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COMMUNITY
Niyodogawa has a shrinking population and a lot of accumulated wisdom. Most of what we do outside charcoal and crafts is about making sure neither of those things disappears.
PROBLEMS CORNER
Problems Corner (困りごとコーナー) is a free handyman and errand service for elderly residents in Niyodogawa. Light repairs, clearing gutters, carrying groceries, changing lightbulbs — the kinds of tasks that are easy if you're able and difficult if you're not.
It started informally. Ami's neighbours kept asking for help. Now it's a scheduled service, one or two days a week, staffed by Sumizumi team members and interns.
REGIONAL REVITALIZATION
There are hundreds of vacant properties in Niyodogawa — akiya (空き家) left by families who moved to cities. Some are falling down. Some are structurally fine and just need someone to live in them.
We work with the town office to match incoming residents with suitable properties, run occasional open-house events, and help people navigate the paperwork involved in rural relocation. Sumi no Ie itself started as a vacant house.
INTERNSHIPS
Our internship programme runs year-round. Positions are 2–6 months, with housing available in Niyodogawa. Each track is hands-on — you'll be working, not shadowing.
The full charcoal production cycle — from forest to packaged grade. Physical work, early starts, and a skill that takes time to develop.
Support across hands-on workshops (charcoal-making, soap, coffee roasting) and Antiques sourcing. Good for people interested in zero-waste making and rural hospitality.
Problems Corner shifts, regional events, akiya matching, and general community support work. For people who want to understand how a shrinking rural town actually functions.
E-commerce, marketing, B2B sales, and admin across all Sumizumi lines. Remote work is not available — this track is based in Niyodogawa.
DISASTER RESPONSE
Kochi Prefecture has one of Japan's highest disaster risk profiles — typhoons, floods, and Nankai Trough earthquake preparedness are all active concerns for Niyodogawa.
Sumizumi is a registered partner of Civic Force and A-PAD Japan (Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management). In the event of a major disaster, we can provide local logistics, shelter coordination, and supply chain support for affected communities.