In 1997, he begun main some Stroll Japan excursions, an organization that was began by two Hong Kong College professors to offer tutorial excursions. Christie turned a associate 5 years later. After a number of years of non-public endeavours to contribute again to his local people in Kunisaki, Stroll Japan’s Group Mission arm was formalised in 2007 with the intention of revitalising the area, which, like most different rural areas in Japan, was confronted with an ageing inhabitants and declining job alternatives. The akiya purchases are one initiative that shores up this Mission, which additionally consists of programmes like working with native rice and shiitake mushroom farmers, sustaining public land and forestry work.
“I noticed these purchases as a strategy to contribute to the area people as a result of if we didn’t purchase them, likelihood is they might proceed to remain empty. On the identical time, in the back of my head, as a result of they have been priced fairly, I believed they could ultimately supply some returns,” stated Christie.
As we speak, Christie owns seven properties within the space, of which 5 have been repurposed as household housing, rental and visitor lodging and workplaces. He’s typically consulted by workers and members of the family who’re additionally searching for out their very own akiya. He lives together with his Japanese spouse and 4 sons in a superbly renovated akiya in a farming hamlet near the small coastal metropolis of Kitsuki. Simply throughout the highway, they’ve a spacious visitor house with tatami-mat the place they host mates, households and VIPs, most just lately, the British ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom and her husband Richard Sciver.