(↑View of the green valley from Oawa-yama. Taken on January 1, 2009 at 12:42.)

An eventful year both here and elsewhere came to an end, and a new year quietly began. I hope everyone was able to greet the new year in good health.

The newspapers and television programs are full of pessimism in this new year. But if grief can change the world, then it’s all worthwhile. Even if people manage to vent their dissatisfaction through superficial criticism, I know very well from experience that nothing ever resolves itself without direct action.

It’s because of these very times that we need to reconfirm our positions and make great efforts to open a new path.

Action! Yes. Nothing better than action.

Green Valley will continue trying new things in this coming year! For example,

The Bed and Studio program is getting into full swing!

　We’ve started taking in artists in a pay-your-own-way style program. Finally artists from all around the world will be coming to Kamiyama at all times of the year, and the sight of them at work will become a daily affair in our little town.

It’s so exciting… we’ll be even busier than ever… (haha)

Since you asked, the lineup for the first part of the year is as follows:
　April 13 – May 15: Three Trees
　　　　　　　　　　　Reiko Nireki (Tokushima)
　　　　　　　　　　　Ritva Kovalainen (Finland)
　　　　　　　　　　　Sanni Seppo (Finland)
　July ?? – August ??: Charlotte McGowan-Griffin (England)

We’re starting a terraced rice paddy restoration project!

　This is part of a new Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries model support program for rural agricultural and fishing villages (FY2009 – FY2013). Everyone living in the Eta neighborhood of Kamiyama will work together to restore approximately 1,383m² of terraced rice fields that have been left fallow. The program will also feature cooperation with university students living in the prefecture, who will help with the farming and participate in other exchange programs.

We’ve become the designated caretakers of Sozo no Mori (Woods of the Imagination)

　We’re planning on making use of the favorable location of this park which is located across the creek from Kamiyama Onsen and restoring the plum orchard, making habitat for insects, and creating new places for people to gather and rest.

(It’s not a bad song lyric, but…) “It’s faster to do it than to talk about it” – that’s Green Valley! This year we’re going to keep on working quietly, and yet passionately, to make Kamiyama a wonderful place to be.