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From Design to Business in SDGs Part 1

The Global Goals Jam (GGJ), which has been held annually since 2016 by Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, is a two-day design challenge workshop where participants propose solutions to social issues through design. There are designers who will participate in the GGJ every year from 2016 to 2020 and one of them is Ms. Maya Fukuda from Nara Prefecture, the head of Temporary Yabakei. Ms. Fukuda has worked in design in advertising agencies in the Kansai and the Kanto region. She was fascinated by the Yabakei area, which she had been visiting since she was a primary school student, and moved her home to Yabakei in 2012 after getting married.

Ms. Fukuda has always been a challenger, trying to solve social problems through design. In this article, we’d like to introduce a new project of hers, the Yabakei Tunnel Hotel, derived from a collaboration between Ms. Fukuda, one of the team leaders of the 2018 GGJ, and Shinichi Noguchi of Fukuoka City Hall, who supported the team and strengthened by adding the participants’ networks to the ideas that emerged from the GGJ. It is a new business that has been strengthened by adding the network of the participants to the ideas that came out of GGJ.

The “Yabakei Tunnel Hotel” is a unique event that was held only for three days from February 11 to 13, 2021, where visitors were able to stay in a camping car in the tunnel before it opens to traffic. This event was conceived as a way to boost up the region in response to the negative cycle that continues for the Yabakei region, such as the significant decrease in tourists during the peak season and the closing of large-scale facilities due to Covid-19. This event was held as a trip where you could experience all kinds of local industries through various activities and enjoyed the products of local restaurants.

Architect Mr.Fumihiko Sano had produced the interior of the tunnel, which was dotted with specially designed giant tables and spaces for relaxation. In addition, the catering service “USAMI fine food and cuisine” from Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, had been invited to prepare a special dinner using ingredients from Yabakei and Nakatsu. After dinner, bartenders served original cocktails and local shochu (Japanese distilled spirits), Yababijin, etc. There also was DJ time, and participants enjoyed the music echoing in the tunnel. For breakfast, guests were able to experience the bounty of the organic region, such as bakeies made with milk and flour from the Shimogo Agricultural Cooperative, which has been practicing organic farming, honey from Yabakei, and fragrant coffee roasted on the mountain.

Yabakei Tunnel Hotel” Implementation Guidelines

Date: February 11-13, 2021 (2 days and 1 night on either date)

Venue: Yabakei Town, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Nakatsu-Nichida Road, Yabakei Road Section

Capacity: Overnight stay: 35 people per day, dinner time only for Nakatsu citizens: 10 people per day

Fee: 25,000 yen per camper (4-person capacity), 10,000 yen per person for dinner and breakfast (7,000 yen for elementary and junior high school students), 7,000 yen per person for dinner time for Nakatsu residents only (5,000 yen for elementary and junior high school students)

Check-in and check-out: Check-in 5:30 p.m., check-out 9:00 a.m.

■Official Press Release (PRTimes)

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000072619.html

■Article Publication