Makoto Takagi’s interest in visual arts was sparked by the films shown on late-night television when he was a child. Among these, he was most inspired by the Italian film Cinema Paradiso – Giuseppe Tornatore’s celebrated love letter to the silver screen. “I was particularly touched by the scene when the film was projected from the window of a movie theater onto the building across the street so that people outside could see the film. The final scene was also unforgettable.”
Just as Toto, the protagonist of Cinema Paradiso, had Alfredo, who taught him the love of cinema, Makoto had an uncle who loved Japanese period dramas and rokyoku, a traditional form of singing. His uncle owned a fishing pond in Hachioji at the time, and while working there part-time, Makoto learned the joys of period dramas from him. “My uncle loved old Nikkatsu and Toei period dramas and had a lot of videos. He taught me how interesting each scene was with commentary as we watched films of Yorozuya Kinnnosuke and Oda Nobunaga played by old-time actors. I was not familiar with Japanese films until after I heard my uncle talk about them, and then I began to find them interesting.”
In college, he went on to study film. Older students took a liking to him for his boldness and he started working at a popular club where one of them was employed. Tokyo in the early 2000s was known for its street culture, with clubs, dance, music, movies, and fashion in full swing. “I worked at several popular clubs in Roppongi and Azabu, the hottest spots in Tokyo during that era. At one of the major clubs where I worked, there were gay events, psychedelic events, and more. The place was full of foreigners. I was amazed that such a world existed, and it taught me many things.”
Life’s Journey: The Magic of Transformative Encounters
One of the staff members he worked with was a comedian who later became famous. Makoto was invited by one of the largest comedy and entertainment agencies to perform on stage for three months. He somehow survived the rounds of auditions where he had to be voted “funny” by 80% of the audience to move up the ladder. He almost made his debut. “It was a good experience, but I gave it up. I remembered that I had entered college because I wanted to do film, so I started to focus on my studies.”
After graduation, he worked for a video production company along with prominent film directors. Eventually, he decided to quit. “I was too busy to make my own films. I decided to write screenplays and make time for production while doing other work.” The choice he made back then impacted what he does today.
Perfectly Imperfect Solitude
Makoto said he usually spends his time alone. However, when he walks down the street, he keeps on running into people he knows. No matter how busy he is, Makoto said that he always finds time to see people. “I believe things happen by connecting with others,” he added. He has done many things in his life: he worked for a club, trained as a comedian, produced videos, ran a restaurant, worked as a reporter for the local newspaper, and organized a group of local business owners to lobby against the local government. People love him and rely on him.
A turning point came after the earthquake in March 2011. He left the restaurant that he was working at the time, feeling the need to pursue a job that built on his previous experiences. Then, a business owner he knew asked him to collaborate on starting a free newspaper. He is a magnet, attracting the right people at the perfect moment.
On the condition that he would do all the work himself, Makoto published the bi-weekly free newspaper from 2011 until last year. He wrote all the articles in the 8-page newspaper. Today, he works for the Tachikawa Tourism & Convention Association, which promotes the development of tourism areas throughout Tama.
“My hometown is Akiruno, my restaurant was in Fussa, and I covered the entire Tama region for a free newspaper. My current work covers the entire region, and I already know each municipality well. Having met optimistic and attractive people over the years is helping me in my current role, which is to lay the groundwork for tourism in the region. I’m getting a lot of ideas for how to do things better, and it motivates me to support the local community. These connections lead to meeting more people, and the circle of people is only getting bigger”
Tama, People and Me-Time
As a connoisseur of Tama’s charms, Makoto shares his favorite route to explore the area: “Leave home in Fussa at 6:00 a.m. and hike to Mount Mitake, reach the summit around 8:00 a.m. Spend about two hours there, and descend the mountain just in time for the opening of the Tsuru-tsuru Onsen, a local hot spring. It’s a very enjoyable course that can be completed in half a day.”
He also added that Lake Shiromaru is quite special. “The tranquility around the lake is great, though few people know about it. It has a special atmosphere loved by kayakers, paddleboarders, and fishermen alike.”
There are also many interesting places including campsites, hot springs, restaurants, cafes, and even an indigo dye studio in Akiruno and Ome, which are only about 30 minutes by car from Okutama. These places are run by people Makoto trusts and respects, who, like him, are committed to creating a fun and vibrant community.
“If you want to go out as a family, I recommend Shizenjinmura, a campsite in Akiruno. It has a private sauna that can accommodate four or five people, and once you get warm enough, the river in front of it is deep enough to jump into. Children can play in the river while adults enjoy the sauna. There is a convenience store and supermarket nearby that comes in handy.”
Makoto also added, “The Ozawa Sake Brewery in Sawai, Ome, recognized worldwide as a sake brewer in Tokyo, is a source of community pride. Sawanoi, the brand name of the sake at the brewery, has freshwater crabs depicted on its lid. These crabs live only in clear streams, indicating that the brewery produces its sake in an area with abundant, pristine water. Across the street from the brewery is a ryotei (Japanese-style restaurant) and café, with BBQ facilities located nearby, surrounded by mountains. You can spend a full day here eating, drinking, and enjoying nature.”
Makoto Takagi, Producer, Tokyo Mountain Tours
Makoto was born in 1976 in Akiruno Tokyo. After graduating from Nihon University’s College of Art, Department of Film, he worked in film and commercial production. In his late 20s, he decided to start his own business in Fussa, focusing on community development and revitalization work, which included publishing a free newspaper. He then joined Good Life Tama Co. and developed various new projects. In 2020, he obtained a license as a regional travel business manager and established the travel division, Tokyo Mountain Tours. He has been active in new revitalization projects in the Tama region and the mountainous areas of Tokyo.
About Okutama
Okutama is known as a hidden gem in the vicinity of Tokyo, which has a rich natural environment where traditional mountain village culture remains intact. Numerous traditional performing arts have been passed down through the generations, and there are many intangible folk cultural assets, such as the Kashima Odori dance, Shishimai (lion dance), and Kuruma Ningyo (puppet theater). Additionally, many people enjoy mountain climbing, camping, cycling, and fishing in the area.
Photography Seiji Kondo