Are you familiar with the name Suzuki Bokushi? He was the man who,
during the Edo period, created a seven-volume book called "Hokuetsu Seppu" (Snow Records of Northern Echigo), which detailed life in snowy regions and the snow itself, and brought it to Edo. To the people of the time, his life seemed like something from another world, and he became very popular.
Over time, the video that would become the modern Hokuetsu Seppu was born, strongly influenced by Suzuki Makino's will and work
conveys the richness and reality of living in a snowy region.
I want you to watch it.
Makino Suzuki was born and raised in Shiozawa-machi, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, a region known for its heavy snowfall.
This town is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and transportation from Edo (Tokyo) is inconvenient, making it virtually impossible to visit during the heavy snowfall of winter.
The people of Edo had no idea what life was like in Hokuetsu in the winter
Driven by a desire to share the realities of life in snowy regions with the world, Makino spent 30 years creating "Hokuetsu Seppu" (Snow Records of Northern Echigo). However,
"in the world of Hokuetsu Seppu depicted by Makino, snow was not a plaything, but something that made people's lives difficult."
The modern version of Hokuetsu Seppu focuses on four skiers and snowboarders, portraying snow as a natural blessing that enriches their lives
Some chefs climb the mountains and ski before sunrise in the early morning. Others work
as snow groomer drivers at ski resorts while enjoying skiing. Some
ski patrol officers head out for night skiing every evening after their shifts. Others work
as mountain guides, sharing the allure of the mountains with others while never forgetting to enjoy themselves.
Each character living in this snowy region is sustained by the snow, and lives in harmony with it.
There is none of the image of snow depicted by Makino Suzuki as something difficult and troublesome to coexist with.
Times have changed, and snow has transformed into something to be utilized and enjoyed. And the story conveys how fortunate it is to have that enjoyment become a part of one's life.
I hope that this way of life will spread to many people once again through Shin Hokuetsu Seppu
"Tomorrow, their daily lives will begin again with a snowy landscape."
Presented by:Minamiuonuma City Marketing ORG.
Producer: Takuzo Nagai
Director/Film/Edit:Right Up INC.(Yuta Watanabe/Ryota “Papas”Takemoto)
Narrator: Neil Hartmann
Lodge Chef: Mikio Kobayashi
Ski Patol: Hokuto Sato
Cat Operator: Mitsuo Higuchi
Special Thanks: Maiko Snow Resort / Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort / Suzuki Makino Memorial Museum
※Video quotes are in ""