A Boyhood Memory of Eruption
Returning Home to Become a Volcano Meister
Rooted in the Community
A Boyhood Memory of Eruption Returning Home to Become a Volcano Meister Rooted in the Community
Loco Lab
“Building a Community” — A Passion for Local Revitalisation
Arai Hideki, born in Date and now the representative of Loco Lab, still has faint childhood memories of Mt Usu’s 1977 eruption. After spending years away, he returned to Date, studied the mountain in depth, and now dedicates himself to local guiding activities as a certified Volcano Meister.
His guided tours are full of warmth and a human touch, driven by a strong desire to “create a community” and contribute to local revitalisation.
A Turning Point Every 10 Years:
From IT Engineer to Bar Owner to a New Path
As a boy, he loved camping and computers. After graduating from university, he left Hokkaido to work as an IT engineer.
At the age of 30, he decided to return to Date, and spent a month in Ireland, where he encountered an Irish pub. Inspired by the sense of local community the pub fostered, he left his corporate job at 40 to open a beer bar in Date.
After running it for ten years, he closed the bar and began exploring new possibilities—seeking a broader perspective, joining local events, and finding creative ways to make use of his alcohol sales licence.
Recommending Mt Usu Ropeway
Crater Plain Guiding with a Focus on Disaster-risk Reduction
Arai recommends Mt Usu’s crater plain, accessible from the summit station of the Usuzan Ropeway. “When I first visited, I was amazed to find such a place hidden in the mountains. It’s a must-see now―once another eruption happens, people won’t be able to walk there,” he says.
Having loved camping and hiking since childhood, Arai remains committed to his Volcano Meister activities locally, with strong emphasis on disaster-risk reduction.
Loco Lab
locolab.jp@gmail.com
(Local Community Laboratory)