What is migration without failure?
February 14, 20:49
Messages like "Don't impose urban life on the community"
and "Be aware of the fact that items are being determined"
were published in a town's public relations magazine and sparked discussion on social media.
Some criticized it as "exclusive," while others agreed with it, saying, "He wrote it honestly."
As more and more people are rethinking their lifestyles due to the spread of the coronavirus and the spread of remote work, how can they avoid failure when moving to rural areas?
I searched for "honne".
(Kitakyushu Broadcasting Station Michiko Okura Kumamoto Broadcasting Station Takeo Baba Network News Department Naoya Saito)
Ripple of "Seven Articles"
It was the association of ward mayors in Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture that issued a message to immigrants.
Located on the prefectural border with Gifu, the town has a population of over 2,300, 90% of which is surrounded by forests and has a peaceful rural landscape.
In January this year, the Town Mayors Association published the "Seven Articles of Ikeda Living" in the town's public relations magazine.
"Seven Articles of Living in Ikeda"
Article 1 Please be aware that you are a member of the village and a citizen of Ikeda Town.
Article 2 Please be aware of the many local events that require participation and participation, as well as the inconvenience that cities do not have, and cooperate with them.
Article 3 Please understand that a village is a small community and has many customs of mutual support.
Article 4 Don't force your self-values until now.
Also, please try not to impose urban life on the community.
Article 5 Please be aware that there are people who feel that there is no privacy, and that many people's attention and items are being evaluated.
Article 6 Please have a positive attitude to enjoy close human relationships in the village and region.
Article 7 Please be aware that nature can be a threat at times.
In particular, heavy snow can have a huge impact on your life, so please try to help each other in your neighborhood.
This caused a discussion on social media.
While there are criticisms such as ``I'm firmly determined not to make a mistake with immigration'' and ``If we want to protect the village, it's not the immigrants who have to change, we have to change it''
, I think it's a good idea," or, "In rural areas, there are cases where residents have no choice but to mow the lawn.
There is an ongoing debate on the Internet.
“We didn’t mean to exclude immigrants.”
We interviewed a person in the town who served as the secretariat in creating the Seven Articles.
Koichi Morikawa, head of the General Affairs and Finance Division, was puzzled by the magnitude of the reaction, but replied, "It's a pity that it was cut in such an unexpected way. It was never created with the intention of excluding immigrants." gave me
In the background, it is said that the local head of the ward, who was to receive the migrants, was having a hard time.
In recent years, about 20 people a year have moved to the town.
If you migrate through the town's vacant house bank, etc., you can get to know people to some extent, but if you migrate through a real estate agent outside the town, it is difficult to have a point of contact. I want it, but I don't know how to treat it."
Villages are maintained by residents
A traditional festival designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan for its beautiful rural scenery surrounded by greenery.
These landscapes and cultures have been protected and supported by the residents.
Nature is not just beautiful.
Mowing the grass in the summer and shoveling the snow in the winter are essential.
Villages, which are communities, have been responsible for many years for tasks that cannot be handled by the government.
Faced with such a reality, immigrants often said, "I wish I had told you in advance."
It is said that the Seven Articles this time was announced because he wanted to do something about the gap in recognition between the two sides.
Koichi Morikawa, Manager of the Ikeda Town General Affairs and Finance Division
“Of course we want to welcome immigrants, but I don’t want them to move here just because of the atmosphere and be told that they didn’t listen!” I thought it would be best to let them know in advance what they think.
Growing interest in the corona crisis
Interest in rural migration is increasing year by year.
According to the certified NPO "Furusato Return Support Center", which accepts consultations and disseminates information about immigration, the number of consultations and inquiries last year exceeded 52,000, the highest number since its establishment in 2002. I'm here.
Half of the respondents are in their 20s and 30s, and interest in migration is increasing due to the spread of remote work and the diversification of values due to the corona crisis.
The ingenuity of accepting immigrants
Under these circumstances, what kind of ingenuity are local governments that are actively accepting immigrants doing?
Surrounded by the sea, Amakusa City is one of the popular migration destinations in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Dolphin watching is popular, and it is a tourist destination with a World Heritage Site.
In the last 10 years, 730 people have moved, and the permanent residence rate is 80%.
Mr. Masashi Tsuruoka from the city's Regional Policy Division spoke to us.
What we are focusing on is to create a “meddlesome” in a good sense, who will consult with immigrants about their concerns.
Three senior immigrants have become "coordinators" and are responding to all kinds of consultations before and after immigration.
