Watching the movie "Sunset Sunrise" made me want to promote trial migration to Onagawa even more - by Iwabe
Thank you for reading this article!
I'm Iwabe, also known as Bellina, and I work in public relations for the NPO Asuhenokibou.
Since this introduction might get long, I'll give you the conclusion of this article first:【Onagawa Town's trial migration program is exciting because there are many events in February and March!!! Please come!!!】That's it🙂↕️!
Before that, I'm going to talk about the movie mentioned in the title, so if you find that "annoying!", please use the table of contents to skip to the event information🫡
Details of the trial migration program are here↓
https://onagawa-kikkake.jp/programs/migrate-trial/
My encounter with the movie "Sunset Sunrise"
This is sudden, but are you aware of a movie that was released on Saturday, January 17th called"Sunset Sunrise"???
It is a film adaptation of the novel "Sunset Sunrise" by Shuhei Nomura (Kodansha), starring Masaki Suda, and the synopsis goes something like this.
The year is 2020, when the world was forced into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shinsaku (Masaki Suda), a fishing enthusiast working for a large company in Tokyo, falls in love at first sight with a "god-tier" property—a 4LDK apartment with a rent of 60,000 yen—thanks to the shift to remote work. Above all, he starts a casual "trial migration" in a town in Sanriku, close to the sea where he can enjoy his favorite hobby, fishing. He spends his days between work going to the sea and fishing to his heart's content, but the townspeople are anxious about Shinsaku, an "outsider" from Tokyo. While bewildered by the zero-distance interaction with the eccentric locals, Shinsaku gradually blends in with his inherent positive personality and drive, but an unexpected life awaits him—?!
At the end of last year, while looking at X, the official account for this movie caught my eye,"trial migration"and when I was surprised by the words and looked it up, I found out that it was set in Miyagi, and even filmed in the neighboring town of Kesennuma! As a migrant myself, working for an NPO that runs a trial migration program, I felt a selfish sense of duty that I had to see it no matter what! I had to see it! So I impulsively quoted the post on the Asuhenokibou account.
2015年からお試し移住プログラムを運営しているアスヘノキボウとしては非常に気になる映画です🤔
— NPO法人アスヘノキボウ［公式］ (@npo_asuenokibou) December 27, 2024
しかも舞台は宮城県！
これは絶対に見なければ👀！！ https://t.co/A4MycZPcu0
By the way, while "trial migration" is now being implemented by various local governments,Asuhenokibou has been running the program since 2015.I can't go so far as to say we were the first to use this term, but we are likely pioneers who started doing it in the form of a "trial migration program." Probably...! (If there is anyone who was doing it earlier than this, please let me know gently🙇♀️)
I will introduce this program in detail later!
Empathizing with the feelings of an "outsider"
I'll try not to include spoilers, but if you haven't seen it yet, please skip this just in case!
First, as a simple impression of the movie, it was interesting!
And as a migrant myself, there were many parts I could empathize with.
From the happy things, the fun things, to the slightly troublesome things😵💫 lol! It was depicted so realistically that the time spent sharing impressions with friends after watching the movie was filled with relatable stories.
I personally spent my time until university in Kyushu, and after visiting Onagawa without much thought and staying for half a year, I came to love the town and the people so much that I ended up moving there. So, I saw myself in the way Shinsaku dives into "Udahama" through his hobby of fishing, gradually interacts with the people living there beyond just the environment, and becomes an important presence.
And the sadness felt from things that cannot be filled, just because I love this place and yet wasn't born here, was exactly the emotion I had felt myself.
But in the end, it was a very wonderful movie that affirmed me, saying it's okay, that's fine, and it's okay to just think about yourself and do what you like!
And one interesting commonality. I have fellow migrant friends around me, and after everyone watched this movie, they all said,"It was my movie!"Of course, I thought so too, and so did my friend Nacchan who went to see the movie with me🙂↕️
Conversely, I wonder if the local people who accept us also had parts they could empathize with after watching the movie? If anyone has seen it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Overall, it was a very satisfying movie, but if there is one point of caution, the quality of the dialect is so high that if you are not familiar with the Miyagi dialect, you might be confused because you don't understand what they are saying...! lol
Also, the seafood food terrorism is tremendous🤤
I wanted people to "try migrating" to the Onagawa I love.
