Projects

Shotengai Team

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Regional Revitalization Shotengai Team introduction with a focus on both Jim and Pema

AYF’s Shotengai Revitalization is a project focused on bringing new life into a shopping street in Iwaya, a small town located in the northernmost region of Awaji Island. The Iwaya Shotengai is a current display of many problems facing rural Japan today: aging populations, urbanization and home abandonment. In Iwaya, the symptoms of these infrastructural issues can be observed on a daily basis. However, in a place where many residents saw a hopeless situation, the individuals who now lead the Shotengai Revitalization project uncovered a new opportunity to demonstrate to Japanese people that you can do more than to say that nothing can be done.

So far, the project has emphasized three elements in kick-starting the revitalization of the Iwaya Shotengai:

–       Acquiring property which will be used to open a new community space, luxury hostel and rooftop bar.

–       Organizing the Awaji International Market, a place where both local and foreign crafts and cuisines can be enjoyed by visitors.

–       Holding community events (educating the elderly about new technologies, local club activities, etc.) in an effort to strengthen local activity and trust.

Four individuals have taken charge of this ambitious project:

–       Freddy Lim, a serial entrepreneur designer and entertainer from Singapore. He is the driving force behind the team. He works day and night on business plans, designs and moving the project forward any way he can.

–       Ira Permana, marketer and event promoter from Indonesia The organizer who manages the events organized by the team, handles the project’s logistics and oversees relations with various stakeholders.

–       Jim Bouman, marketing and HR professional from the Netherlands. The brains behind the team. He finds solutions in any situation the team encounters, keeps everyone focused on the task at hand and coordinates the various tasks and schedules.

–       Pema Yangchen, HR and finance professional from India. The team’s treasurer. She handles the team’s finances, takes care of budgeting and financial plans as well as maintaining the team’s chemistry.

We had a chance to meet with Jim and Pema who allocated their time to help us learn more about Shotengai Revitalization and each of their roles in the project. Below are Jim and Pema’s profiles, which display their roles within the Shotengai Revitalization project and reasons for participating in the AYF program.

–       Jim joined the AYF program with two things in mind: to help develop AYF and to take part in revitalization projects on Awaji Island. Jim strives to parallel his AYF goals with the two most important things in his personal philosophy: to develop his own self and to have a positive impact on others. Having worked in a start-up, Jim has relevant experience with new business development and has managed to translate the skills he acquired to help manage both the Shotengai Revitalization project and AYF as a whole.

–       Pema comes from the Indian side of the Himalayas and has been dedicating most of her time to the development of the Tawang region and more precisely the remote village of Zemithang, where she established a banking facility. From a very young age Pema has been driven by the sheer will of leaving a positive mark on this world by helping the unprivileged, educating them and sharing what matters most to her: love and compassion. Naturally, Pema quickly saw the opportunity to participate in AYF and regional revitalization as an appropriate use of her talents and experience. Through the AYF program, Pema aims to further develop new skills in order to contribute more to the betterment of people both at home and around the globe.

Music Village

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Through the practice and teaching of Polynesian dance in Awaji, the Music Village’s project goal has always been twofold: to build relationships in the local community by sharing the joy and happiness of Tongan culture, and to contribute to the revitalization of Awaji Island by establishing a hub where music performances from around the world can be experienced in one location.

The project is spearheaded by talented music/dance instructor Fifita (from the Polynesian island of Tonga), along with her two managers:

–       Azman, Indonesian business mogul and entrepreneur, who manages all the aspects that are not related to the practice and teaching of music and makes sure the targets are reached.

–       Taro, a Japanese taiko practitioner and advocate of Awaji’s regional revitalization who plays a communicative role between Music Village and locals.

With clear goals and a dedicated mindset, the team has met success by quickly developing a close network and follower base in Awaji Island. So far, the team has performed and taught at several high-schools (Iwaya junior high-school, Higashiura junior high-school…) and other facilities on the island (Tsuna Yasuragi no Sato nursing home). They have contributed to local events and publish online video tutorials which are followed by thousands of viewers. Finally, Music Village established a Polynesian Fan Club, where followers can learn more about Polynesian culture at Manabi no Sato. So far, as a testimony of their success and popular reception, the team has obtained the best feedback a teacher can dream of: “we would like to learn more.”

