The Story of How an Asakusa Soba Shop and a Free Fortune-Telling Changed My Life
In this note, I'm going to write about
the story of how I became a member of the Uonuma City Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad. (Honestly, I'm not sure who would benefit from this.)
However, it is a very vivid story for me personally.
In my previous post, I declared that I would write a
"To-do list of things you must do before moving to the countryside or you'll be doomed," but I easily changed my plans. I apologize.
But I thought,
"If I don't write this down first, I'll be in trouble later," so I made this my second post.
It all started around October 2024. It was when my wife and I were eating soba in Asakusa.
The soba was good as usual. But the incident happened at checkout.
For some reason, I was handed a
ticket for a free fortune-telling session.
I'm the type who doesn't believe in any fortune-teller other than Getters Iida, but for once, I decided to give it a try out of curiosity.
The fortune-teller's name was
"Hannon". *I found them on X, so I'll leave a link for those interested
https://x.com/hannon_futaba
Hannon:
"You are currently worried about work, aren't you?"
Me:
"Hmm... (making a face that suggests it's true)"
Hannon:
"You're worried about the distance between you and the people at your company." "But it's okay. By this time next year, that distance will change for the better." "Try meeting and talking to various people. Take action. That will lead you in a good direction."
They said things that sounded plausible, but honestly, at the time, my reaction was just
"Huh, I see."
At the time, I was approaching 40 and was quite worried about my career.
Salary and work-life balance
I can't imagine myself working as an engineer until I'm 60
Quietly feeling inferior when seeing subordinates who are more talented than me
Days spent being caught between my boss and my subordinates as a middle manager
My late grandfather's last words: "Do what you want to do."
So, what is it that I actually want to do?
Looking back now, it was the
full set of the 'common 40-year-old wall'.
I was working as a systems engineer in the city center.
But,
eating food,
cooking,
seeing the look on people's faces when they are happy
I had always quite liked those kinds of moments.
When I went to restaurants, I would think,
'If they did this here, it would be even better,'
thinking things that were completely none of my business.
That was when I finally realized.
Oh, maybe I want to run a restaurant.
That said,
for someone like me who has been a company employee for 18 years,
suddenly opening a restaurant.
Thinking about it calmly, it's pretty reckless.
Meanwhile,
I started visiting Uonuma City, my wife's hometown, and started thinking, 'Maybe moving there is an option too.'
That was when I found this online:
'Why don't you try opening a restaurant or something in the Uonuma City shopping district?'
That was the announcement.
What's more,
there was an information session in Yurakucho two days after I found it.
Acting immediately when something catches my interest is one of my few strengths.
……However,
I also have the weakness that my motivation logs out depending on my mood.
As it happened, I was logged in that day, so I signed up on impulse and went to hear about it.
At the information session, I heard:
'The Koide shopping district, which used to be bustling, is now a shuttered street.'
'While engaging in activities to create vibrancy and building relationships with local people,'
'we want you to eventually open a shop (a restaurant) behind one of those shutters.'
That was what I heard.
I could open a restaurant while receiving support from local seniors.
I'm also interested in moving.
'Wait, isn't this announcement meant for me!?'
As I was leaving, someone from the city office said
If you'd like, when the snow melts in early spring,
if you have the chance to come to Uonuma City,
I would love to show you around the Koide shopping district.
How about coming with your wife?
Perhaps, a sense of excitement was beginning to grow that something was about to start moving.
I found myself thinking, 'I can't wait for spring,' and
spent every day Googling what kind of shops, famous people, and events were in Uonuma.
From there, it happened in the blink of an eye.
April: Visited Uonuma City and toured the shopping district.
Mid-April: Submitted all application documents.
Early May: Interview.
Mid-May: Job offer.
And then,
moved to Uonuma City in October 2025
and started working as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad in November.
……Wait a minute.
Isn't this exactly what the fortune teller I met in Asakusa,
Hanon-san, said would happen????
A 40-year-old suddenly starting to believe.
Connections between people are truly mysterious.
If I hadn't gone into that soba shop in Asakusa back then,
if I hadn't received that free fortune-telling ticket back then,
if I hadn't found that recruitment notice back then,
if I hadn't connected with the person from the city office back then,
I wouldn't be where I am today.
I like the 'Red Car Theory'.
Red cars (= opportunities) are,
in fact, rolling around everywhere every single day.
However,
whether or not you notice them depends on the person.
The difference is just a little bit of 'awareness'.
If there is anyone approaching 40 who is worried about their future career,
I want you to take action, thinking, 'Is there something out there?'
- Try going to places you don't usually go.
- Try talking to someone who happens to be sitting next to you.
- Try taking a different route home from work.
- Try tracing your own roots.
- Try visiting your ancestors' graves or praying at a shrine.
I believe the day will come when the dots you've connected through your actions will link up.
And so,
that's all for today's story.
