Report: Oita Press Tour
post date : 2025.03.07
To disseminate information about Oita Prefecture’s history, culture, and initiatives in response to a declining birthrate and aging population, a press tour sponsored by Oita Prefecture was held for foreign correspondents in Japan (planned/operated by the FPCJ).
Nine journalists joined the tour, from six companies based out of countries such as China, Qatar, Singapore, and Vietnam. The tour covered the following topics:
-Oita, Coexisting with Nature—Impact of Climate Change/Building Communities Resilient to Natural Disasters
-Protecting Oita History—Passing on Traditions and Historical Townscapes in a Time of a Declining Birthrate and Aging Population/Utilizing Vacant Homes to Revitalize Communities
*This press tour was sponsored by Oita Prefecture and planned/operated by the FPCJ.
●For details on the tour stops, please see the press tour announcement here.
【DAY 1】
1. Nakatsu Tidal Flat/NPO Nakatsu Waterfront Conservation Association (Nakatsu)
The Nakatsu Tidal Flat is home to numerous rare species such as the tri-spine horseshoe crab and small-scale whiting, but in recent years nearby ocean temperatures have risen, the number of southern species has been increasing, and there have been poor harvests of nori seaweed and oysters, signs that appear to be the impact of climate change.
The journalists interviewed Mr. Yoshimasa Ashikaga, director of the Nakatsu Waterfront Conservation Association (an NPO formed by local residents), and Mr. Takumi Yamamori, the association’s secretary-general, about the changes happening to the Nakatsu Tidal Flat and the association’s activities, such as studies of the flat and holding wildlife watching events. The journalists also filmed/photographed the tidal flat.
The journalists asked questions such as what specific impact there had been on the local wildlife due to climate change.
2. Hisatsune Forest Co., Ltd. (Nakatsu)
With the rise in inexpensive imported lumber, the Japanese forestry industry has been declining, and due to proper forest maintenance such as thinning not being carried out risks of soil runoff and landslides due to rain have been increasing, becoming an issue nationwide. In an effort to deal with these issues, Hisatsune Forest Co., Ltd. is using unused timber from forest thinning to produce aroma oils and create a new income source, with the goal of making forestry into a more profitable and sustainable industry.
The journalists interviewed the company’s president, Mr. Yuichiro Hisatsune, about the issues the Japanese forestry industry is facing, and his desire to make forestry into a sustainable industry with interim income while carrying out the appropriate forest management, increasing income and attractive jobs in rural areas, which is the reason behind why he decided to start producing aroma oils.
Afterwards, the journalists filmed and photographed aroma oils being manufactured at the company building, which was built 100 years ago and is a nationally designated Tangible Cultural Property.
A journalist also commented on the recent growing interest in the Anglosphere about Japanese “forest bathing.”
3. Kitabaru Puppet Theater (Nakatsu)
Kitabaru puppet theater is a traditional performing art in the Kitabaru district of Nakatsu which has continued since the Kamakura period (1180–1336), and is a designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Oita Prefecture. With passing on traditional performing arts becoming an issue nationwide due to the declining birthrate, at the Kitabaru Puppet Theater Preservation Association local seniors have been teaching members of the local Miho Elementary School puppet theater club, training future performers.
The journalists heard from Mr. Daisuke Sawamura, an adviser for the Kitabaru Puppet Theater Preservation Association, about the history of Kitabaru puppet theater and about the association’s activities, and filmed and photographed the children as they practiced.
When asked by a journalists about why they decided to learn Kitabaru puppet theater, one of the children responded that they wanted to carry on the local performing art from their predecessors.
【DAY 2】
4. Amagase Onsen (Hita)
Amagase Onsen is an atmospheric hot spring town with 1300 years of history, with hotels and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) lining the Kusugawa River, which was heavily damaged due to heavy rains in July 2020 causing the river to flood. Eight of the 14 ryokan suffered major damage from flooding and sediment being deposited, but following the restoration of the pedestrian suspension bridge the automobile bridge was also restored in July 2024, and there are hopes tourist numbers will recover.
