TOMORROW BOX: SAKATA (Yamagata Pref.)

September 20, 2008

SAKATA (Yamagata Pref.)

(All photos by Tak. S. Iitomi)

There is a beautiful town named SAKATA in the Yamagata Prefecture, in the northern part of the Main Island (Honshu).

The rice fields spread for many kilometers, most houses are nice and old, no ugly tall buildings or neon signs, the landscape is splendid. Food and Sake are delicious too. People are kind, talking with a thick accent that sounds like mumbling because of the cold weather. A so-called "good old days" can be experienced here in SAKATA.

There was a music festival in Sakata during the OBON period this year.
The producer, Ayato Abe, is based in Tokyo but is originally from the town. He and his friends from Sakata High School gathered young artists for this festival so more people in Japan can recognize SAKATA. It is a common issue for small and remote (from Tokyo) towns of Japan that younger generations depart, leaving the countryside deserted. The agricultural area is such a valuable asset for landscape and nature, too Mottainai to loose.

Come experience the great rice and Sake of Sakata for a short vacation! It snows alot during winter, so you might want to visit between May and October.