In Hida area, the total population with Nishi-Hida, Kaji-Fukutome, and Higashi-Hida areas has fallen to around 880 residents in 2024, down from over 3,000 during the 1950s baby boom in Japan.

 

　The elderly population, 65 and over, has increased from 39% to 55% between 2005 and 2024, with those in their later stages of life, 75 and over, rising from 21% to 32%. Our community faces significant demographic challenges, as the declining number of young people and growing elderly population, of an increasingly aging society.

 

　If we don’t take action now, the Hida area may not remain viable in the years to come.

 

　Activities have been initiated to establish a sustainable farming village, specifically in the Nagata and Matsumoto community in the eastern part of Hida area. 

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　Rural revitalization creates local employment and strengthens the local economy through community-based production and consumption. By preserving farmland, we enhance domestic food production and self-sufficiency while reducing import dependence.

 

　Agricultural land serves as a natural water reservoir, storing and filtering water through irrigation. Through farming, planting shiba-zakura, and community events, we strengthen local connections and bring new vitality to the area.

 

　Our work honors our ancestors who pioneered these farmlands, and we are committed to preserving this invaluable resource for future generations.