YYSA　Social Business in Yamagata, Japan

When Solasido Honbou turned 39 years in 2020, he made a very unusual decision. As a Yoshimoto Comedian he had worked hard for almost two decades to become a professional comedian. But then, he opted to open up his career to a bigger dream. He joined“Living in Your Town Project” later became a social entrepreneur as part of Yunus Yoshimoto Social Action, a job that combines his comedian skills with promoting a business aimed at benefiting society. “That decision changed my life for the better,” he said.

Honbou now occupies an old farm house that is called in Nishikawa village, Yamagata prefecture, in Northern Japan. He also works at the vegetable farm next to this old farm house three days a week growing potatoes, garlic and green vegetables. He sells his harvest at the local market. The work is absorbing for he starts at the crack of dawn but he already making a bit of profit. Last winter, Honbou made a name for himself for his special winter raddish. Fresh and juicy, the white raddish, termed Yukidaikon　(Snow-laden raddish). The juicy and sweet raddish is nurtured under layers of pure snow that falls over 6 months in the area. “The radish has a sweet taste and attracts many consumers,” he said.

And it helps that he is recognized as a Yoshimoto Comedian. Honbou appears on local television and has a radio program during which he shares funny stories about the beauty of his farming career. “Work is hard but my stresses have gone. I used to be worried about making a success of my life those days as a comedian. Now, I am much more satisfied to see that I am contributing to saving abandoned farms and Japan`s old houses,” he tells his audience. 

Honbou, who has decided to live in rural Japan, is contributing to the Akiya Problem. The word literarily refers to empty houses that are increasing each year in rural Japan. Yamagata has even started an Akiya Bank that advertises for new owners. As young people leave the village population is now mostly with aged who cannot manage their farming land and beautiful old farming houses.

Naturally, Honbou’s landlord who is 90 years old, views the young comedian as a savior. They spend time together at the farm and play music in the evenings. Honbou now has more than 250,000 followers on his social media and they send him messages of encouragement.

“Come visit. You will be doing wonderful things for both the local people and yourself,” Hongo tweets back.

Compiled by Suvendrini Kakuchi - yunus-yoshimoto Social Action (yySA)