Watching Sunset Sunrise brought back the feelings and excitement I had when I first came to Onagawa,and I really want people to visit Onagawa, which is so wonderful that someone like me with no ties to it ended up moving there!!That feeling grew, which led me to write this article.
Surely, among those who watched that movie, there are people who think, I want to stay in a port town like this too! As someone on the side providing a program where you can stay in such a wonderful port town, it's a selfish sense of duty that I must reach more people!💪 lol
Of course, I want people who haven't seen the movie to visit Onagawa too!
Especially since university students are on break, it's perfect for those who want to experience something extraordinary during their precious time off! Or for those who want to change their environment somewhere!!
"Trial migration" that you can participate in even without the intention to move
Onagawa Town's trial migration program has several features!
① No intention to migrate is required
② You can participate for a short period of 5 to 30 days
③ Rent and utility costs are "0 yen"
This program isa program where we provide a base for migration experience and coordinate your stay according to each participant's wishes!Therefore, after you apply, we will conduct an online interview to hear about what kind of experience you want to have and what kind of time you want to spend, and we will support you so that you can be as satisfied as possible during your stay!
It started in 2015, and although it was suspended for about 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic,
a total of 940 people have participated so far!In a town with a population of 5,800, this many people have done a trial migration👏The cost for the program is 28,000 yen (tax included) (student discount 18,000 yen (tax included) *for university and graduate students), which includes the orientation on the first day and insurance premiums, and it's the same price whether you stay for 5 days or 30 days! In addition, there are only costs for consumables and food during your stay.
Since the accommodation base is a share house, meeting share-mates depending on the timing is also one of the pleasures😊
Please check the website for details!I think the relay blog written by the participants will be a good reference for your stay,so please take a look!
About the trial migration program ↓
https://onagawa-kikkake.jp/programs/migrate-trial/
Introducing events for February and March!
We introduce various events happening during their stay to all participants, and since there are many events in February and March, we recommend planning your stay to coincide with the ones that interest you 💪
Experience the World of Fisheries!
Date:February 13 (Thu) and 14 (Fri), 2025 *Tentative
Time:TBD
Participation Fee:Free
Instructor:Shosuke Hasegawa (Onagawa Town Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad)
<Content>
Experience the world of the fishing industry guided by Mr. Hasegawa, who is currently active in Onagawa as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad!
Click here for Mr. Hasegawa's profile ↓
The 11th Onagawa Town Meeting: Experience the World of Board Games Edition
Date:February 20, 2025 (Thu)
Time:18:00 - 20:00
Participation Fee:Free
Instructor:Hiyoko no Mori
<Content>
Creating a community where town residents can connect and have fun through board games.
Click here for details ↓
Face the Fish
Date:March 20, 2025 (Thu)
Time:TBD
Participation Fee:Free
Instructor:Yusuke Ota (Onagawa Town Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad)
<Content>
A fishing event held with the theme of "Enjoying the beauty of fish!" This event is fun for everyone from beginners to experienced anglers!
Click here for Mr. Ota's profile ↓
Click here for more about Face the Fish ↓
The 12th Onagawa Town Meeting - Theme: Sauna
Date:March 22, 2025 (Sat)
Time:TBD
Participation Fee:Free
Instructor:Tomonori Honda, MARUMORI-SAUNA Co., Ltd.
<Content>
On the day, those who wish can also experience using the sauna!
Please wait a little longer for more details.
Onagawa Spring Festival / Tsunami Tradition Onagawa Fukko-Otoko
Date:March 23, 2025 (Sun)
Time:9:30 - 17:00
Click here for details ↓
Click here to apply for the Tsunami Tradition Onagawa Fukko-Otoko ↓
I look forward to meeting you all in Onagawa!
Please enjoy life in Onagawa through our trial migration program ✨
Trial Migration ProgramClick here for details ↓
https://onagawa-kikkake.jp/programs/migrate-trial/
Click here to apply ↓