Not
yielding to the rain
Not
yielding to the wind
Having
a strong body
That
can cope with snow or summer heat
Having
no wants
Never
to be angry
Always
wearing a quiet smile
Eating
four cups of brown rice a day
With
a little miso and vegetable
Listen
and understand everything
Without
counting myself in
But
not forgetting things
Living
in a small thatched shed in a pine forest
If
there is a sick child in the east, go and care for him
If
there is a tired mother in the west, go and carry her loads of rice
If
there is a dying person in the south, go and tell her never to fear
If
there is a fight in the north, go and tell them to stop being silly
In
the drought, cry with people
In
the cold summer, wander around feeling powerless
Being
called useless
Not
being praised
Nor
disliked
Such
is the person
I
want to be
Kuzumaki, Iwate is a small town of 7,000 people but known to
be ‘100% Natural’ as with its energy and food. In fact town is capable of
producing 180% of energy from its wind, solar, biomass, and produce dairy
products and wine. Interesting points are that some 200 new born dairy calves
are sent to Kuzumaki for two years and their waste is used to produce methane. The
wind is produced from the mountain grapes once considered to be a pest for
logging, as their vines get tangled in the woods. One of the five high schools
is equipped with solar panel, and more installation is planned. Thinning of the
woods also produce materials for wood pellets. The self-claimed ‘nothing’ town
is full of creative ideas and innovation for future.
