Today's guest, Heather Fukase, lives on the outskirts of Matsumoto in a part of town known as "Azusagawa" (literally, "Catalpa River"). Formerly a separate village out in the Minami Azumi District, Azusagawa-mura was incorporated into Matsumoto city during the most recent amalgamation campaign.  Despite the new Matsumoto city address, Azusagawa still retains many features of an older, more traditional way of Japanese village life.  After introducing herself and explaining why she chose to live in Azusagawa, Heather talks about daily life in rural Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture).

Key Words: amalgamation; Matsumoto City; Nagano-ken; Japan; Azusagawa; living and working in Japan; podcast discussion about Japan; Japan-related interview; podcast; Shinshu