Travel Awaji

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Project Presentation with Jiya and Win interviews

Awaji Island is home to some of the most unique attractions within Japan. However, Awaji has only recently begun to attract inbound tourists, and is still largely unknown to the non-Japanese visitor. The Travel Awaji team aims to shape international tourism on Awaji Island and display its appeal to new audiences. The project includes taking part in activities such as providing business plans for local restaurants, establishing online/offline travel platforms, and building new communities. These practices are the first steps to promoting Awaji Island as a multilingual and international destination that we believe it should be.

In addition to this introduction, we have had the privilege to spend time with Jiya and Win, the two leading minds behind Travel Awaji, to have their views on Awaji island and why they want to develop the tourism industry in Awaji.

Which aspect of Awaji Island struck you the most when you first arrived?

Jiya (J): The friendliness of local people. Especially at bus stops.

Win (W): Yes exactly!

J: Anywhere you go, they will not hesitate to talk to you. Just say hello and they will talk with you for hours!

W: One thing that I would also like to add is that Awaji has many scenic spots where you can simply stare at the horizon and enjoy spectacular views of the ocean. In Japan, it’s usually pretty rare because of the mountains.

J: Yeah, the road along the coast is really beautiful, especially during a sunset.

Having lived on Awaji Island for some time now and working with Mr. Lloyd on the Awaji Travel project, where do you think lies Awaji’s biggest potential?

W: Awaji island has a lot of potential in terms of tourism. It has a lot of beaches and natural attractions such as hiking, forests and onsens. It definitely has the potential to grow as big as a place like Arashima. Due to its location, one of Awaji Island’s assets is that it’s a nice place to establish a local business. You will find that many of the local residents are outgoing people who might be willing to help you connect and get started.

J: I agree, I think that these are some of the keys to promoting Awaji Island. I see it as a hidden treasure for those who want to experience life outside the city. I think that Awaji is a nice place worth settling into since it is rather quiet and surrounded by nature. Awaji has a huge potential and space for new businesses that could create more diverse opportunities for those seeking local employment.

How do you see your endeavor having a positive impact on the local communities?

J: We hope that by improving the infrastructure of Awaji Island and by strengthening local networks, we can consequently build the story of Awaji into a more complete package for inbound tourists and connect them with local attractions.

W: We also want to contribute with our international perspectives as foreigners and help diversify Awaji Island’s businesses, systems, and facilities so that it can become more prepared for today’s traveling market.

Noca Team

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Noca Presentation and Recipes

Think globally, act locally!

NŌCA stands for New Origin Catering in Awaji. Through a new framework, NŌCA aims to create original culinary art and raise awareness about the importance of healthy living by combining the Five Elements theory of Chinese traditional culture (eating according to season to maintain harmony between internal and external environments) with other international techniques inspired by mixed backgrounds and cultures. In the meantime, NŌCA aims to contribute in revitalizing the food industry of Awaji Island, once renowned, as Miketsukuni, for its high-quality products that were intended for service to the Imperial family.

NŌCA brand is the product of:

–       Jamie, environmental scientist from Hong Kong, as an assistant in the team, her major role is to feed my team members properly with food and positive energy.

–       Muji, international business graduate from Taiwan, who always gives new ideas to make the project more fun and make everyone enjoy the work.

–       Maryem, biological engineer specialized in food technology from Tunisia, she researches and experiments with recipes that would allow the team to use local products with maximum nutritive values.

–       Takuho, sociologist consultant from Japan, who supports the team with his understanding of business and language skills.

So far, the project has developed its own recipes (see kaak recipe below) and has conducted multiple food tasting events with positive feedback. NŌCA has also established an online platform to promote both its own products and those created by existing local brands. Additionally, and as a long-term goal, NŌCA also aims to drive the development of a new Halal market on Awaji Island that is meant to become a significant hub for Halal-friendly customers from abroad. Through creative services such as homepage development, advertising, multilingual support, NŌCA aims to give local brands a new opportunity to expand overseas to an international market. Because NŌCA acknowledges international food preferences and dietary requirements, the project has gathered, and now provides, a number of unique recipes and instructions for dishes suitable for allergen free, Halal, Vegetarian and Vegan demands. By working hand-in-hand with local producers while targeting a global audience the NŌCA team is on the path of giving a second wind to the once prosperous Miketsukuni.

