"Web 3.0 x Ishikawa Prefecture" Ishikawa Prefecture is taking a pioneering approach to Web 3.0 to recreate the Kaga Domain's ancient domain of one million koku in modern times.

Ishikawa Prefecture is located almost in the center of the Japanese mainland, and is long and narrow stretching from southwest to northeast. With the ancient winter capital of Kanazawa at its center, you can experience the original Japanese landscape. Noto is dotted with strange rocks and cliffs carved by the rough waves of the Sea of ​​Japan, Kaga is famous for its hot springs with a history of 1,300 years, and Mt. Hakusan, one of Japan's three most famous mountains and known for its mountain village culture, is also very famous.

Ishikawa Prefecture was ruled by Maeda Toshiie during the Azuchi-Momoyama period and became the "Kaga Domain". During the Edo period, it became a large city with a land area of ​​1.2 million koku, and by the end of the Edo period, it had developed to the point where its population was the fourth largest in Japan. Since the first Toshiie, Kaga Domain's successive lords have promoted cultural policies. As a result, it has become one of the leading cultural cities in the country. There are more than 10 nationally designated traditional crafts, including Wajima lacquerware and Kanazawa gold leaf. In addition, the tea ceremony culture is thriving, as shown by the fact that it is ranked first in the country in the "percentage of people who practice tea ceremony and flower arrangement."

In Ishikawa Prefecture, efforts using Web 3.0 technology are thriving. In Kaga City, where the name of the Kaga Domain remains, the "e-Kaga Citizen Card NFT" has been issued on the Japanese public chain "Japan Open Chain".

In 2023, Kaga City held a large-scale Web 3.0 conference on regional revitalization using new technologies under the theme "Can Web 3.0 save a city at risk from disappearing?" Kaga City is at the forefront of regional city Web 3.0 utilization. Facing the threat of population decline and urban disappearance, Kaga City is working to overcome the current situation with cutting-edge technologies such as Web 3.0. As part of this effort, the "e-Kaga Citizen System" was launched. Through this initiative, which began with the aim of creating a diverse population of people involved in the region, Kaga City has set a goal of increasing the number of e-Kaga citizens to 1 million. As part of the 2023 Digital Garden City Concept Promotion Grant "Digital Implementation Type" adoption project for creating examples of horizontal expansion of the use of My Number cards, Kaga City has used NFTs to create the "e-Kaga Citizen Card NFT," which is equipped with a Web 3.0 wallet management function through public personal authentication using My Number cards.

e-Kaga Citizen Card NFT

In 2023, Kaga City issued its own NFT, which also serves as an electronic resident card for digital residents, under the demonstration plan for the "e-Kaga Citizen System." By holding this NFT, you can become a Kaga citizen on the Internet even if you live outside the region. You can also join a dedicated community, take a shared taxi, and use a workcation plan with accommodation.

Kaga City has also set out a smart city concept that utilizes digital technology, and was certified as a national strategic special zone in 2022. In response to this, the "Kaga City Web 3.0 Division" was announced in May 2024. This is a new digital support service that allows remote business startup consultations within the metaverse, and also works in conjunction with the digital citizen certificate NFT. Please refer to the next section for the future prospects of Kaga City Web 3.0 Division.