PlanetDAO - Nachi Project Kick Off!
PlanetDAO is a project that tokenizes real estate and holds ownership through a DAO.
In my previous article, I wrote about our test case in Takayama, but this time I would like to talk about "Irokawa Village" in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture, which is another location candidate for us.
* The Japanese version is here in the link below
About Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture
Nachikatsuura Town in Wakayama Prefecture is about an hour's flight from Haneda Airport, followed by a car ride of just under two hours from Nanki-Shirahama Airport. The town is famous for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, a World Heritage site, and also for the Nachi Falls, known as one of Japan's three great waterfalls. The town not only boasts mountainous beauty but also attracts visitors for its beautiful coastline as it faces the sea. Nachikatsuura is bustling with tuna fishing, and a wide variety of fresh tuna can be seen at the port in the early morning. Surrounded by magnificent nature, the town also has famous hot springs, making it a very attractive area for tourists.
Our connection with Nachikatsuura Town began when I participated in a workation held at Daitaiji Temple, organized by Sharewing, which operates Zenkoji Temple in Takayama that I introduced in Location#0. The chief priest there is taking care of several unattended temples in Nachikatsuura Town and is exploring how to utilize them.
With Japan's population in decline, the abandonment of rural temples is progressing. When these temples with no resident priests are left unattended, it leads to the loss of local religious beliefs and cultural activities, and also to a decline in regional identity and cultural cohesion.
Furthermore, there is a problem of cultural properties and historical buildings within the temples deteriorating, leading to the destruction of regional cultural heritage. In the Nachikatsuura area alone, there are 40 such unattended temples.
At the top of the mountain path of Nachi lies Irokawa Village. Surrounded by rugged mountains, this settlement has been inhabited for over a thousand years. About 40 years ago, young families began moving to Irokawa to realize a new way of life centered on organic farming without relying on pesticides or machinery, and now, more than half of the village's population consists of these immigrant families.
The unattended temple "Ryogonji" in Irokawa Village is one of the temples that local people want to protect, and it is a registered tangible cultural property, standing on top of over 100 stone steps. Located on a hill, it overlooks the village, and the sea can be seen in the distance. As PlanetLabs, we see the potential for Ryogonji and Irokawa Village to be our first base in the Nachikatsuura area.
Irokawa Village, located at the top of the mountain path of Nachi, is surrounded by steep mountains. It is said that people have been living in this settlement for over a thousand years. About 40 years ago, young families began moving to Irokawa to realize a new way of life centered on organic farming without relying on pesticides or machinery. Now, more than half of the village's population consists of families who have moved there.
The uninhabited temple "Ryogonji" (楞厳寺) in Irokawa Village is one of the important temples that the local people wish to protect, standing atop a series of more than 100 stone steps and designated as a registered tangible cultural property. Because it's situated on a high ground, one can have a panoramic view of the village, and the sea is visible in the distance. PlanetLabs sees the potential for Ryogonji, as well as Irokawa Village, to be the first base in the Nachikatsuura area.
About the Project in the Nachikatsuura Oheji Area
After on-site inspections, the project started in August 2023, receiving a grant from the Japan Tourism Agency to explore the possibility of utilizing unattended temples in the Oheji area of Nachikatsuura.
Oheji refers to a section of about 120 km along the coast from Tanabe City to Nachikatsuura Town, one of the routes for Kumano pilgrimages. While the Nakaheji route was commonly used by commoners and literati with time to spare, the Oheji was a path walked by those who admired the coastal scenery, and hence, it has partially escaped modern development, retaining its landscape from that time. In the early Edo period, the route was also used by large processions of the lords of the Kishu Domain, and many temples served as lodgings.
In the Irokawa Project, Mr. Kazuo Hara, who initially settled in Irokawa as a trainee and has long been devoted to local activities, is serving as a bridge between us and the people of Irokawa Village. He has been the contact point for those wishing to move there without relying on the government's help. Mr. Hara conveys not only the matters of the region but also his own passionate thoughts.
(Articles interviewing Hara-san. All in Japanese)
おかげさまで、なんです」NPO法人 地域再生ネットワーク 理事長 / 農家 原和男さん | 物語を伝える記事制作 / Screen
In September, we held the first face-to-face meeting with the local residents of Irokawa Village at Daitaiji Temple. (It was an important meeting, and I wanted to be there in person, but as Nishimura was two weeks away from giving birth, I participated online. Koyama from PlanetLabs attended on site.)
About the Future
As a major milestone, we plan to conduct a tour in the winter of 2023 for people considering participating in PlanetDAO. This tour will include visiting the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage and attractive tourist spots along the coast, experiences at Daitaiji Temple, inspections of unattended temples and Irokawa Village, and interactions with local residents.
For updates about the project, follow PlanetDAO on Twitter or join our Discord, where we post updates regularly. If you're interested, we invite you to join our Discord and follow us on Twitter!
(Sidebar) Stay at JUGEMU Farm Inn
During our inspection of Irokawa Village, we stayed at the farm inn "JUGEMU" in Irokawa Village. The owners of JUGEMU, the Kotobuki couple, moved to Irokawa in 2013. They live as self-sufficiently as possible, growing rice and vegetables organically without pesticides and procuring their own firewood for heating the bath.
Article about JUGEMU. all in Japanese
Reference
わかやま観光情報|街道マップ 熊野古道 大辺路 | 和歌山県公式観光サイト
受け継がれる、先人たちの知恵。昔と変わらず地を這って、熊野の大地を耕し続ける、二組の夫婦を訪ねる。 - 「雛形」違和感を観察する ライフジャーナル・マガジン