Tokunoshima was registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, along with Amami Oshima, Okinawan Island and Iriomote Island on July 26, 2021.
There is no direct flight from major airports, and agriculture is an island in the main industry.The forest that has protected the unique animal and fauna spreads, and the coral reefs glow in the highly transparent sea.
It is also known as an island with a thriving bullfighting, and about 4,000 people gather at the Ballitage Ball at the "All -Island Ichigoi Cow Tournament", which is held three times a year.
In 2020, earthenware was found more than 7,000 years ago in the Asama Bay Cave (commonly known as Umbuki) near the airport, and was widely reported nationwide.
Tokunoshima is full of the charm of nature, culture, and history.Some people move to the island and take the "power of the island" and depict their overflowing thoughts.Freely, vividly.In a natural body.
"Sending videos, images, and texts on the island through the Internet", "Supporting depopulated villages with funding for crowdfunding", "Shipped out of the island with an extraordinary wish in crops cultivated by yourself."
The government will spare no support for initiatives that lead to the future.It accepts enthusiasm for various measures and businesses.
We followed the days of the three people who continue to transmit the charm of the island in the Amami Islands and Tokunoshima.
"Mirai Creation Laboi no Kawa" is located in the Inogawa village in Tokunoshima -cho.Tokunoshima -cho was renovated into a multipurpose space in 2017.Because it faces the sea, a hot water shower is fully equipped, and you can enjoy playing on the beach for a change of work.Shooting: Hira Nami -san
Yokohama City, 33, moved to Tokunoshima four years ago.He was fascinated by scuba diving and got a professional license in Izu.He jumped into Tokunoshima to train a diving warrior, saying, "I want to come to my life and do what I want to do!"
"The transparency is high and you can meet sea turtles throughout the year. You can see the magnificent appearance and bleach (jump) of the whales in winter. Recently, in addition to" Whale Watching, "which allows you to observe whales from the boat.The number of people who enjoy "Whale Swim" swimming with whales has increased. Why don't you look at the whales I took aerially and the state of whales in the water? "
Mr. Hirano, who sends out the charm of Tokunoshima on a blog entitled "Nacare Blog".Follow the whales by aerial photography and underwater photography using a drone from the ship, and the magnificent appearance is stored in the frame.
The meeting was designated as a meeting, "Mirai Creation Lab Inokawa" in the Inogawa village in Tokunoshima -cho.It is a facility renovated the abolished nursery to a multipurpose space in 2017 by Tokunoshima Town.Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), multifunction devices, and projectors have been maintained, and the use as a co-working space for people visiting the island by working.
The play button of the personal computer is pressed.It was the scenery of the departure that jumped into the screen.Aerial photography that captures the power of whales and underwater photography are expanded at a good tempo.
Shooting: Hira Nami -san
"When the material was provided to news programs on the nationwide net, a great response was received. I want to convey more people the charm of Tokunoshima, the charm of the sea, and the charm of whales." Mirai Creation Lab Inokawa "isIt is also useful as an editing and meeting place. The communication speed of the Internet is also sufficient. Web conferences and videos uploading is also crisp. It is located along the sea, so the view from the window is wonderful.You can face each other. "
「ザトウクジラは尾ビレの模様や傷により、個体を識別することができます。自然の標識から『徳之島が好きなクジラの親子』がわかるかも？」Shooting: Hira Nami -san
Toru Kagawa (62), a free photographer living in Tokunoshima -cho, highly appreciates Hirano's work.He himself has been shooting with the theme of whales for over 35 years and has published many works.
"I call her a" whale girl "with familiarity. Especially the aerial photography from the ship is wonderful. Because it is a professional diver, there is plenty of underwater photography, even the expression of the whale and the tail pattern.They are also carefully captured. The affection for the subject is transmitted straight. ""She is studying well on Tokunoshima. She is often impressed with the articles she distributed on SNS and blogs," people on the island will also be studying. "I have"
Hirano is also working as a community -based web consultant.On this day, we had a meeting to renovate the homepage of the NPO "Gyumaru no House", which supports child care.We will develop the contents from the staff's perspective with the staff.
Before coming to Tokunoshima, Mr. Hirano, who has been working on a web venture and advertising agency in Tokyo.After immigration, in addition to the activities as a diving instructor, information on Tokunoshima has been distributed on blogs.The title is "Nacare Blog".It is a combination of Nacchan (his own nickname) + Naturu Tokunoshima (aerial photography and diving site to be operated) + challenge (challenge everything).
