大山千枚田保存会 has its first foreign director. Last night at the Annual General Meeting, I was appointed to the board of directors at Oyama Senmaida. It’s an honor. For the next two years, I will help to shape the direction of the organization.

理事会のメンバーに選んでいただき、心から感謝しています。大山千枚田のために精一杯頑張ります。この機会をいただき、本当にありがとうございます！

I’m delighted. Sometimes I wonder if my enthusiastic foreignness and awkward language ability is more of a bother than a help. But it seems I can be trusted to serve officially. My name was quickly brought forward by the president at a previous board meeting when they were looking to replace a retiring director. And now here I am.

I realise that my role is primarily to fill the 15th seat and vote “yes” to previously agreed proposals that I don’t understand yet. But in time, I’ll share my ideas and suggestions. I have lots of those!

For the coming year, there are twelve general points that we will pursue:

1. Preserve Oyama Senmaida’s rice terraces as a regional resource;
2. Ensure the smooth operation of Tanada Club as a management facility;
3. Advocate exchanges with urban residents by enhancing the Tanada Owners system and other programs;
4. Participate in the Kamogawa Mountainous Region Revitalization Council;
5. Support people who wish to live in the countryside by participating in the activities of the Kamogawa Hometown Return Support Center;
6. Develop workshops and programs to promote nature, food, and agriculture experiences as a Nature Experience School;
7. Raise awareness of locally produced agricultural products, ingredients and cuisine;
8. Maintain the local scenery and landscape;
9. Recruit various types of volunteers;
10. Plan and manage Oyama Senmaida events and goods;
11. Publish the quarterly Ango Tsushin newsletter and use the website to facilitate communication with members and the public;
12. Other projects to achieve the NPO’s objectives.

What do I bring to the table? Diversity, for sure. English skills. All of my creative work experience. Fresh eyes and a different perspective. A broad international network. And a strong desire to simultaneously revitalise and preserve the community that I live in so happily.

It’s going to be an interesting time. Or a bunch of boring budget meetings. Probably both.