Explore the Satoyama Grid: Suzu’s Off-Grid Model Room

A new model room showcasing an energy self-sufficiency system, the Satoyama Grid, has been completed in Maura Town, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. An open house and hands-on event will be held on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, 2025.

This initiative is part of the Gendai Shūraku (Contemporary Hamlet) project, which aims to experiment with sustainable living 100 years into the future, using the Maura community as its base. Since 2020, the project has been developing a vision of a self-sufficient, circular resource village.

In response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake and subsequent torrential rains, the team collaborated with experts across various fields to create the Satoyama Grid, a system that provides water, electricity, and heat at all times, whether during emergencies or daily life. This model room represents a milestone, and the project now plans to implement 5–10 units within the village in the current fiscal year.

Gendai Shūraku

The open house and experience event will welcome the general public. On Saturday, the 26th, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the focus will be on presentations and workshops with guests.

On Sunday the 27th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, various activities are planned, including fieldwork, a firewood-splitting workshop, and a cooking session using a pellet stove to make imōni, a traditional stew. Visitors are free to tour the model room at any time during the event.

(Comments from the editorial team: When launching any project, it’s crucial to communicate a strong concept. While this could simply be labeled “off-grid,” the decision to call it the Satoayma Grid is meaningful and beautiful. There may still be aspects I don’t fully grasp, but I admire the thought behind it. I recall that I had the opportunity to visit last year, but had to cancel due to illness on the day. —Akashi, Producer

I stayed overnight in the model room last year. At the time, the area was still heavily affected by the earthquake, and later by severe rainfall. Seeing how the team pressed on under the banner of the Satoyama Grid made me reflect on human resilience and the importance of infrastructure during disasters. The landscape was also breathtaking. This project offers a great opportunity to rethink the future of local communities. Please consider visiting! —Takei, Development Producer

I share the same thoughts as Takei. When I briefly visited the site last year, the scars left by the earthquake and rainstorms were still raw. I was shaken by the raw power of nature—cracks in the earth seemed to pulse with the energy of the planet. It made me feel that human life is almost insignificant in the face of such overwhelming force.
Yet even in that setting, the project members continue their efforts to realize their vision. When I heard about this open house, my immediate thought was: “I want to take my family there!” Especially my children—I really wanted to show them this place.
However, ironically, on that exact weekend, we already had plans to visit a destination that stands in stark contrast to the values of Maura. I’m a bit embarrassed about that. It made me realize how important it is to be more intentional about where we choose to go and what we choose to do with our limited time. I sincerely wish the event great success. —Sakamoto, Editor-in-Chief)

Story: Mai Takahashi
Editing and Translation: Masayoshi Sakamoto