In addition, as a "supporter", companies and citizens who provide advice and support to immigrants are invited to register, and 9 groups and 14 individuals are participating.
Mr. Masashi Tsuruoka, Regional Policy Division, Amakusa City
"The role of the coordinator and supporters is important for the high settlement rate. There is a 'meddlesome' in a good sense, who consults with immigrants on various problems and moves to the head of the ward. You can also introduce someone.
In addition, local characteristics such as raising children in the community and sharing vegetables and fish are also linked to permanent settlement.”
I asked a person who immigrated
How do immigrants actually feel?
My name is Dain Sato (38), a manga artist from Ibaraki Prefecture.
He also had experience as an IT-related office worker in Tokyo, and moved to Amakusa City in December after the corona disaster.
He rents an old wooden house with a field and lives by drawing cartoons with his dog and chicken while farming and hunting.
His cartoons are also published on his blog and SNS with the motif of his experience during his immigration.
He says he was "confused" when he first moved here.
Mr. Dyne Sato
“When I moved here, I was surprised because the locals knew what I was doing. I thought it would be impossible to hide my privacy. In order to set up, it is necessary to build a relationship with the landlord in order to negotiate, but it is a high hurdle for immigrants.”
Under such circumstances, he says that the city's "coordinator" helped him a lot in getting used to the local community.
Ms. Dyne Sato:
“They directly introduced me to people who have a lot of faces in the local area. From there, I was able to expand my network with local hunters, and I also made friends by participating in events. I am very grateful that they took care of my chickens and repaired my house when it was damaged by a typhoon.”
In the future, he told us what he wanted to convey to people who were thinking of emigrating through “manga.”
Ms. Dyne Sato
“I was happy when I received vegetables and fruits from my neighborhood grandma who told me that she was doing her best, and that the rural life I had envisioned really exists. It would be nice if people could convey that there is a way to go about it.The coronavirus crisis has raised prices, and there is a growing awareness of people moving to rural areas. sea bream"
Increasing remote work, isolation due to the corona crisis
On the other hand, there are also cases where immigrants face new problems due to the corona disaster.
In Kumamoto City, there are a series of people who move to work remotely while being enrolled in a company in Tokyo.
A new problem arose for these immigrants.
"Isolation due to the corona disaster".
Various events have been canceled, making it difficult to build relationships.
Inquiries from immigrants were sent to the city, such as "there are no exchange activities such as circles", "there are no friends to hang out with on holidays", and "I want mom friends".
Therefore Kumamoto-shi made the first approach.
It is a "migrant exchange cafe".
In November last year, it was held as a place for exchanges between immigrants and for consultations with senior immigrants, and nine immigrants talked about the charm, life, and troubles of Kumamoto City.
Mr. Tsuyoshi Maeda, Kumamoto City Economic Policy Division Manager
"I'm glad we held the event because it was well received with a friendly atmosphere. If there is a community like this, I think it will help alleviate the anxiety of the next immigrants."
Precisely because of the corona crisis, it may be that the "meddlesomes" around us who support the creation of communities for immigrants are becoming more important.
How to avoid failure
What kind of preparations should people who are thinking about emigration and people in the area who accept them do?
We interviewed Hiroshi Fujiyama, director of the General Incorporated Association Research Institute for Sustainable Local Communities, which conducts research on immigration and supports community development.
Hiroshi Fujiyama, Director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Community
"Seventy to eighty percent of people who fail to move or settle down are cases of 'I didn't hear about it in advance.' Yes, not only do people who are thinking about moving to the area collect information, but they also send out information on the internet and social media about how the local community is living and what kind of cooperation they need, and guide people who are interested. I think it would be better to have a tour like this.If you look at the areas where the number of immigrants is actually increasing, such a 'window' is opening to the area."
In addition, Mr. Fujiyama points out that in order to truly realize a recycling-oriented society in the future, we cannot avoid the trend of easing overconcentration and moving people to rural areas.
Hiroshi Fujiyama, Director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Local Communities
“Regions are woven with the scenery and memories of the region. I would like you to notice benefits and new encounters that you didn't expect."
amid growing interest
Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture, which published the controversial "Seven Articles".
Now, going one step further than the Seven Articles, we have decided to create a new textbook for each of the 33 villages that describes the characteristics and rules of the village for immigrants.
Based on this discussion, he said that he wanted to reflect the opinions of as many people as possible.
The relationship between immigrants and the original residents is by no means a new problem, but as interest in immigration continues to grow, it has become important to create an environment in which both immigrants and locals can understand and cooperate with each other. I felt it through the interview.