At Amagase Onsen, the journalists heard from staff with the Hita City Amagase Promotion Bureau about the damage from the heavy rains and plans for reconstruction, as well as taking pictures and videos while being guided around the hot spring town by Mr. Shinpei Kondo, representative of the local youth volunteer group Amagase Onsen Future Creation Project.
When asked by journalists what Amagase Onsen’s greatest appeal was, Mr. Kondo explained that the slogan residents thought of themselves after the heavy rains was “Even then we like the river,” saying that the greatest appeal of Amagase Onsen was its river. The journalists fervently took pictures and video of the rebuilt suspension bridge and a Japanese confectionery shop that had reopened after suffering from approximately two meters of flooding, as well as filming reports with the hot spring town in the background.
5. Yamaga Bunko (Kitsuki)
Yamaga Bunko is a traditional house that had been vacant for approximately 15 years that was restored as a hotel by Mr. Fumikazu Makino, who moved to the area from elsewhere, which allows guests to experience life in a farming village while being surrounded by over 5000 books. Together with Ms. Yuri Kujirai, who also moved to the area from elsewhere, they provided guests with food made using local ingredients, showing guests the appeal of life in Yamagamachi.
The journalists interviewed the two Yamaga Bunko operators, asking why they began running a hotel in a traditional house and what their vision for the future was. A journalist commented that they felt they could slow down while there, and asked what guests opinions were. The journalists took photos and videos from a variety of angles of the 150 year old traditional house, with books found in various places and warm light shining in from the veranda.
6. Kitsuki Castle Town (Kitsuki)
Kitsuki Castle Town is an area with high historical value, as it retains samurai residences from the Edo period on the plateaus surrounding the castle. In recent years, due to factors such as building owners growing older, restoration work has not been carried out on aging buildings, and it has become more difficult to maintain the historical scenery. To pass on this unique townscape to the future, the municipal government has been implementing initiatives for historical conservation, such as providing subsidies for the preservation and repair of historical buildings.
Led by a volunteer guide, the tour saw Kitsuki Castle Town and a samurai residence (the Ohara Residence) designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by Oita Prefecture, filming and photographing them.
Asked by a journalist why she became a volunteer guide, the guide explained that while learning about the local history after having moved to Kitsuki from elsewhere, she wanted to tell more people about these precious artifacts.
7. Yanagiya and Local Businesses/Residents (Kitsuki)
Yanagiya, located in Kitsuki Castle Town, was a restaurant and cafeteria for 150 years, since the Meiji period, that was popular with locals. With the couple that ran it growing old, they considered closing the business and dismantling the building, but their daughter Ms. Noriko Ogura did not want to lose Yanagiya, a landmark in the town, and in 2020 she reopened it as a shared space with a kitchen. Now a variety of activities take place at Yanagiya, such as hopeful entrepreneurs opening limited-time shops and restaurants, and locals renting it out for gatherings.
The journalists interviewed Ms. Ogura, and asked her about her activities and their goals. Then, the journalists visited a 92-year-old woman who, inspired by Ms. Ogura, opened a gelato shop nearby along with her 62-year-old daughter, and a flower shop opened in a vacant home after trying out sales at Yanagiya.
8. Nakano Shuzo (Kitsuki)
The only sake brewery remaining in Kitsuki Castle Town, Nakano Shuzo, has been actively expanding its overseas sales, exporting their sake to 15 countries such as the UK and Brazil. Nakano Shuzo, to reduce food loss, experimented with how little rice could be polished while still making fragrant sake, and created Chiebijin Junmaishu, polishing the rice by only 30%.
The journalists heard from Mr. Atsuyuki Nakano, the sixth-generation owner of Nakano Shuzo, about the company’s sake making, and were able to film and photograph part of the brewery. In response to the questions “What is the music playing in the brewery?” and “Are women involved in making sake?”, Mr. Nakano said that they were playing Mozart because people said it made the sake taste better, and that in the past, only men made and drank sake. But now, with the number of sake drinkers in Japan declining and the number of women who like sake increasing, women were also involved in making sake at Nakano Shuzo. Mr. Nakano also mentioned how he hoped sake being added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list would help with promoting sake overseas. Given the opportunity to try Chiebijin, journalists commented that it tasted good and was easy to drink.
