Kamiyama is a small town located deep in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island. It faced challenges common to many rural Japanese towns — local industries were struggling due to declining domestic demand, and young people were leaving in search of better opportunities.
But in the early 1990s, initiatives to interact with the outside world sparked a chain reaction that would ultimately change Kamiyama's future. The 5,000-person town not only survived, but is now known as a thriving hub of creativity and innovation.
Through interviews with local business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs who contributed to its success story, "Kamiyama: The Little Town with Big Ideas" traces the town's trajectory and provides inspiration for others who want to cultivate a similar spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship in their own communities.
The documentary was filmed in the summer of 2022.
- Runtime14 minutes
- CountryJapan
- DirectorKohei Watanabe, Marco Lui
Kamiyama is a small town located deep in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island. It faced challenges common to many rural Japanese towns — local industries were struggling due to declining domestic demand, and young people were leaving in search of better opportunities.
But in the early 1990s, initiatives to interact with the outside world sparked a chain reaction that would ultimately change Kamiyama's future. The 5,000-person town not only survived, but is now known as a thriving hub of creativity and innovation.
Through interviews with local business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs who contributed to its success story, "Kamiyama: The Little Town with Big Ideas" traces the town's trajectory and provides inspiration for others who want to cultivate a similar spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship in their own communities.
The documentary was filmed in the summer of 2022.
- Runtime14 minutes
- CountryJapan
- DirectorKohei Watanabe, Marco Lui