Tempura Japanese Countryside N°21

While Japan's cities are the destination of choice for shopping and nightlife, it is the Japanese countryside that truly captures our hearts. Just spend a few minutes browsing social media to see for yourself: videos worthy of a Miyazaki anime; pastel-coloured photos of septuagenarian farmers harvesting daikon radishes; young neo-rural couples walking their Shiba dogs among the rice fields... Let's face it: the Japanese countryside is the stuff of dreams.

But does that mean we should hand in our resignations and set off in search of one of the many akiya, empty houses that can be bought for a song? Won't the rural exodus eventually destroy this idyllic image? And will these young urbanites who are leaving everything behind for a better, gentler life closer to nature be enough to save the countryside? Find out in this new 196-page issue!