A Fairytale Visit: My Sister in Kaneyama, Yamagata

This past fall, I was lucky enough to have my sister come visit me here in Kaneyama, a small town tucked away in Yamagata Prefecture that I’ve come to call home. She has always loved Japan, and this was actually her fourth trip, but a particularly special one, as it came just before she begins her new job as a doctor. Before settling into that next chapter of her life, she spent six weeks traveling across Japan, and during that time she was able to visit me twice.

Her first visit to Kaneyama was one I’ll never forget.

I had arranged with the school I work at, Kaneko, for her to come in with me for the day. From the moment the teachers and students heard she would be visiting, there was a buzz of excitement. Everyone was genuinely looking forward to meeting her, and that enthusiasm set the tone for the entire experience.

On the morning of November 10th, 2025, jet lag had worked in her favor. She woke up before me and decided to take a quiet walk around town on her own. I’m pretty sure that was the exact moment she fell in love with Kaneyama, just as I had when I first arrived. Later, she described the experience to me: the mountains wrapping around the town, the stillness of the morning, the way nature and everyday life felt so closely intertwined. She said it felt like something straight out of a fairytale.

Naturally, as little brothers do, I teased her for being dramatic, but then we both got ready and headed off to work.

When we arrived at Kaneko, the teachers were already waiting for us and greeted my sister with such warmth and kindness. She introduced herself, received a small gift, and was visibly overwhelmed, in the best way, by how welcoming everyone was. Soon after, classes began.

She was able to attend classes with the first- and third-year students, though unfortunately scheduling conflicts meant she couldn’t meet the second-year class. Still, the time she spent with the students was incredibly meaningful. She gave a short presentation about herself, and the students were completely engaged, eager to learn more about who she was and where she came from. They asked thoughtful questions, and many of them even chose to stay after class to talk with her, cutting into their own prep time just to continue the conversation.

One student even asked her about a medical concern. While she couldn’t give any official advice for legal reasons, she shared her personal perspective, which the student clearly appreciated.

By the end of the day, it was hard for anyone to say goodbye. The students were sad to see her go, and my sister was genuinely sad as well. After thanking everyone, we made our way to Shinjo Station so she could continue on with the rest of her travels.

Before I dropped her off, she told me she was thinking about changing her plans to come back to Kaneyama, just because she loved it that much. I told her the students and staff would welcome her back with open arms, and we set a tentative date.

Unfortunately, by the end of her trip she fell ill and wasn’t able to return to the school with me. Even so, she didn’t forget the students, she brought back omiyage from one of her later destinations as a small thank you.

Kaneyama left a lasting impression on her, just as it did on me. I’m certain she’ll be back again while I’m still here as an ALT, and when she is, this town will be ready to welcome her once more.

ALTラフ（ラファエル）先生のお姉さん訪問記：

　１１月にアメリカよりお姉さんが来日し、弟さんを訪ねて金山町や金山校を訪ねてこられました。

彼女にとっては4度目の日本旅行でしたが、金山町への訪問は特別なものとなりました。

　一人で町を歩き、自然と暮らしが調和した「おとぎ話のような」金山の美しさに心を奪われたとおっしゃっていました。

　また、金山校を訪問した際、1年と３年生の授業に参加してくださり、自身のことについてプレゼンをしたり、生徒たちと交流したりしてくださいました。質疑応答の際は、生徒から健康面の相談まであり、医師であるお姉さんは医学的な見地で的確な回答までしてくださり（まさにドクターでした！）、生徒たちは感動していました。

　その後日本各地を旅行したあとまた金山校に、という予定でしたが、残念ながら体調を崩されて再訪は叶いませんでした。その代わり、生徒たちにお土産を贈ってくださり、感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。国際的な交流が出来ましたこと、ありがとうございます！