Guesthouse owner aims to build ties between S. Korea, Fukushima(韓国と福島つなぐ家に)

 
Ryuji Sagawa, owner of the Hanbog guesthouse in Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, explains its three rooms, each named after one of the prefecture’s three districts.(ゲストハウスの部屋を紹介する佐川竜二さん。「福島の魅力を知ってほしい」と語る)

 A local man has opened a guesthouse in Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, to help facilitate interactions between locals and tourists and, ultimately, to serve as a center for exchanges between South Korea and Fukushima.
 "I want to improve Fukushima's image in South Korea as much as possible," said the guesthouse's owner, Ryuji Sagawa, touching upon the area's negative image sparked by the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
 Sagawa, 34, who studied in Seoul for many years, says he hopes to attract South Korean tourists to the guesthouse. He dubbed the new establishment "Hanbog," in which "han" means Korea and "bog" -- derived from the "fuku" in Fukushima -- means happiness or good fortune.
 "I coined the name to attract Korean people," Sagawa said. "I hope they'll be curious as to why a Fukushima facility has a Hangul-sounding name."

 韓国と福島県をつなぐ交流拠点に―。猪苗代町の佐川竜二さん(34)は町内の空き家を改装し、地元住民と国内外の観光客が交流できるゲストハウスをオープンした。ソウルで長く留学生活を送った佐川さんは、韓国人観光客を将来的なターゲットに想定している。「東日本大震災に伴う東京電力福島第1原発事故による韓国内での福島のイメージを少しでも良くしたい」と奮闘中だ。
 施設の名前は「ハンボック」。佐川さんが考案した韓国語の造語で、ハンは韓国の「韓」、ボックは福島の「福」を意味する。「韓国の方々に向けて付けた。『なぜ韓国語の施設が福島にあるのだろう』と興味を持ってもらいたかった」と佐川さんは話す。

 In September last year, a South Korean friend on a working holiday visited Inawashiro to stay at the guesthouse, which had yet to officially open. The friend told Sagawa the view from the facility was very impressive, particularly that of Mt. Bandai, a symbol of Inawashiro.
 "I'd like South Koreans to visit our Fukushima and become familiar with its allure, little by little," Sagawa said. He plans a full-scale campaign to attract Korean tourists through his network of friends after the novel coronavirus pandemic subsides.

 昨年9月のプレオープン中には、ワーキングホリデーで日本に滞在中だった韓国の友人が早速宿泊してくれた。友人は「磐梯山がきれいだ」と景色に感動していたという。「実際に訪問してもらうことで福島の良さを少しずつ知ってもらいたい」。新型コロナウイルス禍が落ち着けば、友人らのネットワークを通じて本格的にアピールしていく考えだ。

 Sagawa, a native of Asakawa in the prefecture, was a fan of South Korean pop music and studied at a language school and university in Seoul for five years from 2013. However, while at school and his part-time workplace, he was saddened by the negative responses of some people when he told them he was from Fukushima Prefecture. He quickly realized such attitudes were linked to the nuclear accident and fears of radiation.

 浅川町出身の佐川さんは、Kポップ好きが高じて2013年から5年間、ソウルの語学学校や大学に通った。学校やアルバイト先で、出身地を答えると嫌な顔をされたこともあり、原発事故のマイナスイメージに苦しんだ。

 In 2014, in an attempt to alter Fukushima's image in South Korea, Sagawa established Seoul Fukushima Kenjinkai, an association comprising people from Fukushima Prefecture living in Seoul and served as the association's first president.
 He would introduce the prefecture's major tourist spots and explain its culture at various events, which made him realize that people would never learn about the real Fukushima "unless they actually come and stay."
 When he returned home, he decided to open a guesthouse in Fukushima Prefecture.

 福島県のイメージを変えるために14年、ソウル在住の県内出身者を集め「ソウル福島県人会」を設立し、初代会長に就任。イベント会場で県内の観光地や文化を積極的に紹介したが、それよりも「実際に滞在してもらわなければ本当の姿は伝わらない」と考え、本県でのゲストハウス開業を決意した。

 Sagawa, who has worked as a member of the Inawashiro local government's community revitalization team since 2020, selected and renovated a vacant residence to serve as the guesthouse. He said he liked the building's excellent location, especially its spectacular view of Mt. Bandai. Since its official opening in October, the facility has become increasingly popular and is nearly full most weekends.

 一昨年からは猪苗代町の地域おこし協力隊として働きながら、オープン準備を進めた。立地の決め手は目の前に磐梯山の絶景が広がる「景色の良さ」。昨年10月の正式オープン後は、週末になるとほぼ満室になるほど人気の施設となった。

 The facility has three guest rooms, each for four persons and respectively named after one of the three regions of the prefecture: Aizu, for women only; Nakadori, for men only; and Hamadori, for men and women. Some non-Japanese guests have asked Sagawa what the names mean, which often leads to a lively conversation about place names.

 施設は全3部屋で、全て4人ずつの相部屋。部屋の名前は県内3地方にちなんで女性限定の「あいづ」、男性限定の「なかど~り」、男女混合の「はまど~り」と付けた。海外の宿泊者から「どんな意味か」と聞かれ、地名のエピソードで話が弾んだこともある。

 The counter in the guesthouse's lounge area displays beer produced in Inawashiro and various sake brands produced in the prefecture. Locals, too, are encouraged to visit the facility and enjoy some downtime.
 "When it becomes possible for many Korean tourists to visit Fukushima, I hope they'll interact with locals and learn about the prefecture's charms," Sagawa said. "I believe this is the best way to clear up any misconceptions."

( Translated by The Japan News )

 共用スペースのカウンターには県産日本酒や町の地ビールを置き、地元の人も自由に出入りができる。「韓国から多くの方々が訪問できるようになったら、地元の人たちとたくさん交流し、福島の魅力を知ってほしい。誤解を解くには、それが最も大切だと信じている」

 【 2022年1月11日付・福島民友新聞掲載 】