Yutaka Kibihara of Sanriku Komasha

Supporting children through local culture

Kamaishi's local culture is all about living harmoniously with horses. Since long ago, horses have been used in Kamaishi for agriculture and transporting wood, as there are many mountains, but very few flat lands. This is where Sanriku Komasha comes in. By rejuvenating this part of local culture, it aims to increase eco-tourism and help children who experienced the disaster.

“We need to support children who are still living in emergency temporary housing. Interacting with horses can change children not only tangibly on the outside, but also from within the mind and soul. I saw that horses had this amazing power, and so I built a place for kids to come see horses any time. I think we have to work together to set up something that will nurture today's children, who hold the burden of Kamaishi's future on their shoulders," said Kibihara on supporting children by the means of local culture.

Culture that rivals that of other regions

He also spoke about how as the regional culture is restored, there will be lots of great things to see. "Aside from the local children, people from both within and outside of the prefecture come to see the horses. There's an old kitchen furnace here, so people can also see the way people lived a long time ago. The facility brings people in, with its main attraction being horses. I want both local children and city-dwellers to gain happiness from experiencing a culture that's deeply rooted in the region." The organization is hoped to support activities for children and send out information about the local community to the world.

Profile

Yutaka Kibihara
Director of Sanriku Komasha

Originally from Aichi Prefecture.

He moved to Iwate for university. While pursuing his studies, he also spent a large amount of time in the mountains tracing bear tracks and making the rounds among the mountain villages. He was captivated by what Iwate had to offer, and decided to stay in the prefecture after graduation. He gained experience working at children's facilities and organizations in Iwate, and in April 2013, he was involved in town rebuilding in Kamaishi. In April 2015, he established Sanriku Komasha to revitalized local horse culture and take care of children.