Leaving a little footprint on the region's future: Starting a place to belong with Koai Mirabi / Akiha Ward, Niigata City

I'm Kireido, living in Niigata.

Lately, this
Kireido note has been exclusively about life in Niigata.

Actually, I've been keeping a secret...

I've gone and made another account~.
made~
made~

It's called "Koai Mirabi".

Here it is↓
(Oh, you don't have to go look at it yet. Read this first!)

Since this autumn, I've started a new challenge in regional development,
and the project is called "Koai Mirabi".

I hinted at it a little bit back in September, though.
Reference article ↓

Today, I'd like to introduce "Koai Mirabi"
here on the Kireido note as well!

What is "Koai Mirabi"?

Yes, here we go. The fundamental question.

Let me start from here.

"Koai" refers to
the Koai area in Akiha Ward, Niigata City.

(Oh, it's probably just the countryside you're imagining. Lots of rice fields.)

It happened last year.

The local residents gathered
to discuss what they wanted this area to look like
10 years from now.

And so, the Koai District Future Vision,
packed with their "hopes for the future!", was born.

And this year,

we're going to start taking concrete action toward that future vision!

And so, what was launched was the
Koai District Future Vision Project.

Abbreviated as

Koai Mirabi!

.

(Mirabi is pretty easy to remember, right? ♡)

What does Koai Mirabi do?

Among several goals as a future vision,
the one we are focusing on most right now, starting here, is

creating a place where children and local residents
can spend time with peace of mind.

Our motto is

"It doesn't have to be perfect, so
let's just give it a try!"

Since there was already a local community center,
we are moving forward with the direction of utilizing this space.

By the way, since Mirabi started in September,

• we have conducted a survey on places to belong with local children and their guardians

• and held a trial cafe for interaction at a local art festival,

gradually expanding the scope of our activities.

And finally, during winter break, we plan to open
"Koai Kids Station (tentative)".

We are preparing a space where children can play, do homework,
and take a breather!

We are taking small but steady steps forward.

Koai Mirabi is Niigata Living × Community Development

In terms of my own activities,
I've become a writer for the Niigata Tourism Association,
a member of the Akiha Ward Autonomous Council,

and have also introduced things here on this note.

Mochi barley events
Old folk house workshops
Sesame cultivation
Oral history experiences

And much more

Living in Niigata × community development have been my keywords for the past few years.

Of course, the core of "Koai Mirabi" is the same.

It is not just about creating a place for children,
but aims to be an activity that energizes the region itself.

For example, at our trial cafe during the art festival,
we collaborated with a cake shop in the Koai district
to serve local sweets.

I feel it was a great opportunity
to rediscover the charm of the region.

I believe Koai Mirabi is a place where I can actually turn
my desire to contribute to the community into reality.

Even as a parent, you can contribute to community development!

I am one, but
there are other project members who are also raising children.

While balancing work and child-rearing,
honestly, we don't have that much free time.

However,
for the sake of the children who will carry the future of the region,
I want to do something I can.

Things I used to vaguely imagine on my own,
thinking it would be nice if they existed,
might actually be achievable through Koai Mirabi.

• It's too rural and there are few children.

• There's nowhere to play.

• There are few opportunities for interaction.

But we might be able to flip these into strengths
precisely because it is a rural area.

The perspective of thinking about children's growth and the region's future
is something only those raising children have.

Koai Mirabi is a place where we can put this into practice.

Isn't that just wonderful?

My strengths are
in web-related work and writing,
so I am currently helping with website creation, flyers, and blogs.

▼ Click here for the official page I created

Eventually, I'd like to teach things like this to children
and create them together.

That said, it feels like we are
working together within a reasonable scope.

Please support Koai Mirabi too!

At Koai Mirabi,
we will continue to plan many activities.

Through community-based initiatives,
I hope to make flowers of smiles bloom
in the community, even if just a little bit.

If you are interested,
please feel free to reach out in the comments!

Energizing Japan from the regions!

Please continue to support
Niigata's small project, Koai Mirabi!

Oh, and of course!
Please continue to support the Kireimichi note as well!

▼ It would be awesome if you could also follow the Koai Mirabi note!

Your likes are my motivation.

[November's Kireimichi]

◆The optimal solution for overripe persimmons: Rich and healthy persimmon curry was too delicious, and it's great for dieting too (November)
◆Made with Grandma's persimmons, persimmon vinegar is now ready (November)
◆Sweetness and richness condensed: Ripe persimmon Worcestershire sauce is excellent and has become a regular in our home (November)
◆For those with sore throats or constipation, moist and sweet simmered figs to blow away the cold and dryness! Plus, medicinal food tips (November)
◆For dry, cold, itchy skin, 3 tips to get through the cold winter energetically [November 7th Rittō (Start of Winter), Lazy Medicinal Cooking]
◆Don't fall behind! Prepare now to survive the winter: Declaration of the start of winter (November 7th Rittō)
🔶【Want both immunity and beautiful skin】A luxurious time with just one lemon—I tried making the trending lemon curd
◆【The Potato Three Musketeers】 From the food paradise of Hokkaido, precious potatoes arrived, so I compared them (November)
◆"Omesan, hatsumerane" (You're so clever): I want to preserve the warm words of my 90-year-old grandmother [Niigata dialect] (November)
◆Did Uesugi Kenshin eat this too? Highly practical ultimate preserved food: Zuiki rope—what exactly is it? [Niigata Food] (November)
◆【From Niigata: Taro Relay】Connections made on note through taro (November)
🔶The story of how I asked for Grandma Tomoko from Niigata's secret recipe for pickled daikon radish and found out there was darkness lurking behind it (November)