Combining Tech with Tradition to Secure Local Culture and Its Keepers.
Shiiba Village, one of Japan’s three most hidden regions, is facing a serious population decline. For nearly 400 years, the Shiiba Kagura — a nationally designated cultural treasure — has been a tradition woven into the very fabric of the community. But the declining number of performers means this invaluable tradition is now in danger of being lost. In Yamakoshi, Niigata Prefecture, a region devastated by the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake, a powerful new community has emerged. By launching "Nishikigoi NFT", the village has gained over 1,600 "digital villagers" from across the country. These digital villagers are now teaming up with local residents (often referred to as "real villagers") to shape the future of the region, creating a powerful new form of community. Continuing this innovative approach, a new project is launching in Shiiba Village, Miyazaki Prefecture, starting in 2024. The core idea is that we are taking Kagura, a historic performance and intangible cultural treasure, and capturing its powerful spirit and motion as digital art. And we mint the NFTs to invite you, our "digital villagers", to join this project from all over the globe. This is far more than simple tourism promotion. It's a bold initiative to sustain a vital cultural heritage and build a new future for a shrinking community. As a digital villager, you're invited to "return home" to the village, share in the Kagura festival experience, and help shape its future as a true stakeholder.
