Lived in Yugawara, 2020–2023

Matt Ketchum

Matt moved to Yugawara from Tokyo in 2020. He cleared farmland, learned to build with bamboo, joined the local Rotary Club and started businesses from a share house above the valley. He's back in Tokyo now, and still comes down on the Tokaido Line whenever he can. He writes and edits Yugawara Club.

About Yugawara Club · mkultraman.com

Essays

Wildlife · Local life

Living with the T1 Troop: Macaques in Yugawara

Yugawara's remaining macaque troop is small, persistent and deeply entangled with life at the edge of town. Here is what residents and visitors should know.

Local life · In the news

Masato, the Monkeys, and the Yugawara Behind the Brochures

A Yomiuri TV report on Yugawara's monkey problem, and why the people who work the land belong in the story.

Personal essay · Friends

Until the Fire Burned Down

Rooftop potlucks, grilled wild boar and a gazpacho salad, staying until the fire burned down, and cleaning up together afterwards.

Personal essay · Walking

The Lake I Needed

A solo walk into Yugawara's hills, following an app's random pin, to a lake I'd never heard of that gave me exactly what I needed.

Personal essay · Friendship

“Hey, These Ones”

Fudō Falls, ripe biwa straight from the tree, bamboo work, and one man's easy generosity that opened Yugawara to a newcomer.

Personal essay · Sunrise

The Balcony Above the Valley

Sunrise over the Yugawara valley from a share-house balcony, and the habit of sharing it with someone far away.

Personal essay · River and sea

Two Waters

A free afternoon: sushi near the station, a walk along the Chitose River, and time on Yoshihama Beach, where moving water and open sea calm you in different ways.

Personal essay · The train

The Decompression Chamber

Why the Tokaido Line Green Car, and the way the view opens up after Fujisawa, became the first part of arriving in Yugawara.

Personal essay · Farm work

The Weekends That Became Home

How weekends at a share house, clearing an overgrown farm and learning to build with bamboo turned Yugawara into home.