“Mottainai”, Kamikatsu town

Kamikatsu Town of Tokushima, Shikoku, one of the most beautiful villages in Japan.

This small town is located about 40 minutes by car from the city of Tokushima, and it is a truly mountainous town.It is a sparsely populated town with a population of 1600 people and an aging rate of Japan.It is “leaf business” that such a town suddenly became famous.This area was an agricultural town with a focus on citrus fruits.However, a localized abnormal cold wave hit this town in 1981, and most Oranges died, and the local economy was devastated.At that time, the local cooperative worker, Mr. Tomoji Yokoishi (now president and CEO of Irodori Co., Ltd.), who saved the predicament, was a business that started with local elders.

The “leaf Business”, which started in 1986, is now a great success story, with 157 farmers participating and raising annual income of 260 million yen. The key of the success of this business is attributable to the introduction of tablet terminals to communicate with elder farmers. Not only business information but also other useful information is provided from them, which keep the community strong enough.

In addition to ordering “leaves” on this terminal, Mr. Yokoishi himself strives to disseminate various kinds of information, raising the motivation of farmers.”Leaf” is an embodiment of the spirit of “Mottainai – No Waste” that enriches the town with something that no one has found value.

The “Irodori Bridge” in the center of the town is planted with “leaf” which becomes their profit. Mr.Yokoishi by himself takes the leaves by order.

There is another “No waste” in the town.It is a challenging effort to “Zero WASTE”, that is, to put the garbage down.At this time, 80% of the waste is reused by a thorough collection of garbage.In the town, the purpose of this is to be 100% by 2020, and for this purpose new garbage station will be open by the end of this year. In this facility, they can not only recycle and reuse garbage, but also provide training of zero waste with lodging. Upon completion, many people will visit from both Japan and overseas.

Sightseeing in the mountains is good, but I think that it is also good to experience the “No waste” that must be the tide of the world.Students from Doshisha University visited here to study on this day.