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From the Olympics Toward Tomorrow

Shinano Mainichi

From the Olympics Toward Tomorrow

Water mill scenery among "welcoming spirits"

An opportunity to cultivate and protect area landscape

"Not even one empty tin can be seen," says Tohru Minemura (age 56), a resident in the eastern end of the district. "It's kind of treated like everyone's garden."

The Shinden District, with 83 households, lies in the northern part of Hakuba Village, about 3 kilometers from the surrounding Olympic venues. Since it is centered outside the zone of development, most of the roads in the area are not related to the Olympic public works projects. It will prove difficult to draw guests here for the Olympics. Instead local residents hope to attract them with the scenery.

In December 1996 the district received authorization to form a Resident's Task Force on Landscape. They would be responsible for installing water mills and planting rows of cherry trees along the Main Street Canal. There were four of five water mills in the district, used as rice threshers and flour grinders, until the last one disappeared in the early 1970s. The canal was then covered with concrete blocks and used as parking spaces for the growing lodging industry.

The first attempts to restore the valuable canal were started in 1989 by Minemura and Tokuya Matsuzawa (age 59) who is now District Chairman. They removed the concrete blocks from approximately 300 meters of the canal and installed a stone barrier alongside. Water mills and areas for washing were restored. Every year little by little the area is being returned to its original scenic state.

Expenditure on the project has surpassed the 40 million yen mark, but government assistance has only provided about twenty percent of the funding. More than half has come from revenues provided by leasing local public forest land to ski resorts and contributions from residents.

Everyone is getting involved and trying their best to help. Minemura says, "We are working to change the atmosphere of the District, to help the residents understand the importance of tone, appearance and roofing style. Everyone has their own ideas on how to improve the landscape." Matsuzawa asserts, "We shouldn't just let one person decide on improvements. Everyone that lives here can feel the beauty of the area and ought to have a say in how to make it better."

The Northern Japan Alps is blessed with an abundant water supply that betters people's lives and spirits. Water mills can be considered a symbol of the moving Hakuba Village landscape.

By the end of last year (1996), 53 districts within the Prefecture had organized Landscaping Task Forces in line with Prefectural environmental regulations. Including the one in Shinden District, Hakuba Village has eight, the most of any area in the Prefecture. Using the Olympics as an opportunity for change, now is seen as the time to bring together Hakuba's mountainous scenery and humble economy.

Wadano District established a Resident's Task Force on Landscape in August 1996. Forest-bound inns and hotels line the finish area of the Olympic Downhill venue.

Toshio Watanabe (age 47), who runs a lodge in the area, plans to begin selling in January an English map outlining popular places and other local surroundings.

He was originally opposed to the Olympic bid. "Such an attraction is too big for a place like Hakuba Village." What would happen after the Olympics were finished was his biggest concern. But after Nagano won its bid he decided to "take it as a once in a lifetime chance, to help in its success and make the Games his own."

Volunteers will come to take part in the Alpine events during the Games. Watanabe is considering opening his lodge to volunteers who come from all over the country. "If the people who live here show happiness on their faces, those who come will feel it. Everyone here has been shy, walking around on tiptoes as it were, but I don't want anyone to forget about all of the good things Hakuba has to offer."

The Hakuba World Cup Cross-Country Olympic test event began January 11 at the "Snow Harp" venue. At one corner of the stadium Finnish, Italian and participants from other countries hold up large flags from their homelands. 120 student volunteers from Hakuba Middle School provide support by together holding up placards of many colors.

At the 500-day countdown event, which was held last summer at the Hakuba Ski Jump venue, they held up their placards as a group to form words (in Japanese called hito-moji or literally "people-letters"). They also went all the way to Nagano City to perform at the ice hockey test event last December. First grader Sara An'you was careful not to forget to smile. "I want the players and foreign guests to feel at home so they can be at their best."

At the entrance to the venue snowmen made by students on winter break face the visitors. A "welcoming spirit" is slowly growing among these children who will carry the village into the future.

No part of the article, photographs, or illustrations presented here may be printed or used without permission.

Copyright 1999 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun