Showa Village, under the slogan “A Cutting-Edge Depopulated Village,” is actively pursuing digital transformation. Currently, the village is providing free Wi-Fi throughout the village and is considering utilizing cutting-edge technologies based on this network. (Kei Kitajima)

Showa Village, under the slogan “A Cutting-Edge Depopulated Village,” is actively pursuing digital transformation.
Mayor Funaki stated, “We will develop cutting-edge intellectual initiatives in depopulated areas and improve the efficiency of the town office. Currently, we are running operations with a limited number of staff, but digital transformation has the potential to free up space. If we do, we can use that time for face-to-face interactions with villagers and revitalize the community.”
Currently, the village is providing free Wi-Fi throughout the village and is considering utilizing cutting-edge technologies based on this network. For example, in collaboration with NTT Docomo Business, the village is promoting the operation of autonomous drones. It envisions applications for a variety of purposes, including disaster prevention, infrastructure inspections, and patrols in mountainous areas.
The village hopes that the drones equipped with thermal cameras will be useful for night-time searches for people lost in the mountains and for keeping track of bird and animal sightings.

A disaster prevention drill held on Sunday, September 28th, involved using drones to guide evacuations from the air and relaying drone footage to assess the local situation.

Camera systems have also been installed in 12 locations within the village, allowing footage to be viewed in real time. After verifying the accuracy of the cameras, the village plans to introduce AI to monitor water levels during heavy rain.

The village also has its own satellite communications system, Starlink, to ensure communications in the event of an emergency.

“The key to spreading DX is to start small. We will first promote DX among staff, and then spread it to residents. Through these efforts, we hope to ensure that all villagers, including the elderly, can enjoy the benefits of DX,” said Mayor Funaki.

To combat animal damage, the village has introduced magnetic sensors to monitor traps and a system to remotely monitor the depressurization of electric fences.
Mayor Funaki says, “This year, we’ve captured a lot of bears, nearly 88. On the other hand, the damage caused by deer and wild boars has dropped dramatically. I think this is due to the effectiveness of the electric fences we installed around the village.”

Originally, there were no deer or wild boars in Showa Village, but in recent years, perhaps due to the effects of climate change, they have begun to appear.

In 2019, Showa Village joined the “Most Beautiful Villages in Japan” association and is now ranked as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan.

Mayor Funaki recalls, “One of the first things I wanted to do when I became mayor was to join the association.”

He cites the motivation for joining as fostering pride and love for the community among the villagers.

“As local communities are fading, in order to revitalize them once again, we need a philosophy that the villagers can share. The effort to make the village beautiful is a philosophy that all villagers can share, and I decided to join because I resonated with the association.” (Mayor Funaki) One concrete initiative is the establishment of a “Beautiful Day,” where residents clean up trash within the village. Each year, around 40 villagers participate in these environmental beautification activities.
The village also participates in events organized by the Fukushima Prefecture towns and villages that are members of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Japan” Association (Mishima, Iitate, Otama, and Showa).
Incidentally, Showa Village applied for membership under the theme of “A nostalgic rural landscape with Japan’s best baby’s breath and a wooden school building.”
The wooden school building in question is the former Kumaru Elementary School. Built in 1937 (Showa 12), this two-story wooden building is now operated as “Kumaru Elementary School,” a community and tourism hub.
The facility houses a tourism office, a consultation space for relocation and settlement, a multi-purpose meeting room, and more.
Furthermore, the village is currently operating a “Yoi Yare Ya” challenge shop at Kumaru Elementary School. Villagers are free to set up shop here, selling handicrafts, produce, and books, creating a forum for interaction between villagers and those outside the village.
By the way, “yoiyare” means “please drop by” in the Aizu dialect.
Kumamaru Elementary School was once on the verge of being demolished. At that time, an offer came in to use it as a film location. This was for “Hameln” (2013), starring actors Baisho Chieko and Nishijima Hidetoshi.
“This film sparked momentum to preserve Kumamaru Elementary School. We tried crowdfunding and were able to raise enough money to cover the renovation costs. We’ve now positioned it as a hub for community-based tourism,” says Mayor Funaki.
In addition, Karamushi Weaving Village Showa, which is now a roadside station, was originally a village-run facility (including the Orihime Exchange Center) that opened in 2001 to promote the culture of karamushi weaving.
“Back in 2001, there were loud calls for municipal mergers. Instead of choosing the path of merger, we decided to assert our village’s identity. As part of that, we built a facility called ‘Karamushiori no Sato.’ It was registered as a roadside station in 2014,” said Mayor Funaki.

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