About

At Shigekura-dake, on the border of Niigata and Gunma prefectures.
Photographer : Takumi Kenmotsu / Color Edit : Shotaro Kamimura

上村祥太郎

Shotaro Kamimura

Born in Yuzawa-city, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Growing up in a place rich in nature, Shotaro became familiar with skiing and other snow activities from an early age. Through his experience living in Canada and deepening communication with foreign students living in Japan, he became interested in the culture of coexistence with snow, the culture of mountainous areas, agriculture and culture of local production and local consmption, which he had become familiar with. He is also interested in technology and has experience working for an IT company. Currently, he is working as a Local Vitalization Cooperator in Matsunoyama, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, assisting with community activities and agriculture.

https://lit.link/shotarokamimura

SNOWNOTES

Thank you for visiting this page. At SNOWNOTES, I focus on how snow influences society, culture, and people's lives from various aspects such as living culture, food, skiing culture, science, technology, and art in snow country.

I became aware of the culture of "snow country" when I stayed in Canada, had more opportunities to meet foreigners in Japan, and introduced about my hometown.I am from Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, a famous ski resort, and I have enjoyed skiing since I was a child. I thought I was used to living in a snow country since I was in a world where it always snowed in the winter. But whenever I introduced about my hometown to non-Japanese, I often realized how little I knew about the environment and culture of my hometown. This led to my curiosity about the culture of snow country, which in turn led to starting this web media.

Currently, I am working as a member of the Local Vitalization Cooperator in Kurokura area, Matsunoyama, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, which is said to be one of the world's heaviest snowfall areas. I am reporting from snow country on topics such as snow, the current situation in mountainous areas, community efforts and local communities, rice farming, food and local culture born from this, and the future coexistence of snow and lifestyle.