NISHI-AIZU, Fukushima － Tented saunas are being promoted as a new tourist resource by a volunteer group in Nishi-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture.
　Seeking to explore a new way of vitalizing the local community, the group organized an event over the weekend in which participants cleared away snow and soaked in a sauna. The town has coined the term "Joce-Xercise" － combining the Japanese word "josetsu," or snow removal, and "exercise" － to deem snow removal as a kind of exercise.

　サウナと除雪で心と体を健康に―。西会津町の町民有志らが、どこでもサウナを味わえるテントサウナを新しい観光資源として注目。２月に除雪をエクササイズと捉える町発祥の「ジョセササイズ」と、サウナを一度に体験できるイベントを開き、新しい地域活性化の可能性を探った。

　"I hope people boost their health in sauna baths and also experience the town," said Yuko Sasaki, 31, a member of the government-initiated Local Vitalization Cooperator.
　According to Sasaki, the manga "Sado － Manga de yomu sauna do" (Learning sauna from manga) has created a sauna boom in Japan. Terms that appeared in the manga have become popular, such as "totonou" (get in good condition), which describes feeling good mentally and physically by switching back and forth between a sauna and a cold water bath. A "pro-saunar" is a person who aims to teach others the benefits of saunas.

　「サウナで健康増進を図った上で、町の魅力にも触れてほしい」。イベントを企画した町地域おこし協力隊の佐々木祐子さん（３１）はサウナの可能性を語る。佐々木さんによると、日本でもサウナに関するマンガ「サ道～マンガで読むサウナ道～」をきっかけにブームが起こった。サウナと水風呂を行き来することで心と体が気持ちよくなる感覚をマンガの中の表現から「ととのう」と呼ぶようになったり、サウナの良さを伝える人を指す「プロサウナー」という言葉も生まれるなど、新たな広がりがあるという。

　Finland is famous for its saunas, and Sasaki found a commonality between that northern European country, where people take sauna baths to get through the severe winter, and snowy Nishi-Aizu.
　Sasaki came up with the event, hoping that the town "can heighten the benefits of saunas." She put into the proposal her hopes that participants can enjoy saunas and snow, and local residents can come to think that the abundant snow actually benefits the town.

　サウナといえば、フィンランドが有名。厳しい冬をサウナで乗り切る北欧の国と雪の多い西会津町に共通点を見いだした佐々木さんは、西会津を「サウナの良さが発揮される場所ではないか」と企画を発案。サウナと雪を楽しみ、雪が多いことを魅力として感じられるようにと願いを込めた。

　The event was held Saturday and Sunday in cooperation with the Japan Joce-Xercise Association, which was launched by volunteers in the town to advocate Joce-Xercise. In the event, participants enjoyed Joce-Xercise and then took a sauna bath in a tent.
　Before the event, association President Takayuki Suzuki, 40, said, "I want participants to enjoy the charm of a snow town through saunas and Joce-Xercise."
　Sasaki said, "[Participants] can enjoy new experiences, such as jumping into a pile of snow they cleared away, after taking a sauna bath."
　The two-day event was held at several venues in the town, including the NishiAizu International Art Village, where a Finland-style sauna tent big enough for about 20 people was set up and a talk show was held by a sauna tent retailer and the association.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　今回は町の地元有志が始めたジョセササイズを提唱する日本ジョセササイズ協会と連携。イベントはジョセササイズを堪能した後にサウナに入ってもらうなどの内容になっている。同協会長の鈴木孝之さん（４０）は「サウナとジョセササイズで雪国を楽しんでほしい」と話し、佐々木さんは「サウナの後に除雪でできた雪山に飛び込むなど、新しい体験ができるはず」と雪を逆手に取った取り組みに期待を高めている。
　イベントは２月２、３の両日、西会津町の西会津国際芸術村などで開かれた。用意するフィンランド式サウナには大人約２０人が入れる。当日はテントサウナを販売する業社と同協会のトークイベントも開かれた。

　【　２０１９年１月２２日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】