The hidden reality of “11 NEETs living together” in a marginal village

“You’re probably wondering why we haven’t arrived yet.

That’s what Mr. Arata Ishii, 32, who lives in a share house called “Kyouseisha” deep in the mountains of Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, told me.

On the day of the visit, I met Mr. Ishii at JR Wakayama Station, and we decided to visit Kyoseiya together. It took about two and a half hours by car to get to our destination, and there was no cell phone reception. As we made our way along the mountainous roads, which were far more difficult than we had imagined, we suddenly realized that it would be impossible to live there just because we longed to.

On the way, Mr. Ishii told us how he came to live at the Kyosei House.

“I was aiming to become a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher, but when I went for training, I didn’t fit in. Then I started living as a recluse. I happened to find out about this share house through an acquaintance and moved from Nagoya to Wakayama in 2002.

Symbiosis House was originally started by a local NPO, who rented an old house in a depopulated village to provide a place for NEETs and shut-ins to live together. Gomi village, where Symbiosis House is located, is a so-called marginalized village with only five residents, and the average age is over 75. Mr. Ishii was one of the first residents of Symbiosis House. Currently, 11 men and women in their 20’s to 40’s are living together in an abandoned school.

“The cost of living in Kyousei is 20,000 yen per person per month, including food and utilities, and as long as you earn that, you can live. I earn about 300,000 yen a year from affiliate marketing and blogging. I drive an hour to the supermarket once a week for groceries, etc. There is also a medical clinic about 30 minutes away. Amazon is also available (laughs). (laughs) We live in an internet society now, and thanks to Corona, online is rather commonplace, so it doesn’t matter where you live.

As we entered the village, we could see the red roof, the symbol of Kyoseiya. Before the interview, Mr. Ishii had told me that “everyone hates the media,” so I was a little hesitant. In the living room, a communal space just beyond the entrance, three men were absorbed in a video game. I greeted them lightly, but they seemed unconcerned and continued playing. None of them wore masks despite the corona disaster, which is to be expected when living deep in the mountains.

“They live freely, taking walks and playing in the river. Sometimes, I handle the venison that the villagers share with me. We eat meals together that someone else has prepared, and everyone cleans up voluntarily. Above all, we can watch movies together and share our opinions. It’s a luxury, don’t you think?”

The living room is crammed with books and board games, and there’s even a sparring table. The living room is crammed with books and board games, and there is also a sparring table. The kitchen and bathroom are clean, and each person has their own private room, so they live a comfortable life.

“We don’t have clear rules, but we wash the dishes immediately after use, participate in community events, clean the house once every six months, and cook dinner several times a month.

Just then, a female resident with a large belly appeared.

“Then a female resident with a big belly appeared, “We’re expecting our first child.

Mr. Ishii introduced me to Momoko (pseudonym). Momoko also said that she came here because she was tired of living in the city and family relationships. She met a man at Symbiosis and they are planning to have a baby this winter.

“The style of Symbiosis House may change, but the residents are looking forward to the birth of their child. There are eleven adults in the house, so someone will be able to take care of them. We have a good environment for childcare.”

However, is there any concern about the economy? According to Momoko, her husband, a resident of the house, has started working at a nearby facility.

“The number of people who want to live as NEETs deep in the mountains is increasing, and there are now 11 facilities just like this one in Japan. Many of the people who want to move in are tired of city life, rather than wanting to enjoy the country life deep in the mountains. By the way, since it’s deep in the mountains, there’s an image of self-sufficiency, but not everyone likes farming, so we make almost nothing in the fields (laughs).

In the eight years since he started working as a NEET deep in the mountains, has there been any change in his mind?

“I can’t think about the future when I’m in this environment. However, I have become kinder (laughs). I’ve learned to see things from different perspectives. Many people may have a hard time with communal living, but it’s like a herd. It’s not communal, it’s symbiotic. We forgive each other and live together.”

Surprisingly, there are probably many city people who envy their lifestyle.

From the September 3, 2021 issue of FRIDAY