I was invited as a guest on the podcast Outland Japan, hosted by Peter Carnell, to talk about everyday life in the small settlement of Matsunoyama in Tokamachi City, Niigata.
For many people who visit Japan’s snow country to ski or snowboard, the main impression is beautiful scenery and the atmosphere of winter resorts. Behind that, however, there is a long history of communities living with heavy snow and maintaining everyday life in small rural settlements. Matsunoyama is one of these places: a small community in a mountainous region, known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan. In winter, deep snow covers local roads and requires constant effort to keep daily life going, while in spring the snowmelt feeds rice terraces and forests, supporting local agriculture and the broader cycle of life in the area. Heavy snow brings both burdens and benefits, and over time the community has developed its own forms of knowledge and culture around it.
In the episode, I talked about these “everyday” aspects of snow that are not visible from ski resorts: how people help each other through the winter, how they manage life in a sparsely populated mountain settlement, and how living with snow has shaped local culture. I spoke based on my experience of actually living in the settlement and being involved with the community.
I am very grateful to Outland Japan and especially to Peter Carnell for inviting me and for the thoughtful interview.
Link:
Photo by Snow Country Stories Japan
