Inspection Tour Held of Cutting Edge Case Studies in Ei and Koshikijima, Kagoshima Prefecture

Chichijima has been holding discussions among members to realize its brand concept of "an otherworldly island where life shines as it is" and about efforts to continue maintaining what makes the island Chichijima-like. Against this backdrop, the members have been interested to learn about initiatives in other communities.

At the Ninth Tokyo Treasure Islands Meeting, Mr. Kenta Yamashita of Koshikijima in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture took the stand as a guest speaker. His lecture was full of empathy and surprises as a person living in an "island" environment. We wanted to interact with the people of Koshikijima, where they have been creating jobs on the islands, making the economy run, and have many supporters outside the islands, and take home what we learned to Chichijima. That was what inspired us to plan an inspection tour to Koshikijima.

Efforts to boost development are also being actively pursued in Ei, Minamikyushu City, also in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a vibrant area as a tourist destination. This time, we inspected Ei and Koshikijima, which are geographically close to one another.

In Ei, Mr. Kato from the NPO Ei Okosokai, an organization engaged in town development, served as our guide.

Kamafuta Jinja is a shrine that is now famous for a unique way of worship where worshipers place a traditional rice pot lid on top of their heads. It is said that if they can make their way from the tori gate to the hall of worship without the lid falling off, their dreams would come true. However, until a few years ago, it was a place that only locals visited. Efforts were made to distribute tourist maps and overhaul nearby parks to make the area an integrated tourist area and now, people visit from all over Japan.

(Worshiping at Kamafuta Jinja wearing a rice pot lid)

Hearing about this case at Ei, we learned that there were ways to boost tourism while protecting traditions. In Ei, there is a foundation for local residents to accept transplants and young people, which seems to contribute greatly to town development that can be handed over to the next generation.

In Koshikijima, attended by Mr. Yamashita, we were able to see an example of a vacant house being revived.

(The revival of a vacant house)

(Mr. Yamashita and members of the Chichijima Mirai Conference exchange opinions)

In Koshikijima, we were impressed by people developing accommodations, food and drink, and souvenirs as businesses that make the islands' economy run as they engage in town development . The key to success is not only creating new things, but being aware of how much value already existing things have and making thorough use of them. The members of the Chichijima Mirai Conference seemed to feel the importance of thoroughly harnessing the value that exists on the island as well.

Additionally, the key persons of town development were impressed that they were working with the local residents and local culture in mind and already practicing the living environmentalism (concept that consuming and circulating a community's products and services within the community increases demand and consumption within said community) that the Chichijima Mirai Conference upholds.

The Chichijima Mirai Conference intends to utilize this experience in future activities, cherish exchanges with other communities, and continue with efforts to make maintain what makes the island Chichijima-like.