Episode 17 Imazu Odaiba Festival and Song “Furusato” / Mr. Yatsuda’s Summer Plastering

In April 2019, Yoko received a phone call from Mr. Yamanaka, the former president of Imazu Neighborhood Association. After hearing about local people’s concerns, she decided to move her base to Yodoe from Osaka in the coming spring and start living in two places. When she returned to Yodoe last time, she explained this plan to the board members of the Association and her neighbors, Imazu Village Group 1. Later, in July 2019, Yoko received a phone call from Mr. Kajizuka, the current president.

“On August 25th (Sun), the Imazu village's “Odaiba Festival” will be held at the Odaiba Park. Each group will put on performances such as karaoke and plays. Would you be interested in attending Karaoke as a guest? You can also announce to other villagers that you will move back to Yodoe next year.”

Odaiba Park is the ruins of Tottori-Domain’s battery site from the Edo period and is now registered as a National Historic Site. When Yoko was little, the Imazu Sports Day was held, and different groups in Imazu Village competed with each other. This event eventually disappeared, and instead, the Odaiba Festival has been held since then. Yoko had never participated in this festival and had no idea what kind of event this was. No matter what, she was so grateful that villagers were trying to welcome her return to Yodoe, so she accepted the invitation.

After that, she received a phone call from Kitano (Hideyuki Kitano), her childhood friend and classmate from nursery school who is still living in Imazu village. He works for a company that sells karaoke equipment and is responsible for the sound system and setup for the Odaiba Festival. Yoko heard a familiar voice on the phone.

"Yoko, what will you sing at the festival?"

On August 24, 2019 (Saturday), Yoko returned to Yodoe along the Chizu Line using the Seishun 18 Kippu. This is a special discounted train ticket issued by Japan Railroad. It sells every season and provides unlimited rides on local trains within a limited term. It used to be called Seishun 18 Nobinobi Kippu and was first issued when she was a university student. Her parents often used it to visit her when she was living in Osaka.

Ever since Shigeru, Yoko’s father, introduced her to it, she bought it whenever it was released in the spring, summer, or winter and often traveled with it with her friends. When she returned to Yodoe with her children, they enjoyed a carefree journey together, stopping off at various places such as Kurayoshi, Tottori, and Okayama and even visiting Shikoku. This time, she returned home feeling nostalgic about her fun memories with my parents, friends, and children.

When Yoko returned to the home in Yodoe, she found that the wall between the kitchen/dining/living room and the Western-style room was done.  It had not been covered during the fifth round, which was held in July. In this hot time of the year, even without an air conditioner, Mr. Kohei Yatsuda (of Yatsuda Jinjo Ishi/Yatsuda Artificial Stone) and his acquaintances had worked here while Yoko was in Osaka.　The wall clay was reused from the original wall during the dismantling, resulting in a uniformly painted finish.

She realized how far she had come and felt so grateful to all the project members, including Mr. Yatsuda and his acquaintances, and their hard works. 

The Odaiba Festival was held on the evening of the 25th (Sunday). She did a microphone test with Kitano in advance, and everything was ready. It was her first time singing a song in front of people on the outdoor stage. The song she chose was “Furusato (Hometown),” a well-known folk song in Japan for any age.

During the interlude, Mr. Yamanaka, currently the vice president of the Neighborhood Association and the festival MC, gave a wonderful narration that considered Yoko's feelings. She felt that the villagers were warmly welcoming her. 

“A mountain I chased a rabbit, a river I caught a fish.

I still dream about it. My unforgettable hometown.

Where are you, my parents? Are you doing good, my friends? Even on rainy or windy days, I still think about my hometown.

After making my dream come true, I will go back there someday. The mountains are green in my hometown, and the water is pure in my hometown.”

While singing, Yoko was thinking about her parents. From next May, she will have another base in her hometown. “Let's live a joyful and fulfilling life here while paying back to the village that raised me.” With that determination, she set out on her way back to Osaka.