The content of the blog is diverse.There are plenty of contents such as introduction of restaurants, tourist information, migration tips, local economy, population analysis, and the history of the island and animals and plants.
"What I want to know is that the islanders and travelers have doubts and want to know. I look at the island from the perspective of consumers and try to disseminate small information."
The information dissemination on the blog has been triggered, and requests for websites, information dissemination, and aerial photography have been received from businesses and governments on the island.
The NPO parent -child network, a NPO parent -child network, which operates the "Warenkya Square" that supports child care in Tokunoshima, is one of the businesses that has received the advice of Hirano.
Ryoko Nonaka (45), the chairman, said, "The homepage created with repeated hearings from staff and users is easy to see and convenient. The compatibility with SNS, which has a high degree of use of parents. I asked a foreign company.In some cases, it took a lot of money and time. In a limited time, I couldn't say what I wanted to say. Mr. Hirano, who rushes from the island, is a reassuring ally. "
"I came to Tokunoshima for diving training. There is me today with the warm support of the islanders. I have an endless end of the island and the sea. Whales that travel freely in the sea of the world blow off everyday emptiness.It will be. My favorite Tokunoshima is a special place for me. I will continue to send the blessings of the island. "
"The starry sky is the illuminations of Tokunoshima."There are countless stars at the end of the window where the lights are turned off.At the end of the laptop, the sound of the waves continued at night on a quiet island.
Hayashi, who is a representative director of Mirai, a general incorporated association, while engaged as a support member of the village support in Tokunoshima -cho."Tokunoshima -cho, which was first selected as the Cabinet Office" SDGS Future City "in Kagoshima Prefecture in 2019.
There are people who are also challenging regional revitalization projects based on "Mirai Creation Lab Inokawa" that Hirano also uses.Miki Hayashi (40), a representative director of the village support in Tokunoshima -cho and is the representative director of Mirai Kita Kobo.
Mr. Hayashi born in Tokunoshima -cho.He spent his junior high school in the mountain village in the town, and high school went out of the island.After graduating from the University of Defense, he worked for the Maritime Self -Defense Force, but returned to the island for his father's care.
"First of all, the abandoned land cultivated land jumped into my eyes. Due to the progress of depopulation, even important places called sacred places were not sufficiently cleaned." Now, do it.Who will do it? "I have to get up if I'm young," and decided to work on the village support in earnest. "
Mr. Hayashi first embarked on the maintenance of a wasteland.He consulted with his senior who continued to protect the village, negotiated with land owners, and had the consent of care.
"Plants that have grown on the island, such as Shikunin (Island Mikan), Sanen (Tsukimoto), Karagi (Mikatsura), and Mugi, are growing well in abandoned cultivated areas.I was surprised that it was a "treasure mountain". Residents and travelers can easily participate in harvesting work without machinery. I started selling the harvested ones and began to move to "let's make the village funding."The goal is the village where I was active as a child. I kicked my study abroad in the United States in front of me and made a U -turn to Tokunoshima in Furusato. I have my dream to revive the village.I entrusted it "
"Children who open up the new history of the island. It is also an important effort to convey the history of the village," says Hayashi."I often get taught by glittering eyes. Responsibilities are also serious." Photo provision: Mirai Kobo
The Amami German Island Office Association, which is organized in 12 municipalities in the Amami Islands, has a business entitled "Amami WitH CAMPFIRE" to support new businesses and entrepreneurship through crowdfunding.
Mr. Hayashi also utilized the system in March 2021.The purpose is to purchase food dryers, vacuum wrapping machines, distillers and crushers necessary for manufacturing crops that grow native to the village.Instead of selling crops, we aimed to create products with added value.He further aimed at the development of abandoned cultivated land and the funding necessary for planting natural plants.The result was successful in receiving the support of 920,000 yen, exceeding the target amount of 700,000 yen in two months.
"The crowdfunding is the name" Botanical Island ". Named from the" plant (botanical) "that lives in the harsh environment of the island and the" island (Island) "surrounded by the blue sea.I prepared as a refund item as a botanical tea made with the people of the villages and the fruits, and cookies using native mugwort and karagi. The quality and production efficiency are increased by the equipment purchased by the support money.increase"
Mr. Hayashi is also focusing on local education for nursery schools and elementary school students.In order to accurately pass on the history of the village, it is indispensable to listen to the village seniors."I want to baton the island to the next generation with responsibility. At the moment when such thoughts become one of the generations, I feel infinite possibilities" on the island "and" village "."