Kaak: a popular Tunisian cookie and one of Maryem’s personal recipes. The ingredients are easily accessible in Japan and demonstrate the core NŌCA principles.

Kaak Recipe (for 30 pieces)

Ingredients:

Sesame Seeds 40g

Flour 250g

Roasted Almond 40g

Olive Oil 125g

Sugar 100g

Mix flour and sugar in a bowl
Smash the almonds and sesame together until fine, then mix all of the ingredients
Add the oil
Roll the mixture into a flat sheet until it reaches a thickness of about 2cm. Cut the mixture into cookies of any shape you like.
Place the cookies in an oven set to 160 degrees for 7 minutes
Done and delicious!

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Blooming Onion and Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

Blooming Onion

●      100g flour

●      5g salt

●      10g black pepper

●      One clove garlic

●      One egg

●      One onion (or more according to the number of guests)

●      1 cup milk

Dipping Sauce

●      250g yogurt

●      One onion

●      A pinch of salt

Preparation:

Yogurt Sauce

Cut the onion and let it rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator
Add a pinch of salt to the onions
Add 250g of yogurt
Mix everything together and leave to rest in the refrigerator overnight
Blooming Onion Batter

Mix the egg and milk in a container
Mix flour, black pepper, salt and garlic in another container
Frying the Blooming Onion

Cut the onion into equal parts
Dip the onion into the egg milk mixture and then once more into the flour mixture
Fry the onion in a fry pan with oil for 3 minutes at 180 degrees
Your blooming onion is now ready to be eaten with the yogurt sauce (also try the Noentai Basil and Tomato Bagna càuda sauce)!

NŌCA aims to preserve and promote local brand with due consideration of local communities.

‘’Glocalization’’ from Awaji Island.

Noca Team Website
http://nocagp.wixsite.com/nocastudio

Manabi no Ki

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Manabi no Ki (Learning Tree) is a project that aims at creating and providing new and innovative educational solutions. By doing so, the team is tackling important issues such as rural abandonment, lack of foreign exposure and low opportunity to develop English language skills. Their long-term vision is to create an immersive and alternative environment in rural areas where residents can receive quality global education.

Manabi no Ki is currently directed by a group of three individuals who share a deep interest in educating others:

–       Tarang (India), experienced teacher who has taught English in several countries. She has taken charge in curating programs and curriculums to help create student-centered classrooms on Awaji Island.

–       Amy (Vietnam), foreign language specialist and an experienced translator and interpreter. Amy now uses her skills to carry out marketing tasks, networking, curriculum-building and event-organizing.

–       Aménie (Tunisia), president of an association aimed at promoting cultural exchange between countries. She is now utilizing her abilities for marketing coordination and content creation.

They are supported by Riho Kato (Japan) and Junik (South Korea), who both provide their expertise in new business development to aid the project through various activities.

Manabi no Ki has already passed several milestones in establishing the foundational curriculum for its new educational model. The team has connected with several schools on Awaji Island to attract students and test new activities and learning strategies to a Japanese audience. This summer, the project held a “Summer Global Camp” in Awaji Island’s entertainment park, Nijigen no Mori, to provide students with a wide range of opportunities to develop English skills in a real-world context. Manabi no Ki is now present on all major SNS platforms, including YouTube and Facebook, and is followed by several hundreds of viewers.

Team Amami

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Team Amami Presentation and views on Regenerative Lifestyle

As world populations and consumerism continue to increase, climate change has established itself as one the most important issues for our generation. Our current attitudes toward the environment foreshadow extreme temperatures and natural disasters, along with other detrimental environmental effects such as the pollution of water, soil and air.

AMAMI’s objective is to solve these issues by promoting and taking action to help others in adopting a more regenerative, sustainable lifestyle. Under this principle, people around the world will have the opportunity to take control and lead a sustainable life that also gives back to the planet.

AMAMI starts in implementing its values by asking questions about our daily life activities. For example, What are the strategies for improving energy harvesting required for household items and amenities? Where does water come from, and how is water replenished back into the water cycle? Is waste being productively reintroduced back into the environment? If not, how can waste be utilized as a resource? What is really necessary for food appear on our table at every meal? What are the consequences and benefits of our actions? Team AMAMI breaks down each of these problems, finding alternative solutions that shield our planet from the dangers of climate change.

