Work begins on launching a platform to spread information to foreign nationals
Creating a website is one of Kozushima's key initiatives for promoting the island's appeal to attract foreign-national visitors. Since Japanese people and foreign nationals have different interests and are drawn to different things, members of Kozushima's meeting aim to launch a website that will serve as a platform for spreading information that appeals to the sensibilities of foreign nationals.
The website will focus not only on the appeal of Kozushima's water and fishing industry, two important resources of the island that have been carefully preserved, but also on information about accommodations, restaurants, and other facilities on the island.
In order to create a website that captures Kozushima from the perspective of its target audience, members invited two foreign-national content creators to the island to experience and investigate the island's attractions.
During their stay, the content creators were asked to visit various spots on the island with a focus on water, including Tako Spring and Mt. Tenjo. They were surprised by the natural beauty of the island, saying, "This is a completely different Tokyo than the bustling Tokyo I know!" and "I can enjoy beaches here like the ones in Okinawa." They were also impressed by the island's charming people, commenting that "the island residents are warm and kind" and that they are "passionate about their hometown."
Regarding the island's starry skies, due to which Kozushima Village has been designated an International Dark Sky Place, the content creators offered highly sensitive praise: "It's amazing that you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye." "It's as if we've left earth and come to outer space." These latest assessments of the island from a foreign national's perspective gave the follow-up meeting members an opportunity to rediscover the appeal of the island that they are so accustomed to seeing every day.
After their stay on the island, the content creators commented, "I learned that water is connected to all aspects of life," and "the preciousness of water should be emphasized." Members are continuing to communicate with them they work toward the website's launch.