"Daydreaming in a Share House" is a talk event where owners and guests at Roopt, a share house utilizing retro properties, freely imagine fun ways of living, thinking "it would be nice to do this" or "it would be nice to have that." For the first Higashimatsushima Shintome edition, we invited Masayo Sekiguchi, an immigration coordinator for Higashimatsushima City who connects people and the city, and people with people, to daydream about life at Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome.
The event generated many daydreams from Ms. Sekiguchi and the participants, living up to the theme of "How to enjoy a too-spacious house by the sea?" We encourage our readers to also read along while imagining what they would like to do in a too-spacious house by the sea.
Born in Tokyo. Worked as a graphic designer at a music production company in Tokyo, designing CD jackets and concert merchandise for artists. Started volunteering in Tohoku after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and moved to Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture in 2016. As a regional revitalization cooperator, she designed city posters and packaging for farmers and fishermen, while also establishing the civic group H x Imagine to plan exciting events for the city. Currently, as an immigration coordinator, she is involved in various activities related to promoting immigration and settlement.
First, let me briefly introduce Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome, the stage for this "daydreaming" session.
Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome is a share house and guesthouse located in Higashimatsushima City, east of Matsushima, one of Japan's three most scenic views. It has 6 private rooms and 1 vacation rental room. Its most notable feature is the spaciousness of the rooms, averaging 12.25 tatami mats, making it suitable not only for individuals but also for couples and families. It is a two-story share house located a 15-minute walk from Tome Station on the JR Senseki Line. With a large balcony on the second floor and the sea nearby, it is a base that offers enjoyment both "inside" and "outside" the share house.
If you would like to know more about Roopt Higashimatsushima Shintome, please refer to this share house information page.
The first half of the event, a talk session, was moderated by Kyoko Watanabe, CEO of Makigumi Inc., the owner of the Roopt share house, who asked questions to guest Ms. Sekiguchi. Many questions and comments were received from event participants, making it a very pleasant event.
Watanabe: Ms. Sekiguchi, you were appointed as a regional revitalization cooperator in Higashimatsushima City in 2016 and are still active as an immigration coordinator for Higashimatsushima City, but before that, you were working in Tokyo, weren't you?
Sekiguchi: Yes, I worked as a designer in the music industry for 13 years. I designed CD jackets and tour merchandise for artists, and sometimes went on location scouting with photographers as a coordinator. It was an enjoyable job, but I had to quit due to health issues caused by overwork, which was my time in Tokyo.
Watanabe: I hear you even designed merchandise for super famous artists. How did you end up moving to Higashimatsushima from there?
Sekiguchi: I had a connection to Miyagi since 2011, when I frequently visited as a volunteer for earthquake reconstruction. Some time after I resigned, an official from Higashimatsushima City Hall asked me, "Would you like to work for the city as a designer?" I never imagined I could live in Miyagi as a designer, so I decided to move and work there, saying "Absolutely." To be honest, I initially thought I was being hired as a city hall employee, and only later found out I was a regional revitalization cooperator (laughs).
Watanabe: That's a behind-the-scenes story (laughs). You're currently working as an immigration coordinator, but are the number of immigrants actually increasing?
Sekiguchi: Yes, they are increasing. The city is also putting a lot of effort into immigration support, and perhaps thanks to that, the recognition of the name "Higashimatsushima City" itself seems to be rising. The neighboring town of Matsushima is certainly famous, but it feels like the message that "there is a city called Higashimatsushima that is different from that" has been conveyed over time.
Participant 1: Compared to Sendai and Ishinomaki, what do you think are the advantages of moving to Higashimatsushima?
Sekiguchi: Sendai and Ishinomaki have many interesting people, and I sometimes envy that, but on the other hand, Higashimatsushima offers greater opportunities for involvement. The residents and business owners are also close, so I feel it's easy to receive consultations like, "Can you do this?" By the way, since it's a 35-minute train ride from Sendai, the number of people moving from Sendai is also increasing.
Watanabe: It might be a city with many opportunities for people who want to work hard and succeed.
Watanabe: Going back a bit, what kind of life did you have in Tokyo?
Sekiguchi: Actually, I lived in a share house the entire time I was in Tokyo. So, I was quite happy when they contacted me this time (laughs).
Watanabe: Is that so! What kind of share house was it?
Sekiguchi: I lived with people in similar professions to mine, such as media editors and TV professionals, but everyone's work hours were different, so sometimes I wouldn't see even the people in the same room for more than half the week (laughs). However, even if I didn't see them, just feeling the presence of others gave me a sense of security, and I think that's the good thing about share houses that you don't get when living alone.
Watanabe: It prevents loneliness, doesn't it? Has your life changed since you moved to Higashimatsushima?
Sekiguchi: Higashimatsushima was my first time living alone, and there were both good things and things I missed. The good thing was being able to live in a spacious house for about the same rent as a single apartment in Tokyo, and I found comfortable living enjoyable. On the other hand, even living alone, the room felt too big, and buying furniture and appliances was difficult both financially and in terms of effort.
Watanabe: Share houses allow you to share and use things without having to prepare them yourself, which is a big advantage of share houses.
Sekiguchi: And having acquaintances for emotional support is also a benefit of share houses.
FIND YOUR STAY
Feel free to contact us for accommodation reservation inquiries, move-in consultations, viewing appointments, media coverage, etc.
Contact Us
