"The House in the Middle of Nowhere" (ABC TV/TV Asahi, Sundays) is a variety show that uses satellite images to find secluded homes. On March 8th, a two-hour special will be broadcast from 6:56 pm, showcasing the lives of people living in detached homes in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures.
The guests were actors Yoshihiko Hakamada and Maryjun Takahashi. Hakamada, who hails from Shizuoka Prefecture, said with a wry smile, "Living in the mountains in a house all alone... I'd like to try it, maybe for a couple of nights." Meanwhile, Takahashi, who grew up on Mount Hiei in Shiga Prefecture, said, "I'd love to live somewhere surrounded by nature in the future," but when he spoke about life in a house all alone, he was even moved to tears. What is the story of this life that made Takahashi say, "I was fascinated by this beautiful way of life"?
The search team visited the home of a 90-year-old woman who gave them directions when they interviewed a 76-year-old man who was affected by one of the worst flood disasters since the war (broadcast on February 22nd). The home is about 3 kilometers away from the man's house, and the search team visited it to express their gratitude.
The woman's home was also severely damaged by the heavy rains, and she was forced to live in temporary housing for two and a half years. She now lives alone in the mountains. Raising her children on her own was difficult, and the woman recalls, "I was at a loss at the time, but I think I was able to keep going because I had my children."
Three years ago, the woman's beloved eldest son passed away due to illness. At the time, the woman was living in temporary housing and was in such poor health that she could barely walk, but her eldest son, who was more concerned about his mother than himself, continued to encourage her. Guest Takahashi, who watched the woman's life in the studio, had tears in his eyes many times.
During the reporting in Kagoshima, the crew visited a house nestled in the mountains, and got a close look at the difficult yet beautiful life of a 90-year-old man who was born and raised in the area before the war and his 83-year-old wife.
