From Supporter to Player: A New Path in Echigo-Tsumari

Nice to meet you. My name is Kobayashi, and I moved here in April to join FC Echigo-Tsumari. I’m originally from Kanagawa Prefecture, and after graduating from college, I worked as an art director on films and commercials in Tokyo. I can almost hear you asking, “So why on earth did a guy like that come to Echigo-Tsumari?” Well, it all started when I joined the “Kohebi-tai,” the official supporter group for the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Field.”

Working amid the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of the city had left me physically and mentally exhausted, so I quit my job last spring. With more free time on my hands, I decided to do the things I hadn’t been able to do before. One of those things was joining the Kohebi Corps. I had visited the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field when I was a college student, and I’d been curious about the Kohebi Corps ever since. While participating in their activities, I found myself smiling naturally.I had thought I’d forgotten how to enjoy myself amid the busyness of work, but as I experienced the warmth and energy of the local people and felt the strong sense of teamwork involved in bringing the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field to life together with locals and supporters alike, I was surprised to find myself smiling. Even after returning to Tokyo, I felt that the Echigo-Tsumari region had a charm that made me want to go back again.

Amid all this, I happened to see a flyer for FC Echigo-Tsumari at the Nōbutai theater. When I mentioned to an NPO staff member that I had played as a handball goalkeeper in high school, the coach contacted me and invited me to try playing soccer with the team. At first, I hesitated. For one thing, I had no experience with soccer and didn’t really know the rules.I hadn’t been involved in sports since college, so I’d had a hiatus from sports for over 10 years. Moving to a new place was also a major change. It’s not that I particularly liked city life, but it takes courage to leave an environment I’d grown accustomed to over many years and head to a place I’d never been before.In any case, everything about my life up to that point was about to change completely. At the same time, though, there was a part of me that thought I should just take the plunge. It happened to be a time when I was looking for a new path, and I hoped I could become part of a community of local people who would help me rediscover that important “sense of enjoyment.” After giving it careful thought, the latter sentiment won out, and I arrived in Echigo-Tsumari with a renewed spirit.

Now that I’m actually living here and trying my hand at soccer and farming, everything is new to me, so of course there are times when I feel a bit overwhelmed, but I’m enjoying it while learning something new every day.

For example, when it comes to farming, there are plenty of challenges—like getting stuck in the rice paddies and struggling to get out, or learning how to use tools and machinery I’ve never handled before. Covered in mud and strong-smelling fertilizer, and working in uncomfortable positions for long stretches, I sometimes wonder if there isn’t an easier way to do this. However, the local people are always there to offer advice, lend a hand, and look out for me.Just the other day, there was an incident where our rice transplanter got stuck in a paddy field; a local passerby stopped to lend a hand, and thanks to their wisdom, we were able to rescue it safely. As a member of the team working to preserve the beautiful scenery of the Rice Fields and deliver delicious rice, I’m determined to do my best moving forward.

When it comes to soccer, as we train at the NUNAGAWA Campus, we really feel the warm support from the local community.When I’m out running, an elderly woman will call out to me; during practice, an elderly man might stop by the field and say, “It’s hot out here, isn’t it? You’re really giving it your all”; and there are people who bring us vegetables and snacks. Every time I experience this warmth from the local community, I’m reminded of the feeling I had when I was a supporter—the “joy of playing”—which is what originally brought me to Echigo-Tsumari in the first place.

And so, as a new guardian of the Rice Fields that our predecessors have cherished and preserved, I spend my days working hard at both farming and soccer. Once the art festival starts up again, I look forward to seeing everyone who comes to enjoy it—our supporters from the Kohebi Squad and the Scarecrow Squad, as well as the local community. I’m still a novice, but I hope to grow steadily, just like the rice plants.

Text: Matsudai Rice Fields Bank / FC Echigo-Tsumari, Mai Kobayashi