An initiative to turn the Motomachi area into "Anko-san Town" has begun!

Since FY2018, under the island's brand concept of "a repeat-worthy island where you'll find things just right," members of Oshima's meeting have been discussing the creation of a system to build ongoing relationships between visitors and island residents, as well as the planning and construction of a menu of activities. In FY2019, they conducted a monitor tour to share and test out the project's ideas in practice and worked on creating business opportunities by turning the menu of activities into travel products.

At the first follow-up meeting held in July 2020, meeting members reviewed the content of past deliberations and discussed the direction of the current fiscal year's initiatives, taking into account Japan's "New Lifestyle" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of the meeting, it was decided to develop the theme of "Anko-san," a symbolic figure in Oshima, to create a new, sustainable mechanism for more fully expressing Oshima's brand values to people on and off the island.

"Anko-san" is a term of address used on Oshima to refer affectionately to women older than oneself who support the lifestyle of the island and offer their wisdom to others. Recently, elementary and junior high schools on the island have been offering more opportunities to learn about Anko-san, and the entire community is involved in perpetuating and passing on Anko culture. In addition, recognition of Anko-san is increasing, in part due to an NHK travelogue program broadcast in July that featured Anko-san and resulted in more inquiries about them.

Six villages have existed on Oshima since long ago, and each of these villages has its own unique traits. Because Oshima has this background, it is important that these unique traits are utilized on a district (village) basis in order to implement sustainable and growth-oriented initiatives. Therefore, members will work to transform Motomachi, an area that serves as a base of activities for many members and is dotted with "Anko-san" related spots, into "Anko-san Town." Motomachi is also the gateway to Oshima. Turning this area into "Anko-san Town" will allow the island to convey the charm of the area, as well as the charm of Oshima as a whole, to people on and off the island.

In the future, in order to increase recognition of Anko-san and create a new image of Anko-san to suit the current times, meeting members will cooperate with the Anko Culture Preservation Club and businesses in the Motomachi area. They will work to give concrete shape to Oshima's appeal by developing products, activities, and services themed around Anko-san, and spread this information as a starting point for the initiative.