The first session of the Shikinejima Academy was held online!
The first session of the Shikinejima Academy program was held online, and it began with the sound of waves from the island. The six Treasure Islands meeting members from Shikinejima and ten participants who joined the session started by introducing themselves to each other. There were all kinds of people from Shikinejima, including people who were born and raised on the island, people who left the island and then returned, and people who fell in love with Shikinejima and decided to move there permanently.
Next, the participants who came from various backgrounds (such as age, gender, industry, and working style) introduced themselves. These participants were aiming to go on a future workation or lead a "dual life" (live in two locations), and included people who had already experienced a workation, fans of remote islands, and people who became interested in Shikinejima's appeal and initiatives through this program.
Next, Shikinejima residents introduced activities through which participants can experience the island's appeal. On Shikinejima, a compact island with many hilly roads, electric bicycles are the best way to get around. Walking along the island's smooth sandy beaches and soaking in the onsen under a star-filled sky are other attractions that only Shikinejima can offer.
In addition, the Shikinejima residents provided twelve keywords to describe experiences that they each recommended. Participants were asked to choose the keywords that sparked their interest, and residents shared photos and specific information about each one based on their answers.
The first keyword chosen by the participants was "diving." Sea turtles live near the island's underwater hot springs, and divers with a diving certification can swim alongside them.
The next keyword that came up was "bakabayashi," a creative dance that has existed on Shikinejima since long ago in which people wear masks and dance accompanied by lively music. It has been performed during autumn festivals and coming-of-age ceremony celebrations. Other intriguing activities on Shikinejima such as island cooking and Ise ebi (Japanese spiny lobster) preparation were also introduced. One of the participants said, "There are so many attractions that I might not have any time left for work!"
Next time, members will report on the second session of the Shikinejima Academy, which will be a workation program experience on the island.
