―The Case of Tamagawa Village
When traveling through Japan, I am sometimes overcome by a strange sensation.
Even in places where no one is supposed to be looking, the roadsides are strangely well-maintained, and not a single weed grows in the irrigation ditches.
Though it is neither a tourist destination nor a famous photo spot, the scenery somehow makes me think, “How beautiful.”
I encounter the same feeling in Tamagawa Village, located in the southern Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture, where Fukushima Airport is situated.
Tamagawa Village is a small village with no major train stations or bustling downtown areas.
However, as you walk through the village, you notice just how neatly maintained the entrances to the settlements, the roadsides, and the edges of the rice fields are.
Behind this lies a village beautification effort carried out not only by farmers but also by villagers and members of the Regional Revitalization Corps (temporary residents).
Their activities are not special events.
They mow the grass along the roads, tidy up around vacant houses, rake fallen leaves, and maintain irrigation ditches.
At first glance, it might seem like “just cleaning.”
However, it is precisely this “just cleaning” that embodies Japan’s unique sense of aesthetics.
It is
not for the sake of someone’s approval,
nor for financial gain,
but a very natural feeling—
the desire to “keep the place where we live clean.”
They are giving this sentiment a tangible form within the village.
They work together to clean up areas that elderly residents can no longer maintain, chatting and laughing with locals as they work.
What is remarkable is their attitude of prioritizing “appearance” and “comfort” over speed.
Japan’s cleanliness and orderliness are often discussed by people overseas.
But the source of this may not lie in Tokyo’s urban landscape, but rather in the daily life of small villages like this one.
Tamagawa Village’s beautification efforts are not a flashy story.
Yet, as a place where people continue to live,
the landscape itself conveys a quiet message:
“There are people who cherish this place.”
If you visit this village during your travels, please don’t limit yourself to seeing only the famous spots.
Please take a moment to look at the ordinary streets and the entrances to the hamlets.
There,
a modest yet genuine sense of beauty thrives. It is something the Japanese have cultivated over a long period of time, and it continues to live on today.