On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production.

• About Ami Eldridge's efforts to revitalize rural Kochi Prefecture
• About the Niyodo Town and Niyodogawa River area
• About how Sumizumi LLC is using charcoal and akiya (abandoned houses) to revitalize the Niyodogawa area
• The many uses of charcoal
• The intricacies of making charcoal
• About turning akiya (abandoned houses into airbnb
• How many people Ami has gotten to relocate to Niyodogawa
• How people in Niyodogawa are creating new businesses like skate parks, curry shops and tea shops
• How to access the Niyodogawa area
• About the new lie flat overnight bus that runs from Tokyo to Kochi
• How airbnb's can be used to help revitalize rural communities
• When the best time to visit Niyodogawa is
• What foods to eat in Niyodogawa
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

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For more info on what Ami is doing and Suzmizumi LLC, check out their Instagram page.

• Sumizumi LLC Instagram

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
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• Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
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• Website: https://japankyo.com/
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