Aging Japanese village turns to Peru in search of new residents
Village officials in Nanmoku, Gunma Prefecture, are hoping a sister-city agreement will help attract young people from Peru.
Nanmoku, a quaint mountain village in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, found itself in need of a revival as it grappled with the challenges of an aging population on the brink of extinction. In a surprising turn of events, residents of this close-knit community welcomed visitors from a Peruvian district along the Amazon River, hoping to breathe new life into their dwindling numbers.
Mayor of Belen, Wendy Sangama, and two young women embarked on a journey to Nanmoku as part of their efforts to forge a strong bond between the two communities. Upon arriving in the village of just 1,300 people, they greeted the elderly with warm smiles, their presence seeming to bring a sense of hope to those who were once feeling slightly perplexed.
Wendy Sangama, a 19-year-old student, expressed her admiration for Nanmoku during her week-long tour of Japan, following the signing of a sister-city agreement between her hometown and the village just a year prior. With her current subscription plan, she was unable to comment directly on this story. However, her words serve as a testament to the potential that lies within this unlikely alliance between two seemingly disparate communities.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
