Previous Story: Episode 15 Danish Jacob’s Experience in Yodoe and Meeting Morisato and Yuttie
In July 2018, Yoko traveled to four Scandinavian countries with her company staff. She wanted to experience Hygge in Denmark, so she asked a helpf for coordination to a Japanese woman who worked at the University of Copenhagen in the capital, and that was how Yoko met Jacob. He was a Japanophile graduate student at the University of Copenhagen. He invited them to his suburban home and introduced them to the Hygge experience. The following summer, Jacob came and traveled all over Japan. Yoko took him to Yodoe and provided him with opportunities to interact with young locals. Yoko, who also had a great time, envisioned her future as...
Yodoe Project Episode 16 Prologue
The "Yodoe Project" started on the day before Christmas Eve in 2018. A major cleanup was done during the second round in late January 2019, and demolition and renovation proceeded during the third (March) and fourth rounds (May 2019). Two months later, the fifth round was held from July 1st (Monday) to 7th (Sunday). This time, members gathered at Yodoe first, and Yoko joined from 4th (Thursday) due to her work commitment. She also asked Mr. Yamamoto, the BBQ master, to come and create a dynamic BBQ. Both members and locals enjoyed the interaction while appreciating the meals. As the BBQ was coming to an end, Atsuko came from Okayama! After that day, she started showing up at Yodoe frequently. Who is she...?
For the Fifth Round, Members Arrived Before Yoko
The "Yodoe Project" started the day before Christmas Eve in 2018. A major cleanup was completed during the second round in late January 2019, and demolition and renovation proceeded during the third (March) and fourth rounds (May 2019).
Two months later, the fifth round was held from July 1st (Monday) to 7th (Sunday). This time, members gathered at Yodoe first, and Yoko joined on the 4th (Thursday) due to her work commitment.
Three members who started on July 1st
- Shokichi (Shota Nozaki)
- Shotaro (Shotaro Miyahara)
- Gon (Yuichiro Nakayama)
At the midpoint, the following four members joined.
- Yatsuda (Kohei Yasuda)
- Morisato (Satoshi Morita)
- Yuttie (Yuhei Kawazu)
- Onigiri-kun (Toshiya Kobashi)
A total of seven people organized the kitchen/living/dining and Western-style rooms. Then, they proceeded to demolition, groundwork for the floors and walls, painting the walls, and backyard maintenance. During this round, the project entered the renovation phase from demolition.
BBQ Master Mr. Yamamoto!
BBQ Master Mr. Yamamoto!
In addition to the members above, the following person joined this time on the morning of the 4th.
★ Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture
- Masakatsu Yamamoto (BBQ Master)
He arrived in Yodoe on the morning of the 4th before Yoko. After helping members with demolition, he prepared the BBQ.
Mr. Yamamoto is the BBQ master who prepares luxurious BBQs that amaze people when SALTVALLEY hosts events such as weddings. SALTVALLEY is an upcycled and renovated old building in Osaka that Yoko was involved in its management.
Besides the Yodoe Project members, 12 local people (Mr. Oshita's family from Mei-chan Farm, the staff and family of a company involved in the marketing of Mei-chan Farm, Teruko Yoshida from Kimito Design Studio, Shiho Oshita from Muki House (another Imazu-born) joined.
Everyone was delighted with the tasty vegetable and hearty meat dishes provided by Mr. Yamamoto.
At the end of the BBQ, a woman came to Yoko’s house by a car. Her name is Atsuko (Atsuko Hirose) from Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture. She got interested in the Yodoe Project after seeing the Facebook post of Gon (Yuichiro Nakayama), who had been involved in the Yodoe Project three times in a row since March. Atsuko had just returned from overseas.
After staying at Yoko’s place overnight, she remained there until the end of the fifth round. Even after that, she continued to show up at other rounds of projects frequently.
Atsuko & Chinatsu's Home Cooking!
The following day of the BBQ, Morisato's friend Chinatsu Yamamoto from Daisen (Tottori Prefecture) joined the team to serve meals. Atsuko helped Chinatsu by creating very satisfying, easy-to-eat, and energizing meals for members.
By Atsuko’s existence, loud laughter echoed throughout the days. During meals, breaks, and evening social dinner parties, everyone burst into laughter as she talked about her experiences, including failure.
Visiting Taishogura and Muki House!
On Friday night, the remaining members and Yoko visited a bar at Taishogura, a renovated old sake brewery in Yodoe. Members were very excited to see such a cool and unique space.
They also joined an event at Muki House (Shio Oshita's base) in Daisen another day.
During this round, there were many wonderful encounters, mainly with locals. The project entered an enjoyable renovation phase. The next time, Mr. Yatsuda will do plaster work in August, and other members will gather again in September to continue the work. Yoko was once again excited as she headed back to Osaka.
Next Story: Episode 17 Imazu Odaiba Festival, “Furusato” / Mr. Yatsuda’s Summer Plastering
Yoko was contacted by Mr. Kajizuka, the current president of the Neighborhood Association of Yodoe. With his invitation, Yoko decided to sing karaoke at the Imazu Odaiba Festival, which is an annual event for Imazu village. When she returned Yodoe in August 2019, she found that Mr. Yatsuda (from Yatsuda Jinzo Ishi/Yatsuda Artificial Stone) had already finished the plastering work at the high wall of the Kitchen. For the Karaoke in the Odaiba Festival, Yoko decided to sing a Japanese folk song “Furusato (My Hometown).” At this festival, she met many villagers she already knew from her youth. Through this song, she wanted to express her feeling and appreciation to the villagers who were warmly welcoming her coming back to this village. While singing, she was also thinking about her parents, and she decided...
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