Due to the global COVID-19 disaster starting in 2020, Changes in the tendency for people, goods, and money to be concentrated in urban areas has occurred. This paper focuses on the movement of “people” toward rural areas. The University where the author works is located in the Kita-Kinki area, about an hour and a half away from the Keihanshin metropolitan area by train and expressway. Consideration will be given to the case of Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture and the adjacent city of Tamba, Hyogo Prefecture. Two people inside and outside the Society contributed the papers.

This paper examined the current situation and challenges of migration to fishing villages, from a national overview and the Ogatsu Peninsula, Ishinomaki city, Miyagi Prefecture, as a case study. Currently, interest in migrating to rural areas is growing, but convenient areas that are not far from urban areas are preferred, and fishing villages, which tend to be located in remote areas, are at a disadvantage. Ishinomaki City was severely damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the population decline in fishing villages in particular has been significant. Various external assistance has been provided to support reconstruction, including support for fishing employment and experience facilities, and innovative initiatives are being undertaken. A case study identified finding housing, relationships with the local community and the remoteness of the fishing village as challenges.

In this paper, the author presents examples of “return to rural living” across Japan and their important role in local communities. It is urgent for all citizens to know the current situation in which food production in Japan is supported by elderly farmers and women, and to seriously face it at the production site. The only way to maintain our food production is to revitalize rural villages that could nurture sustainable lives and prevent global warming. The core of the “return to rural living” is the people who love and are proud of their communities. Those who love the inhabitants should visit, stay, and migrate to the rural villages.