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Boatman connects village to train station

December 23rd, 2008 by James

A video about an elderly man who helps residents of the village of Kuma in Kumamoto Prefecture acess a train station across a river:


Passengers who get off at Setoishi station on the Hisatsu Line will find no buses or taxis waiting in front of the station. Pedestrians who want to cross the river and reach the village on the other side may not be able to use such forms of transportation, but they go to the riverside and shout for Mr. Kumagawa. If they’re loud enough, Kumagawa will fetch his boat and help them across the river. The service is free for village residents and only 150 yen for visitors from the outside.

Kumagawa has been acting as boatman for 30 years. Most people nowadays rely on cars for transportation nowadays (there is a bridge 2km away), but there are still about 4 or 5 passengers who require the use of Kumagawa’s boat each day. Kumagawa starts his boat service every day at 5:30AM, helping students from the village cross the river so they can commute to their high schools. He is on duty year round, regardless of weather conditions. Although he is 81-years-old, he is quite energetic and plans to continue providing the boat service as long as there are residents who need it.

[clip from ナニコレ珍百景]

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10 Comments »

Comment by FPS
2008-12-24 02:58:27

The first thing I thought of when I saw this was Charon crossing the River Styx…

Comment by Jerry
2008-12-24 15:05:31

Theyre bringing the workers from the living to Hades (aka. Work)

 
 
Comment by hl
2008-12-24 05:51:21

That’s so cool!

 
Comment by Bruce Smith
2008-12-24 07:50:39
 
Comment by ah
2008-12-24 09:30:19

I’m liking these feel-good stories, with first the Iranian izakaya owner and now this supremely generous old man. Keep posting ‘em James, it brightens up my day amid snow and cold here in the States.

 
Comment by momonga
2008-12-24 12:08:09

I watched this on the TV some time ago…Such touching story about an honest, warm, hard-working man. People like him are the reason I still love Japan.

Comment by ASSEMbler
2008-12-25 02:48:28

Agreed, it’s what I still love about Japan and keeps me coming back. My love for Tokyo has diminished to almost nothing.

 
 
Comment by Aekutopia
2008-12-24 18:22:37

The great ojii-chan of Kumamoto.

 
Comment by Osakesan
2008-12-24 21:05:31

File this one under Ikigai/生き甲斐

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

I like the one you posted about the 80-something guy diving for seafood everyday for his family.

I hope I find mine someday.

 
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