Reproduction of Yamakoshi in Metaverse "Digital Villagers" Real "Homecoming" November 1st 19:28
Former Yamakoshi Village in Niigata Prefecture (now Yamakoshi District, Nagaoka City) is known for its clear air and terraced rice fields.
Efforts are underway to recreate the village in a virtual space on the Internet, the Metaverse, in the area that was once stricken by the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake.
In 10 months from the start of sales of digital resident cards, the number of "digital villagers" has exceeded the actual population.
And those "digital villagers" have started to "return home" in real life to the real old Yamakoshi Village.
(Koji Toyoda, Reporter, Niigata Broadcasting Station)
"Virtual Yamakoshi Village" Appearing in the Metaverse
The special product, koi, swims in the sky, and terraced rice fields spread out below.
The sea sways in the wind, and if you listen closely you can hear insects chirping and the sound of the wind.
This is a virtual space on the Internet = "Virtual Yamakoshi Village" in the Metaverse.
The former Yamakoshi Village in the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture is reproduced.
(Note: In reality, koi do not swim in the sky.) “Would you like people who do not live in
Yamakoshi
to support the community?”
The private organization "Yamakoshi Residents Conference" started selling "digital resident cards" in December last year.
"Digital villagers" virtual space walking and chatting
“Virtual Yamakoshi Village” is created and operated by people who have a digital resident card = digital villagers.
You can walk through virtual spaces, interact with other participants through chat, and even view real-world events.
In addition, the alter ego "Avatar" has a unique regional twist that allows you to choose a local specialty vegetable called "Kagura Nanban".
In reality, the former Yamakoshi Village continues to experience a declining population.
On October 23rd, the 18th anniversary of the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, the memorial ceremony held on site was also relayed in virtual space.
The earthquake caused landslides here and there, cut off all lifelines, and forced all of the 2,100 residents of the former Yamakoshi village to evacuate outside the village.
After that, although restoration and reconstruction progressed, the population has now decreased to about 800 people.
One in two residents is over 65 years old, and aging is a serious issue.
Even at the time of the earthquake, depopulation was a major issue, but the situation continues unabated.
Over 1,000 "digital villagers" surpass the actual population
"If things go on like this, Yamakoshi will disappear."
That sense of urgency led to this attempt to broadly connect with people from other regions in the Metaverse.
It has been 10 months since we started selling digital resident cards.
The virtual villagers have grown to over 1000 people, surpassing the real world population.
Real “homecoming” of “digital villagers” one after another
Efforts of “Virtual Yamakoshi Village”.
In fact, even the real old Yamakoshi village is undergoing major changes.
It is an interaction between “digital villagers” and real residents.
On October 9th, two digital villagers were seen in the former Yamakoshi village.
Mayuzo and Mameko.
A former colleague of the company said that he came to Yamakoshi for the first time this time.
I thought it was just for sightseeing, but it looks a little different.
The two of them handed over the souvenirs they had bought locally to the people of Yamakoshi who they had met through a virtual chat, and smiled.
The movement of digital villagers to actually visit Yamakoshi is called "homecoming", and we are now in the "homecoming rush".
When I asked the two about their impressions of Yamakoshi, they said, "I don't feel like I've been here for the first time. It feels like I'm back at home."
The two took pictures of the terraced rice fields and talked with the locals about koi carp.
I also bought new Koshihikari rice that was just harvested in Yamakoshi this year.
Mayuzou
: “We have created a community, so when we came, it felt like we knew each other.
So that real events will be held in Yamakoshi
Interaction between “digital villagers” and local people is expanding further.
Jazz live held in Yamakoshi in September.
It was realized because there was an instrument player in the digital villagers.
The people who come to see it are from inside and outside Niigata Prefecture, including people from Yamakoshi.
Clap your hands and shake your body.
Male Digital Villager:
“We had a lot of fun coming. The scenery was amazing and we had a lot of fun playing. I think this is one of the ways that Digital Villagers can contribute."
In the future, the virtual space will recreate the whole of Yamakoshi, including a bullfighting arena where a traditional event called ``Ushi no Tsunotsuki'' will be held, and a vegetable shop.
We aim to create an environment where you can feel Yamakoshi even if you are far away and buy special products online.
Representative Takeuchi, Yamakoshi Residents' Conference
"The number of people returning to Yamakoshi has been increasing since this spring, and the number of locals who are talking to digital villagers is also increasing. People who live in Yamakoshi and protect the area are the foundation, but I hope that the digital villagers and the people who live in the real world will be able to interact more closely and talk about various things, so that Yamakoshi can continue to exist.”
Find a way to digital
It has been 18 years since the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake.
Reconstruction is progressing, and I can hardly feel the scars of the earthquake.
Just looking at the idyllic scenery of Japan's original scenery spreads out, and just looking at it makes me feel calm, but at the same time, I feel a little saddened by the fact that the number of people living there continues to decline.
Those involved in the attempt to find a way out digitally are getting a certain amount of response, but how far will this continue, and will it be a clue to regional revitalization?
I don't know the answer.
However, when I interviewed many people in Yamakoshi, I found that they are not giving up and are all very positive.
I can't help but think that it's not only the possibilities of virtual space, but also the feeling that "Yamakoshi is a really good place."
Niigata Bureau Reporter
Koji Toyoda Joined the Bureau in
2017
After working at the Osaka Bureau, he joined the Niigata Bureau in 2020. In
charge of coverage of the Chuetsu region and other areas at the Nagaoka Bureau since November last year
. Their names are "Nocchi"
,
"Kashiyuka" and "Aa-chan".