"In the listening from the large seniors, you will learn about the symbiosis with nature and the strong way of life, and your head will fall."
"In Tokunoshima, we have lived a strong way of life, also called" environmental culture ", which is connected to the islands in the sea, with all of our lives, from the mountains and the sea, and the view of life and death.There is a saying that people and the world (water is thanks to the mountains, people are thanks to the world), and there is a culture and tradition of "Yuwaku" (the spirit of Total), which supports each other.Live. With a view to the shining future "
Includes the mouth of crowdfunding, "Sanen x Shiknin Botanicalty".A refreshing and spicy scent tickles the nasal cavity.
The "scent of the island" remaining in the drinking cup was gentle and powerful."Change to a place to give birth by maintaining a wasteland."The island village is taking a certain step with Mr. Hayashi.
One of the crops that Ota is working on is Mask melon.The small seedlings planted in September have grown to make a big fruit in November.The state of growth is sent on the blog of "Farm Tokunoshima Konjima".
In August 2019, Mrs. Ota (47) and Mrs. Haruka (46) migrated from Aichi Prefecture to Amagi -cho, northwestern Tokunoshima.The couple, who studied forestry at Kyoto University Graduate School, worked on the island in search of the educational environment of the first grade of junior high school and the eldest daughter of the fourth grade after working for a company.
"I used the system of Sanaii students in Amagi -cho. It spreads to school buildings and school roads, which is also a treasure trove of rare plants.My heart has become warm. "
"When I came to the island, I decided to agriculture," said her husband, Teruhisa.She joined the Amagi -cho Agricultural Center as a trainee, and she learned the know -how of gardening crops such as vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers in the year deadline.
"After the training, we cultivate crops that lead to cash income, such as melon, passion fruit, and tomatoes. Winter is the peak of melon harvest. The sugar content is excellent.Melon is also lined up on the table of my home. When you see your family's smile in a dining room wrapped in an elegant melon scent, you can get tired.
Hisao Takeda (76), the mayor of the town of the town, who provided the Ota and his wife a farmland -cultivated farmland, said, "We will take the lead in mowing and clean operations in the region.What is even more happy is that you can hear your child's laughter in the village. If you go to school, you will be fine if you say "Good morning!" "Hello!"Thank you, "said with a smile.
At the Farm of Tokunojima, the Tokunojima Island, you do not use pesticides during cultivation or use only the minimum necessary.Safe and secure vegetables are supported by many fans."Every month, and seasonal flights are also popular, which are packed with vegetables and fruits made by the islands that are taking care of them."
My wife Haruka is challenging a new business.In addition to pesticide -free vegetables from the open -field foods they cultivate, she launched a mail order site "Nankoku Tokunoshima Farm", which sells agricultural products produced on the island.
In the operation of the mail order site, applied for the Amami Islands Private Challenge Support Project, which is implemented by the Amami Islands Wide Area Office.It was evaluated and adopted for the development of sales channels and processed product prototypes of Tokunoshima agricultural products.
"In the warm Tokunoshima, fresh vegetables and fruits are harvested throughout the year. Utilizing" Amami Island Private Challenge Support Project ", the development of seasonal sets and the production of pamphlets.I was able to focus on the activities. I would be happy if we could contribute to Tokunoshima, which is taking care of the safe and secure vegetables and fruits that we want to eat.
The email from the customer received was "Fresh vegetables and fruits. It will be healed in photos of producers and plant scenery.Dances.
Ota's family has been in his third year since he moved.Hop Step Jump!The Farm of Tokunojima, a tropical country, is supported by many outsiders, families, and people on the islands, and is trying to flutter.
Tokunoshima is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site and is expected to increase the number of visitor.The southern island is quietly trying to catch the times.
The information dissemination of the three people is life -size.Simple and straight.There is no extra goal to aim for a shortcut.Touch the soil, feel the temperature of the water, and repeat the dialogue.Even if it's a detour.
It may be that there is no goal to keep walking.Still live on the island of the island.Neither a typhoon day to resonate with a rough sound, nor a calm sunny summer day of the waves does not stop.
Draw the overflowing thoughts "freely" and "vividly".Relax her shoulders and keep drawing "naturally".It was Tokunoshima who taught me the importance of every day to repeat "as it is" and "as it is".