. I spent a whole week in Akita >> [music] >> with Akita Nakada School students. Until I came to Akita Nakada School, I didn't know anything about Akita Prefecture.

[00:25:20]Now I I feel like I know a lot about here and then the people and the culture. Every time the students experience something new, something real Japan, authentic Japan, that's usually for me the first time to experience as well. Because I grew up in city and I live in Tokyo. But anyway, this is the inside of Japan's secret village.

[00:25:37][music] If you like this video, click like button. Please subscribe to my channel. And if there's any place I need [music] to stay in one week to make something like this, let me know in the comments. And if you want to come to Japan and then see the more authentic side of the country, check the link in the description and you'll see Akita Nakada School there. Okay, anyway, thank you for watching. If you like this video, click like button. Please subscribe to my channel. I'm heading back to Tokyo now. See you.

[00:26:04]>> [music]