📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project has been organized together with Nagakura Tanabata Festival (NTF) executive committee in Hitachiomiya city since 2017. Tanabata festivals (Star Fest) are traditionally held throughout Japan in July, a date based on the old Chinese calendar. However, these festivals have been abolished in many places due to shortage of successors. Nagakura area is also facing aging and depopulation problems nowadays, and NTF committee is trying to preserve traditional NFT, which has been started since 1953 to activate the area after World War II.
💼 What the programme involves
There are 2 mainly works. Schedule of work might be changed due to weather condition.
1) Helping a small but valuable traditional Tanabata Festival, such as cutting bamboos and making traditional bamboo decorations, setting up and cleaning up festival facilities.
2) Helping the local organic farmers to work on their farm such as cutting glasses or harvesting.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will stay in one house and shared room. Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is needed.
📍 About the location
Nagakura area of Hitachiomiya city. Nagakura has once thrived as the post‐town along the old road. Hitachiomiya is northwest of Ibaraki prefecture.
⚠️ Requirements
Interested in Japanese culture, adaptability to simple living condition, and positive attitude to work outside in hot weather.
ℹ️ Additional information
Other activities: Cultural exchange party with local people and onsen (hot spring). Volunteers will also have opportunities to talk and work with local high school students.