Many Trails, One Mountain

At the foot of Mount Fuji, Setsuko Watanabe and the women of Mizuumi are showing how small, consistent acts of care can transform a community. What began as a local effort to reduce household waste has grown into a women-led movement for sustainability, upcycling, microplastics prevention, and interfaith collaboration. Rooted in Buddhist practice and community friendship, their work turns old kimonos into new stories, kitchen waste into collective savings, and environmental action into a shared path of resilience. For Setsuko, there are many trails up the mountain, but the climb toward a sustainable future is one they make together.