Hometown Stories

A veteran watchmaker on an island in Hiroshima Prefecture repairs virtually any old watch or clock, even those that no one else can fix. People take their treasured timepieces to the mechanical magician - whether they're anniversary gifts, keepsakes from father, or antiques from ancestors. He resurrects not only clocks, but priceless memories as well.

What can junior high school students do in the face of a tsunami that destroys their home village? Seventeen junior high schoolers from Tanabe address this question by visiting Kamaishi, which was decimated by a tsunami in March 2011. They find that their peers in Kamaishi saved lives by helping elderly people and small children get to high ground. During their 3-day study tour, they wrestle with questions such as how to help the elderly evacuate, and how to rescue people without self-endangerment.

The tiny village of Kanedani lies in the mountains of Shimane Prefecture. With ongoing depopulation, the community has dwindled to just three women in their 70s and 80s. The village boasts 400 cherry trees that were planted 25 years ago in hopes of attracting tourists. People come from all around to view the flowers every spring at the day-long Cherry Blossom Festival. This year, the three remaining residents invite ex-villagers to gather one more time, while they still can. Many memories of village life are depicted beneath blossoming cherry trees.