A Passion Project in the Making
Creating the INOW program
Hello reader, thanks for being here! I’m Kana and this is the Sunday edition of Tending Gardens, which you can read about here.
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Last Sunday, I didn’t manage to find the time to write. It left me feeling a little low, as though I was letting myself—and perhaps others—down, barely a month into writing. But what truly warmed my heart was hearing from several of you who reached out to check if everything was okay.
A friend gently reminded me, “It’s human.”
Those words, simple as they are, held so much comfort. They helped me put things into perspective and release some of the unnecessary pressure I was placing on myself.
Hearing from you also reminded me that there are real people on the other side of this writing—people who are present, listening, and kind. Thank you for your understanding and grace during life’s busier moments. It means more than I can express.
The INOW program: a passion project in the making
This past Sunday, we began working on a video project for the INOW program—a project that holds deep significance for me. I haven’t shared much about INOW before, but it’s the very reason I chose to move to Kamikatsu.
INOW (イノウ, pronounced ee-nou) is a homestay-based educational tourism program that I co-created with a small team of three women. The name "INOW" comes from the local Awa-ben dialect, meaning “let’s go home.” It reflects the program’s intention to create a sense of belonging and connection for participants in Kamikatsu.
Kamikatsu, renowned as Japan’s first Zero Waste Village, naturally draws curiosity from visitors across Japan and around the globe. However, as a tourist, it’s difficult to fully grasp how zero waste is practised here—or to form meaningful connections with the local community. INOW bridges this gap by welcoming participants into the lives of Kamikatsu’s residents. It invites them to not just visit but to integrate—to experience life alongside locals and see what it means to live sustainably.
The program encourages guests to explore, reflect, and learn by doing. Whether it’s practising zero waste, learning traditional skills, or cultivating a deeper connection to the land, INOW offers hands-on experiences that foster a fresh perspective on sustainability and self-reliance.
For me, INOW is both an entrepreneurial endeavour and a labour of love. I’ve always dreamed of starting something from the ground up—building an idea into reality and navigating the inevitable challenges of growth. INOW embodies that dream, and I’m excited to see where this journey leads.
Creating INOW has given me the incredible opportunity to bring together my passions: education, sustainability, community development, and tourism. It’s a rare and fulfilling combination, allowing me to contribute to something meaningful while working on things I deeply care about.
Of course, it’s been a challenging time for the tourism industry. For the past few months, we’ve had to pause accepting guests. But in the meantime, we’ve been focused on developing INOW further—preparing teaching materials, refreshing our promotional content, and rethinking and improving our programs.
Which brings me back to last Sunday and what I’ve been up to this past week. We’ve been creating a video for INOW—a project close to my heart—to showcase our program and share what life in Kamikatsu is truly like. This video aims to introduce our corner of the world to a broader audience, capturing the essence of living in harmony with nature and the spirit of community that defines Kamikatsu. I’m hopeful it will resonate and inspire others to see the beauty in sustainability and connection.
Highlighting local voices in our video
This past week, we had the privilege of working with Jon and Andre, two talented videographers based in Japan, who graciously agreed to film and produce our video for INOW. It was an unforgettable experience watching them work their magic, transforming everyday scenes into something truly cinematic.
Their equipment was impressive—a seemingly endless haul of gear that they effortlessly maneuvered to capture each moment perfectly. It was fascinating to be behind the scenes, observing the intricate effort and subtle details that go into crafting a beautiful shot. Jon and Andre seemed to dance with their cameras and the natural light, moving fluidly to find angles that made every frame feel intimate and alive.
The week flew by in a whirlwind of laughter, connection, and heartwarming conversations—not just with Jon and Andre, but also with the locals who welcomed them so warmly.
Of course, the project wasn’t without its moments of drama. Early one morning, as we stood on a cliff overlooking a stunning valley and winding river, we were filming with a drone. Everything was going smoothly until the drone suddenly hovered mid-air before making a rapid, heart-stopping descent into the forest below. We watched in stunned silence as it disappeared among the trees, utterly helpless to stop its fall.
What followed was hours of searching, combing through leaves, branches, and undergrowth in a painstaking attempt to recover it. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a triumphant voice pierced the forest: “I FOUND THE DRONE!” Miraculously, it was perched on a treetop—a nearly impossible find, like a needle in a haystack.
Interviews with the locals gave insight into each person’s philosophy about their chosen lifestyle, work, and craft. As stunning as the drone footage is, it was the interviews that make this video so special.
We drew up questions around happiness, time, zero waste, and Japanese concepts like やり甲斐 ‘yarigai’ (purpose). Here are some of the questions we asked:
上勝で生まれ育ったあなたが、地元で深く感動するのは何か。As someone born and raised in Kamikatsu, what inspires you about your home town?
仕事でやりがいを感じる時はどんな時ですか？ In your work, where do you feel a sense of happiness or purpose?
次の世代に知ってもらいたい重要な教訓は何ですか？ What are the important lessons you want to pass onto the next generation?
ゼロ・ウェイストに取り組んだことで、上勝町にどのような効果があったと思いますか？How has Zero Waste impacted Kamiaktsu?
The same question can result in so many varying answers. It’s a reminder that people are drawn to and inspired by different things and those things shape their purpose and work. I would love to share some of the answers and deep-dive into each of the people we interviewed in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for the INOW video released at the end of this month!
Thank you for being here with me this week. It means a lot to know that my writing is connecting us. Leave a comment to help me guide me into future musings!
Take care,
Kana
I’d love for you to think of me as your penpal—sharing a note from a tiny village in Japan. With Tending Gardens, I want to bring you a small joy in the form of a newsletter. If you like it and want more like it in your inbox, consider subscribing.
In less than a month, your newsletter has become the piece that I wait for the entire week. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with the rest of the world, and we can't wait to see how INOW unfolds. By the way, how did Kamikatsu become a Zero-waste village? Was it a from the people for the people kind of move or was it introduced by the government? So curious to find out maybe in the video project!
Thank you for sharing your vulnerability! Don't worry if you miss a week or two -- we, your humble readers, are happy to get insights into a slice of your life whenever you're inspired to share them! And don't let your inner saboteur get you down! Even if we don't like or leave comments, it's always a great joy to see a Tending Gardens entry in my inbox!