WARASii—A new way to revitalize towns—

Good evening, this is Kamiyo. This article is not about monsters, but I'd like to write an introductory article about an interesting project that I came across.

Now, in recent yearsRegional revitalizationThe word "regional outreach" has become more prominent. In short, it is an effort to change the current situation where people and things are concentrated in Tokyo and to liven up the regions. Although it is not well known yet, the support system for this purpose is gradually being improved.

You may be wondering, "Town revitalizationWhat kind of image do you have of the word "town revitalization"? I think many people probably have an image of a bunch of local grandparents getting together and having a little festival. Indeed, many of the stereotypical town revitalization projects that were often featured on TV in the past were like that.

This method has the power to draw in local people by utilizing local ties. However, on the other hand, it is also true that it is difficult to advertise the event as a "local town revitalization event" in order to attract people from other places.

Perhaps due to this background, in recent years, the content of town revitalization in the Hokuriku region where I live has become much more radical. For example, in Ishikawa Prefecture, there is a fictional festival called "Hanasaku Iroha" that appears in the anime "Hanasaku Iroha" based on the prefecture.Lantern FestivalThe local government that served as the model for the setting of the film actually holds the festival, and it attracts so many visitors that extra buses are needed every year. The number of visitors is said to continue to grow even after the anime has ended.

In Toyama Prefecture, the so-calledeSportsWe are promoting the town through these events. We gather young people who are interested in subculture through game tournaments and social gatherings, and by selling local food and alcohol at the venues, we are deepening young people's understanding of the local area.

However, such success stories are few and far between, and the reality is that many local governments are sitting idly by, unsure of what approach to take when it comes to revitalizing their towns.

That was a long introduction, but what I'm going to introduce in this article is a project that will be a great help to those who live in rural areas and find themselves in a difficult situation right now, or to those in Tokyo who are interested in revitalizing rural areas.

The project name is "WARASii"

WARASii's main activities are monthly trips by members living in the city to target areas for revitalization, and conversely, members living in rural areas come to Tokyo to hold social gatherings. There is no contract that involves financial transactions between rural areas and urban areas, but rather it starts with exchanges between members with the same aspirations, and by getting to know each other, they share the charms and problems of the area. Then, based on that knowledge, they can work on revitalizing the area.

Members who live in Tokyo offer what they can do and ideas from an outside perspective to the regions. In return, members who live in the regions offer benefits unique to the region, such as introducing cheap accommodations to members who are traveling in Tokyo. It is a community that is connected by a spirit of mutual help for each other's sake.

I myself have been involved in town revitalization, and the most difficult part at the start was finding a mentor, that is, an "experienced advisor." Some of the members of WARASii have a track record of town revitalization. They may come up with ideas that can help ease the stress of local governments who are struggling with their arms folded.

This project removes one of the barriers to town revitalization. As someone who is active in the Hokuriku region, it is very appealing to me. If you are interested in town revitalization, please do not miss the opportunity presented by this little Zashiki-warashi.

This is WARASii's Twitter account. For more details, please click here →@warasii1