Would you like to become an Anzu owner? —New rails on vanished tracks—
Award Winners
Nagano Girls' High School
Maria Yanagimachi (Interact Club)
Rediscovering my hometown
- The abandoned Nagano Electric Railway Yashiro Line
The line is approximately 24 km long and has 13 stations, including the terminal station. Due to a decrease in passenger numbers, the line was closed in April 2012. - Anzu no Sato
Chikuma City in Nagano Prefecture boasts the highest apricot production in Japan. Beautiful pink flowers bloom in the spring and delicious fruit is harvested in the summer, which can be processed and enjoyed all year round.
Ways to revitalize the local area
- "Anzu Rail"
Apricot trees will be planted and cultivated along the Yashiro Line tracks. By naming it "Apricot Rail," we will recall that the tracks once stood here. The area will be developed into a footpath, and will once again become a place of relaxation for local residents and a tourist destination where people can come and go. - "Anzu Owner"
The program is open to people living in urban areas, including within the prefecture, and invites them to purchase an apricot tree grown by "Anzu Rail" and become its owner. Owners can experience everything from planting to harvesting, and can eat the fresh fruit, make Western-style sweets, or make jam and preserves in syrup. With the cooperation of local people, even those who live far away can grow apricots without straining themselves, and many people can participate. I believe that "Anzu Rail" and "Anzu Owners" can make the most of the local area's charm and solve the problems the region faces.
Secondary screening video material
Comments and points regarding the award
The idea of turning an abandoned local railway line into a legacy using apricots, a local specialty, and promoting the local specialty is very interesting. I think it's a good idea to combine local resources well. They interviewed the local city, NPOs, and tourist associations, and took into consideration the actual costs of maintenance and management, as well as how to promote the area, which I thought was well thought out.
Excellence AwardJury Recommendation Award
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