This is what I wake up to every morning. While often in a rush to get to work, I easily forget and take for granted what’s around me. My name is Stephen Sanguinetti and just about five years ago I came from America to live in Agematsu Town located in the scenic Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. I came here on the JET programme to teach English, but little did I know how much this place would change my life and how it would help shape me into a better person.

Agematsu is famous for its Hinoki, or Japanese cypress, giving it the nickname of “ひのきの里” (Hinoki no Sato) meaning the village or home of Hinoki, which is why I’ve decided to call this blog “Hinoki Town”. While it only has a population of 5000, this town has a ton of heart and character, and I’ve never lived in a place so beautiful in my life. With this blog I hope to show a bit of my world here in Agematsu and show what a wonderful place this is. I will have some assistance from a staff of writers who live in this town as well and will post regularly about this place. I hope that you understand some of the beauty and charm of Agematsu and Kiso and that you will come and see it for yourself someday.

While I came here as part of a dream to come to Japan and teach English, this experience has become something so much more. I’ve never felt so part of such a great community and schools. Agematsu became my home and while I may leave it someday, I know that whenever I return it will be waiting for me. This image, this view, and all that comes with it – the community, the smiles, the laughter, the friends and family that have all been a part of this — will be here. Welcome to Hinoki Town!

日本語：毎日毎日目覚めるとこの景色を見る。信じられないほどきれいな景色なのに朝の準備と仕事への慌てる僕はこの目の前のことを忘れてしまう。僕はアメリカから来たスティーブン・アンドル・サングィネッティです。ほとんど５年前JETプログラムで英語を教えにきたんだ。まさかこの小さな町がこんなに自分の人生を変えると思わなかった。そのおかげでよりよい人間となったと信じる。

上松町といえばやっぱりひのきです。ひのきでこの町のことは「ひのきの里」という名前もあるので、このブログをHinoki Town (ひのきタウン)という名前につけた。人口はやく５千人のに地域の方や自然の豊かさでこの町の心とても広いと感じる。この町の魅力や美しさを紹介したいと思い、そしていつかここに自分の目で訪ねてもらいたいと思う。僕と町の住んでいる人のブログのスタフでたくさん町についての話をアップするのでよろしくお願いします。

日本へ来るそして英語を教えるの夢を追いかけるためにこの町に来たんだけどその上でこの経験の存在は大きくなったんです。この地域や学校で生活をさせていただいて、ありがたいで、本当にアットホームなかんじがする。いつかこのところから離れるかもしれないがいつも僕の日本のふるさとと思いたいのです。この景色でそしてその地域の方や友達と家族、笑顔とともに自分のふるさと。ひのきタウンへようこそ！