"A House Alone" (ABC TV/TV Asahi, Sunday 7:54 pm) is a variety show that uses satellite photos to find a remote house. The November 2nd broadcast follows the life of a family living in a splendid 135-year-old Japanese house in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The guests are freelance announcer Hiromi Kawada and Issei Mamehara of the popular boy band "JO1." Kawada, who will be making his second guest appearance in six years, said, "I got married and had children. I've started to want to be more in touch with nature than I did about six years ago. I've started taking my kids to the mountains and rivers on the weekends (laughs). I'm also very interested in what it's like to live in a house in the middle of nowhere." Mamehara, who grew up in the countryside of Okayama, said, "I often visit my grandmother's house. When I can, I like to go back to the countryside."
The satellite photos held by the search team showed a site surrounded by mountains and a large building. Guest Mamehara said with wide eyes, "It's as big as the ruins of a castle." The search team continued up a slope that seemed to lead to the sky. Once they reached the top of the hill, a beautiful rural landscape spread out before them, and beyond that they could see a village. When they asked a male resident to look at the satellite photos, he told them, "This is a house located further into the mountains than the dam lake."
The man guided the search team along the mountain path beside the dam lake. As they drove deeper into the mountains, gazing at the lake, they came across a stately red-thatched Japanese house. There were also many cars parked on the property. The search team was greeted by the wife (55) of the family's eldest son (59). She works as a psychological counselor and invited the team, saying, "I'm holding a lecture here today and will be having lunch soon. Would you like to join us?" The search team enjoyed lunch among the lively group of about 10 lecture participants.
The surrounding area, including the nearby mountains, has been protected by 13 generations, and the current main house, which is 135 years old, was built by the family's great-grandfather. Beyond the veranda is a Japanese garden reminiscent of a luxury inn, which was "created by a gardener who came from Kyoto." The preview video also shows the search team being surprised by the mystical atmosphere created by the 700-year-old giant tree and the surrounding greenery.
Although they are a lively family with constant smiles, the couple once suffered a serious illness when their son was young, which completely changed their lives. Now that they have overcome this great difficulty, the couple say, "We are incredibly happy to be able to live with my mother like this."
