Tsuwano as a Territorio Vol. 1: The Region as the Foundation of Japan

Spending time in Tsuwano, I feel I can somewhat understand why Mitsuo Anno, who created numerous masterpieces, was drawn to Italy and left behind so many works depicting its towns and landscapes. The small castle town, with its impressive red Sekishu tiles, and the surrounding rural areas are reminiscent of the buildings and scenery of the Italian countryside, evoking a sense of familiarity and nostalgia for me, having spent my student days in that country.
Although small, Tsuwano holds a history as a domain in the Chugoku region. Before the Meiji era, when Japan moved toward a centralized government—that is, during the Edo period—even small domains like Tsuwano were independent autonomous organizations. Across the country, there were 260 to 280 such domains, each acting as a cluster with its own unique culture and economy. As evidenced by the diverse birthplaces of the great figures who left their mark on history, these diverse regions with their independent spirits were the source of Japan's national strength and the foundation of its uniqueness. However, since the period of high economic growth, the population has concentrated in large cities like Tokyo, and as regions continue to decline, it seems that this uniqueness of Japan is weakening. Furthermore, a Japan concentrated in one pole has become vulnerable in terms of national resilience against disasters such as direct-hit earthquakes in large cities, making this an urgent issue in crisis management as well.

Currently, Tsuwano is visited by many individual tourists from overseas, especially from Europe, and they account for more than 30% of the guests at the hostel we run, even though we do not advertise much. Just as I traveled through many regions to get to know Italy during my stay there, they visit small towns like Tsuwano to experience the origins of Japanese culture. When I ask such guests, 'Aren't you going to Tokyo?', they shrug and reply, 'Big cities are the same everywhere.' Even from a European perspective, the region is the true essence of a country. Large cities have dynamic economies and stimulating cultures gathered from all over the world, attracting many people, but if we let the regions of our own country—where nature and landscapes are beautiful and one can enjoy unique local culture—wither, those cities will not thrive either, and they will become boring. We must not be oblivious to the fact that, in the shadow of the remarkable economic development biased toward cities since the modern era, we have destroyed and weakened many regional cultures.

Toward a Creative Regional Society

From the era when almost everyone except samurai and townspeople in the Edo period were engaged in agriculture, the shift in the industrial structure due to modernization—where the population moved from regions to factory zones and urban areas where secondary and tertiary industries flourished—was a major social transformation. In this urban-led economic society where the population is concentrated in cities, the trend toward a declining birthrate has strengthened. Considering the environmental burden caused by an overpopulated planet, a shift away from the traditional capitalist society that has pursued growth can be said to be inevitable. Regions have also been required to seek similar economic superiority, and there has been high interest in corporate accumulation and the convenience of transportation and logistics, but it is clear that there are limits to this way of thinking, and regional societies must steer toward a new vision. We should view this as an opportunity to aim for a regenerative regional society that seeks prosperity through circulation and regeneration, rather than a one-way, consumption-based society.
Many regions facing depopulation are blessed with rich nature. The foundation of their regional industries is agriculture, forestry, and fisheries that deal with nature. Revitalizing these foundations—as they are called 'primary' industries—is the key to regenerating the region, or rather, regenerating Japan. Tsuwano, where TMC is based, is one of the mountainous areas in the Chugoku region facing depopulation. Looking at the town's 'Second Comprehensive Strategy for Tsuwano Town's Town, People, and Work Creation,' created to escape depopulation, the basic policy of 'creating jobs,' which is the foundation for settlement, first lists job creation centered on the IT industry, perhaps with the Digital Garden City Nation Concept grant in mind. I suspect that they are using successful cases like Kamiyama, which revitalized its region by having many IT companies set up satellite offices, as a model, but one should not look at 'Kamiyama' only from the perspective of the IT industry. The key concept at the foundation of this town is 'creative depopulation.' It may sound like contradictory phrasing, but it advocates for creativity aimed at 'prosperity without growth.' 'Green Valley,' which became the driving force behind Kamiyama, started with international exchange and, on top of a creative environment that launched art projects, the work-in-residence and IT industry satellite office movements we see today were born. It is true that new industries create jobs, but it is not just the glorious surface that is important; the creative environment that served as its seedbed is crucial.

So, how can Tsuwano become a creative regional society? The great charm of this region lies in the diverse nature created by the Takatsu River basin and the Mt. Aono volcanic group, and in the fisheries, agriculture, and forestry conducted there, as well as the cultural landscapes they create. By becoming a creative region that utilizes these resources, the potential for a synergistic effect with the IT industry, which is called a creative industry, is born. To achieve this, it depends on making agriculture and forestry as regional resources, which are mentioned in the latter half of the town's comprehensive strategy, more creative and comprehensive strategies. This is why we at TMC are focusing on 'Territorio.' If you are even slightly interested, let's think about 'Tsuwano as a Territorio' together from here on.

Tsuwano Town Creation Center for Town and Culture
Director Shinobu Nakanishi