4. Looking to the future

YABUKI

So that’s how the event first came about and now it has lasted for over 30 years. The bridegroom this year was 23 years old, but you’ve told me this event has become a natural part of people’s lives from childhood onwards.

SUGAWARA

That’s right. That’s the way I want it to be. Children become accustomed to thinking that in future they’d like to take part in this themselves as the bride or groom.

YABUKI

So a new cultural experience gradually becomes something that feels completely natural. How amazing!

SUGAWARA

That’s right. I feel very grateful for that.

YABUKI

In Akita now, many cultural traditions are becoming obsolete or disappearing. This looks set to continue. I’m sure some people might say, “What’s the point of carrying on with this?”

SUGAWARA

I think it’s good that we’ve retained this tradition of a local couple taking center stage for an event like this. Before, when we weren’t getting many local applicants, I ran around trying to get people involved from all over the country. I brought in celebrities and tried all sorts of different ideas. I really had to keep plugging away. I felt like the event might end up being commercialized which is definitely not what I wanted…

YABUKI

You didn’t want to be overwhelmed by a load of different opinions. There were so many people involved and that made it tough, right?

SUGAWARA

I like the way that this event brings together the young and the old, as well as all the generations in between, and helps them to mingle.

YABUKI

Yep, I know what you mean.

SUGAWARA

Everything begins with an individual’s capabilities or ideas, don’t you think? These ideas are refined little by little and new ideas emerge.

YABUKI

That makes sense.

SUGAWARA

For example, when someone originally pointed out, “How can we keep the candles burning on the candle road for a long time without them blowing out in the wind?” we didn’t really have a solution. But what we do these days is put the candles in paper cups.

YABUKI

It seems like you have a wealth of ideas and accumulated expertise to draw upon so you can deal with any issue as it arises.

SUGAWARA

Yes. I suppose we learn more and more, year by year. The winter festivals in Akita are wonderful events. They’re something we want to share with others. I like it when people ask “How have you managed to carry on with this for such a long time?” I want to meet people and talk about this with them. The more cooperation and collaboration there is the better.

YABUKI

Naturally. But it must be difficult to spread an event like this through different regions.

SUGAWARA

In terms of the staff, I like the way everyone in the town office gets involved. The town officials lay out the candle road through the pass, but there is a constant turnover of people working in the office. That means lots of different people participate and they pass on tips and advice to others on how things should be done.

YABUKI

Sure. That makes sense.

SUGAWARA

Nishimonai Bon Odori is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the town hall, so it’s a well-established event. In addition, there are various preservation societies taking part, as well as executive committees run by the private sector. When you’re young, you don’t really appreciate the differences between an executive committee and a preservation society.

YABUKI

Each has a different role. One is responsible for preservation, one is responsible for continuity… is that right?

SUGAWARA

That’s right. People who’ve actually seen an old-style wedding and people trying to recreate one in the present day can put something an event like this together. At the heart of it, you have to think about what can be left alone and what needs to be adapted with the times…

YABUKI

Sure.

SUGAWARA

I was surprised when junior high school kids said to me, “Why are you doing it this way? Wouldn’t it be faster to just go by car?”

YABUKI

Ha! Ha!

SUGAWARA

If you think about it from the rational perspective that kids have that seems reasonable, doesn’t it? That’s why we need to tell them about these things, to show them what it used to be like. There is so much that we can see and learn from reproducing scenes from the lives of our ancestors, as well as their weddings.

YABUKI

Still, you realize what a stir you’ve created in Akita with this festival, don’t you?

SUGAWARA

Oh yes. This is something I’ve created myself. I’m sure the experience has changed me… It’s a way of revitalizing the community as well as giving myself a bit of a boost as well. What are your passions or burning ambitions, what do you want to achieve for yourself? That’s the kind of a sentiment, here. In order to make it happen, you have to find someone to help you. That’s how it starts.

YABUKI

Sure. That makes sense.

SUGAWARA

You say things like, “I want to do this, can you lend me a hand?” You quickly find out who your friends are. Then it escalates. You go from having one person helping you, to two, four, five and so on. Before you know it you have a group of 10 or 11. As the group grows, leaders emerge, and different organizations and associations come together. You realize things like, “Oh this guy’s a fighter. He won’t give in. I’m glad he’s on my team.” People become committed and then they get caught up in the spirit and excitement of the event.

YABUKI

Sure. That makes sense.

SUGAWARA

So you see, this is how my initial sentiment of devoting my life to the snow in Akita has been fulfilled. At the time it was just a random thought, but I’ve made friends and colleagues and found my role in all of this, so there is continuity between my ambitions then and what I’m doing now. I want to do whatever I can to help future generations continue this tradition.

The impact of the decline in the birthrate and the aging population are at their most severe in Akita, and there has been a noticeable decline in the number of people participating in festivals and events in the prefecture. Snowfalls of the kind you get here tend to be seen as a negative, but Sugawara-san took the opposite view and turned this into something positive. He started up this new event and it’s evolved over the years. It is now an established annual feature in the town. We can learn from this and find plenty to encourage us in terms of the guidance it gives about how to live our lives.

Now that we’ve heard what Sugawara-san has to say, let’s take a look at this video clip of the finale of the Hanayome Dochu.