their towns is a major issue affecting allowing members to concentrate regional locales: “The simply on discussions about making Shinkansen (bullet train) opened their towns better. “However, it is in 2016, providing direct high- important to take action after speed rail access between Tokyo and discussing. We are willing to work Hokkaido, but there are no flows of as leaders and will do our best in people connecting the Shinkansen to any difficulties,” said Shima and the towns where we live. The Tuna Sugimoto, smiling. Women’s Club is trying to encourage The Tuna Women’s Club has those flows.” been an inspiration to others. Local

SHIMA Yasuko (left) was born in the town of Oma, The core of their work is a high school students have started Prefecture. After graduating from university, she major project to hold 28 types of up town-revitalization projects, worked in Tokyo, but later returned to Oma, where she took over the family lumber mill. SUGIMOTO Natsuko experience programs and events in while university students have is from Matsumae, Hokkaido. After working elsewhere, 14 municipalities over a three-month contacted the club about internship she returned to her hometown and took over the family timeframe. Examples of the activities opportunities. This shows that their business, a traditional Japanese hot-spring inn visited by guests coming from as far away as other countries. include tastings of food favored by work is impacting the younger the feudal lords who once ruled these generation. Furthermore, the club’s lands centuries ago, tours led by chief actions have been commended for of those place’s appeal. In addition monks into temples normally closed increasing interaction of people

The Tuna Women’s Club is a group of women who have diverse backgrounds and a passion for community revitalization. to creating more energy and wealth to the public, and exercise sessions traveling between Aomori and for our communities, our group’s playing a traditional stringed Hokkaido Prefectures. This attention purpose is to pass on our wonderful instrument from the Tsugaru region. has recently led to invitations to talk The original itineraries the women at speaking engagements across FEATURE Women’s Leadership Promises a Bright Future hometowns to the next generation.” This is how founding members designed have earned rave reviews . And just like the tuna in SHIMA Yasuko and SUGIMOTO from both tourists and local residents the Tsugaru Strait that have to Natsuko describe the group. Shima alike. constantly continue swimming, A Circle of Women Angling runs a lumbermill in Oma, while The Tuna Women’s Club the Tuna Women’s Club will keep Sugimoto has been the proprietress essentially engages in volunteer work up their work in a strong, energetic of a traditional Japanese hot-spring only. Because their organization does and brilliant fashion. for Community Revitalization inn for around 80 years in the town not seek to turn a profit, there are of Matsumae, Hokkaido. Both spent no conflicts of interest or status, The Tsugaru Strait is known as one of the best tuna fishing some time living away from their grounds in Japan. Here, a group of women are working hard to hometowns, but then came back to revitalize the towns where they were born and raised by various take over the family business. The HOKKAIDO means at their disposal. They are the Tsugaru Strait Tuna reason for their focus on stimulating Women’s Club.

AOMORI

he Tsugaru Strait runs communities. These women with between Aomori and a vision, residing in Aomori and Tsugaru Strait T Hokkaido Prefectures in the northern southern Hokkaido Prefectures, part of the Japanese archipelago. It banded together in 2014. They have is known for its fishing grounds, since added to their numbers and and the town of Oma, Aomori now have nearly 100 active members. Prefecture is home to one of the most “Each of us women has our own preeminent brands of bluefin tuna. personality, but we got together like a The Tsugaru Strait Tuna Women’s school of tuna to start up this group. Club, who named themselves after Our membership comes from every

this local specialty, are engaged local community near the Tsugaru The Tuna Women’s Club has designed bento in activities to revitalize their Strait, and we publicize each one box meals prepared with local specialties. They also organized tours where participants wear kimono as they visit neighborhoods with historical buildings.

14 15