In the serene heart of Japan, where tradition meets nature's beauty, we unveil a remarkable opportunity that celebrates the artistry of kintsugi and urushi lacquer forestry. After a year of dedicated effort and collaboration with the rural town of Daigo, we announce our first annual Japan travel experience workshop: Experience Urushi Forestry + Kintsugi, scheduled from December 6th to 9th, 2023, amidst the Urushi forest of Daigo, Japan. Venture beyond the often-trodden route of Tokyo and Kyoto. While dubbed 'golden' by some, it comes with significant downsides. It's not so good when Mount Fuji is becoming "Like Disneyland!" (CNN Travel Report "Mount Fuji in trouble: How Japan’s highest peak fell victim to overtourism" 9/10/2023) At Taketombo and Goenne.com, our mission has always been to venture beyond the bustling streets of Tokyo and the historic temples of Kyoto. We aim to address the challenges posed by over-tourism and foster greater interest and economic vitality in Japan's equally significant rural towns. Hidden away, Daigo lies in Ibaraki Prefecture, just 100 miles north of Tokyo. Here, a close-knit community of lacquer foresters tirelessly preserves a trade of utmost importance: the cultivation of home-grown urushi lacquer, a resource that fulfills only 3% of the industry's demand. (Read our webpage* Restart from 3%") This labor-intensive, low-yield process has been abandoned by newer generations, yet a dedicated group of artisans remains resolute in protecting their agricultural wisdom and skills, ensuring the production of exceptionally high-quality urushi lacquer, a symbol of Japan's pride. Our goal is to bring their remarkable work to the world stage, unveiling the untold stories and under-appreciated craftsmanship that reside in the heart of Daigo. And bring new economic activities to this small community in need to sustain their craft legacy. Travel to support this small community of urushi foresters.

TAKETOMBO instigates social innovation activation in rural craft towns of Japan. The hype generated for 2020 Tokyo Olympic, and Japan's government's new target to drive tourist growth from 20 to 40 million in-bound visitors by 2020, and 60 million by 2060 maybe driving economic growth for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It is also creating negative impact to these major locations: local residential lives disruption, trash, traffic, pollution ...etc. It is also accelerating rural-to-urban migration. Overall population with age over 65 is at record high of 28%. (World Economic Forum (4/2019). Some rural towns are seeing as high as 32-35%. Simulation also shows hundreds of regional municipalities may disappear in 40-50 years. Consolidation of shrinking municipalities are also destroying their history and cultural identities (as towns assume new names with little to no relevancy to town history). OPPORTUNITY - Leverage explosive tourist growth and trending experiential tourism & eco-tourism development. - Leverage No.1 Competitive Advantage of Japan: Artisanship & Diligence - Diversification - Create a new sustainable practice that stimulate economy growth of declining towns. CREATIVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY - RESILIENCE COMMUNITIES - ECONOMIC GROWTH (1) Divert investments and draw attention from overcrowding Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka (2) Leverage foreign interests to create aspiration for new generation rural lifestyle for the locals. (3) Leverage global creative ideas and Japan artisanship to create new functional objects or art objects. Open new market and business channel. (4) Protect and sustain craft legacies. (5) Activate declining rural towns. Bring new traffic to towns through quality experiential tourism and cultural exchange, one town at a time. (6) Bring awareness to Cultural Sustainability. (7) Renew legacy craft town "brands".

BEING A CHANGEMAKER When most are obsessed with traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto, I took on the challenge to disperse and divert. Behind the bling and glam of metropolitan Tokyo and temples and geisha in Kyoto, there is a different side of Japan that deserves much more attention.

BEING A CHANGEMAKER When most are obsessed with traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto, I took on the challenge to disperse and divert. Behind the bling and glam of metropolitan Tokyo and temples and geisha in Kyoto, there is a different side of Japan that deserves much more attention.

BEING A CHANGEMAKER When most are obsessed with traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto, I took on the challenge to disperse and divert. Behind the bling and glam of metropolitan Tokyo and temples and geisha in Kyoto, there is a different side of Japan that deserves much more attention.

TAKETOMBO is a social innovation venture dedicated in instigating social innovative activation to promote cultural sustainability, and divert attention and investment in aging and declining rural towns outside of glamorous Tokyo and Kyoto. Aging population and rapid decline in rural population resulted in abandoned property and under-utilized public facilities. Up-keeping a 90-year old building (the ex-Hokuriku Bank) has become a financial burden for the local government. Aging structure that lacks seismic reinforcement also poses life-safety concern. Nanto City government's plan is to sell the property for private ownership. If no suitable bid received, the building will be demolished. In December 2018, Taketombo proposed to Mayor of Nanto City in bringing in overseas design work group to conducting feasibility and design research. Mr. Mayor Tanaka immediately agreed to postpone public bidding to allow concerning groups to conduct due diligence, the public can also hold proper hearing to collect feedback and reach a consensus in 2019. ​ However, the Government will cease ownership of the building by the end of 2019, and Inami Art Association will lose its museum space. If there is no undertaking of the building (retrofitting, renovation, management), demolition is still possible. This is a grass-root / community-driven / educational initiative in exploring ways to protect and preserve cultural assets for historic town with social and economic challenges. A design study group from Department of Interior Architecture specializing in Architecture Adaptive Reuse (Master of Design) is invited as the partner in the Inami design-study initiative. Visiting group will conduct qualitative to quantitative research, deep dive into unique cultural and social aspect of Inami, and propose design interventions to built environment as part of the due diligence; and to promote good design practice through adaptive reuse.