Global to Local | Mario Anton: Loving the Rural Life on Oita's Kunisaki Peninsula

It is impossible to sum up the many activities of Mario Anton in a few words. Anton is American, but was born and raised in the countryside of Shizuoka prefecture, and now makes his home on the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita prefecture. His primary role is School Trips Manager for Walk Japan, facilitating opportunities for overseas students to engage in a meaningful way with Japanese people and their culture. He also helps his wife run their family café and is active in revitalization efforts within his local community.

Underscoring all these activities is Anton's deep love for the nature-rich Kunisaki region, which sits on the northeastern side of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, facing the Seto Inland Sea. Kunisaki is steeped in the culture of Rokugo Manzan Buddhism, blending elements of Buddhism, Shinto, and mountain worship. The region is also known for its ancient pilgrimage route, which has been adapted for walking and hiking routes that offer stunning mountain vistas and chances to see temples and sacred sites along the way. While visitors are slowly increasing, the area still flies under the radar for most international tourists. Anton is among local residents working to raise the profile of this beautiful region he calls home.

Roots in Japan

Growing up with two non-Japanese parents in the countryside, you had quite an unusual upbringing. How has this informed your worldview?

There's no one answer or the "right" way of doing things. I’ve always been inclined to bridge gaps.

Why did you choose to settle in rural Oita Prefecture?

My parents sent me and my siblings to an American boarding school from the ninth grade, and this led me to eventually attend college in the US as well. After graduation, I applied to become a Coordinator for International Relations through the JET program. I was assigned to a small town in Oita.

Creating Mutually Beneficial Opportunities

What is your role at Walk Japan?

As a fellow resident of Kunisaki, I've known Paul Christie, the CEO of Walk Japan, for some time. I currently manage and develop school programs for the company. Although my role is shifting more towards management, training, and development, I still lead several trips a year to various parts of the country. My job also takes me to North America to attend conferences for global educators and to visit schools. 

Please tell us more about your activities leading school trips in Kunisaki and the benefits they bring.

The programs are based around experiences, such as shiitake mushroom harvesting, rice planting, bamboo weaving, and meditation with a local monk. The aging population and depopulation are often two of the most discussed topics during these trips. Not only does bringing school groups to the area have an economic impact, it has an emotional impact on the residents — letting them know that their towns and villages are valuable. We are building real connections with the places we visit. We work very hard to create lasting relationships with everyone we work with.

Regional revitalization is a hot topic for many areas of Japan. What is your region doing? 

The town that I live in invests heavily in Akiya Bank — matching newcomers with those who want to rent or sell their country homes. I'm also involved in an initiative to reimagine the role of a temple in the area — from a solely religious institution to a center for learning and gathering.

The temple project sounds very interesting! What does it involve?

It was initiated by a local monk, Gojun Terada. We started out with the Futago Forest Project to revitalize the natural forest in Kunisaki. This ongoing project has made a big difference to the condition of the forest around the temple. It has gone from a cedar evergreen plantation that was prone to erosion and landslides to a more diverse woodland. We have also done things such as documentary screenings, panel discussions, and talks at the temple. The most recent discussion we organized was on the future of tourism and how the pilgrimage plays an important role in it. We had a huge turnout!

A New Lease of Life 

You've had some personal revitalization projects, too, haven't you? 

Yes, my wife and I renovated a kominka (traditional house), taking the whole year of 2021 to restore the house. My wife is from the area and grew up near the house. As a creative and accomplished builder, she did a lot of the carpentry work herself. The challenge, of course, is that you never have enough money to do everything you want to do for the renovation! 

And there's a new café, too, right?

Yes, our café is a 15-minute walk from our house. It's called Momokusa, which is an ancient word meaning "many," "diverse," or "variety". It's housed in a converted storage space in an old timber mill. The timber mill was first used as a workshop for my brother-in-law, who is a builder. But we wanted to utilize the second floor for something because it was open, spacious, and funky! The cafe was our 2023 project. We serve food and drinks sourced from the area, along with our handmade cakes and other sweets. We also sell our signature botanical products from Suigen, my wife's brand of aromatic mists, tea, and other plant-based goods. 

Any tips for international residents of Japan who are interested in moving to the countryside of Japan? 

Just remember that contrary to popular beliefs, country life isn't slow — but it's immensely rich.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time? 

That's a great question. I don't have an answer for now. I'd love to share and offer my experience to a wider audience.

Follow the Momokusa café or Suigen botanicals brand on Instagram.

Check out other installments of Global to Local by Louise George Kittaka.

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