ensembles — Live more in a town of pure water

[data-reveal], [data-card-reveal], [class*="group-data-on"][class*="opacity-100"] { opacity: 1 !important; } [data-reveal], [data-card-reveal], [data-card-reveal] .zoomer > *, [class*="group-data-on"][class*="transform-"] { transform: none !important; } [data-reveal], [data-card-reveal] .zoomer, [class*="group-data-on"][class*="clip-path-"] { clip-path: none !important; } [data-pin], [data-scroll-progress] { --p: 1 !important; } [data-pin] [class*="group-data-done:pointer-events-auto"] { pointer-events: auto !important; }

Why a Magazine, Why NowThe change I saw in Hong Kong, and the quiet change underway in rural Japan. Why I left finance, came to Higashikawa, and am making a magazine now.

LATEST STORIES

SHORT ESSAYWhy a Magazine, Why NowOPENINGBeyond the BorderPHOTO STORYWithin Crossing LinesEXPERIENCEバックカントリー入門までの道筋　〜できないを、できるに変える遊び〜

ISSUE 01 · 2026 WINTERBeyond the BorderBEYOND THE BORDER

1 / 10

Read the article

Latest StoriesView All

Openingby Daiki NaruoBeyond the BorderThe world is full of borders. Knowing what lies beyond one is also a way of knowing this side anew.

Openingby Daiki NaruoWhy a Magazine, Why NowThe change I saw in Hong Kong, and the quiet change underway in rural Japan. Why I left finance, came to Higashikawa, and am making a magazine now.

Natureby ChikakoWithin Crossing LinesThe shifting boundary, captured by photographer Mayumi Okada

Film & RadioView All

FILM 01In Hokkaido, We Say It Like This.Namara editionOne Hokkaido word each time. A short film on the climate and life that gave rise to the word. The first is “namara.”

ShortsDRAG →

PlaySHORTBeyond the Border

PlaySHORT手仕事探求クラブ

PlaySHORTアウトドアクラブ

PlaySHORT香りと蒸留クラブ

PlaySHORTパウダースノークラブ

PlaySHORT大雪山写真クラブ

PlaySHORTハイキングクラブ

Radio ensembles Radio

Listen before you read. Thirty minutes of the editors sharing what they heard while reporting the feature.

Listen to the podcast →

Issue 01 — 2026 WinterView All

BEYOND THE BORDER · Beyond the Border

OPENINGBeyond the BorderThe world is full of borders. Knowing what lies beyond one is also a way of knowing this side anew.

SHORT ESSAYWhy a Magazine, Why NowThe change I saw in Hong Kong, and the quiet change underway in rural Japan. Why I left finance, came to Higashikawa, and am making a magazine now.

PHOTO STORYWithin Crossing LinesThe shifting boundary, captured by photographer Mayumi Okada

One email at the start of each season — subscribe to the ensembles newsletter

From Higashikawa, Hokkaido. Enjoying the ways people live on their land, through the people themselves. Moments you can lose yourself in, woven into everyday life.

Live more　About ensembles →

ExperiencesView All

11.13 FRI · 手仕事探求クラブクリスマスを彩る蜜蝋キャンドルづくり・手仕事を通じて、あたたかなつながりを築く・この地域特有の自然の恵みを学ぶ・日常の忙しさから少し離れたところでものづくりに集中し、自分と向き合う

11.20 FRI · からだと暮らしのリズムクラブねむりの境界線 ― キャンドルとアロマの夜ヨガこんな方へ・仕事のあと、頭の切り替えがうまくいかない方・眠りが浅い、寝付きに時間がかかると感じている方・体を動かしたいけれど、激しい運動は避けたい方・ヨガが初めての方、体がかたい方・一人でも参加したい方

11.27 FRI · アンサンブルズスナックバックカントリー入門までの道筋　〜できないを、できるに変える遊び〜・ゲストの貴重な体験に触れることで、新たな価値観を生み出す。・食を囲みながら、新しいつながりを育むこと。　自然と会話が生まれる時間を大切にし、参加者同士や地域との新たな出会いを育みます。

Koichi TobaOutdoor Club curator

Makoto Yasuiまちぶらクラブ

Yuka Shimoda暮らしインテリアクラブ

Ayumi OokaCurator, Scent & Distilling and Body & Life Rhythm Clubs

Yukinori Otsuka大雪山写真クラブ

Yurio Seki手仕事探求クラブ

Mayumi OkadaPhotographer

Daiki Naruoアンサンブルズスナック

SERIES — DevelopingDeveloping

Series — DevelopingDevelopingThe Ramps story: building a company in rural Japan. Season 1, 17 chapters.

PART 01ReunionComing soon

PART 02The Wooden DeskComing soon

PART 03CompanionsComing soon

PART 04The PatentComing soon

PART 05InvestmentComing soon

17 installments · 1 published

Membership & Mobile App

The app is free — the site is for reading, the app is for taking part

The more you visit, the closer this town feels.

Free to download. Booking gets easier, and each visit brings more benefits and familiar faces.

01local discountLocal and nearby residents can take part at local rates.

02CouponsReceive coupons exclusive to the app.

03Earn TrillsEarn Trills whenever you join an activity, stay overnight or check in.

04Redeem rewardsExchange your Trills for rewards.

App Store Google PlayFree · 30 seconds

Rank and perks screen

My page screen

Sakura Mori