AMAMI is currently led by five members:

–       Tribhuvan (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, India) – Project Manager and Technical Advisor. As a Mechanical Engineer, his role is to integrate technology with ecological design practices to make them more efficient and easier to use.

–       Michele (B.S. in Cultural Tourism, Italy) – Manages networking with local farmers, companies and organizations. He is also in charge of collecting data and technological solutions for the AMAMI project.

–       Amanda (B.S. in Landscape Architecture, USA) – Agroecologist and Regenerative Landscape Designer. She maintains and oversees the organic vegetable garden at Manabi no Sato.

–       Nessim (M.S. in Political Science and Philosophy, France) – Responsible for the philosophical direction of the project, Nessim also works alongside other project members in conducting research. As a designer, he works with the eco-material mycotecture to build decorative furniture and other items.

–       Yang (B.S. in Architecture, Taiwan) – Architectural Designer. His architectural vision integrates modern technologies that maximize the use of natural resources.

With the combined knowledge and multinational experience of five project members, AMAMI’s strength lies in diverse contributions from each individual. Through Awaji Island, AMAMI aims to search for contemporary solutions to widespread environmental issues.

The project serves as the connecting agent between companies whose products and services support AMAMI’s regenerative vision. In other words, AMAMI’s target is to link regenerative concepts – solar energy harvesting, rainwater harvesting, passive house, greywater systems, geothermal systems, regenerative food systems, home and garden automation systems, and environmentally friendly amenities or materials such as underground refrigerators, indoor composters, paints, and energy-harvesting windows – into a comprehensive package for real-world implementation, under the name AMAMI House.

In addition to addressing and developing regenerative architecture, AMAMI has created organic food products and other household items through the use of several concepts, namely agroecology, aquaponics, hydroponics, and mycotecture. These innovative approaches, along with others, comprise permaculture, a term used to describe ecological design that functions harmoniously with the natural environment. With permaculture in mind, AMAMI has taken action to integrate communities of edible plants into the groundworks of Manabi No Sato and has enjoyed the successful growth of numerous organic crops. The project has also experimented with mycelium, a newly studied material made from mushroom roots, to replace plastic, leather, styrofoam, and more through the creation of household items and furniture.

AMAMI’s vision for Awaji Island is to establish its place on the map as the pioneering location for widespread regenerative development in Japan. Through the implementation of regenerative principles, AMAMI is now creating new value for existing spaces in Awaji Island. Using Awaji as a model, AMAMI will then set its sights on the rest of the world to live in harmony with nature.

Voice of AYF

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We are the Voice of AYF and are now proud to present the result of our work with this Online Media Platform. Our core mission has always been to take advantage of the ideal framework that is Awaji Youth Federation and to promote its activities so that it may become a meaningful and recognized global association. By so doing, we hope to have a positive impact not only on AYF but also on Awaji Island by drawing even more interest towards them. In this manner, one might consider our endeavors as a bridge between Awaji Island and the rest of the world, similar to how the heavenly bridge of Ame-no-ukihashi once linked Awaji Island to the heavenly gods. To achieve this goal our team developed strategies to promote the AYF both online and offline by focusing on three main pillars:

–       Online promotion

–       Networking with international organizations

–       Creating a strong alumni networks between AYF generations

Throughout the year, the AYF fellows have comprised several teams to design and lead innovative projects that could be instrumental to shaping the next generation. AYF now continues to tackle issues related to various industries such as food, agriculture, and education, among others. The VOA Online Platform is a testimony and overview of the hard work carried out this year by each of the AYF fellows, spent countless hours in seeing their efforts through, who did not give up amidst difficulties, who remained passionate and wanted to make the most of the opportunities given to them. It is a display of what youth from 19 countries can achieve together given the right tools and environment.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the production of our Platform as it is not only the result of our efforts but also that of every project as well as its supporters. By making it a reality, we believe that we can take another step forward in allowing Awaji Youth Federation to reach its full potential.

The VOA Online Platform was made possible by the Voice of AYF team:

Valentin from France, Japanese culture and language specialist

Kamil from Djibouti, politics and international relations specialist

David from Benin, business and networking specialist

Junik from Korea, Japanese language and sales specialist

With additional support from:

Jacob from the USA, Japanese language and translation specialist

Maddison from Australia, Japanese culture and SNS specialist