BEPPU, Oita Pref. — "A friend of mine began using some hair cream and perfume after he was asked for directions by a young lady. He is too old to attract coeds, though," chuckled Kiminori Kumada, in a leisurely local dialect.
Kumada, 59, is chairman of the Kamekawa Shopping Center Union of Beppu, Oita Prefecture. Born in this city, famous for its hot springs, he has watched its ups and downs for decades.
"I hope the university kids will stimulate our old communities. . . . Like any other spa-resort municipality, Beppu has been stuck in an economic slump. Visitors here are on the decline and several stores have gone bankrupt recently," Kumada said.