Web3.0×Niigata: Preserving and Communicating the Diverse Cultures of Niigata's Vast Region Through Web3.0

Facing the Sea of Japan, Niigata Prefecture is one of Japan's premier rice-producing areas. Brand rice such as Uonuma Koshihikari is nationally recognized as a luxury product. It is also one of Japan's heaviest snowfall areas, with significant temperature variations between day and night. The abundant meltwater and fertile land have been central to rice cultivation since the Edo period.

Originally, the area now known as Niigata Prefecture was called Echigo Province. During the Edo period, it was divided into smaller domains such as Murakami, Shibata, Nagaoka, and Takada, along with directly controlled territories of the shogunate like Sado. Even after the Meiji Restoration, it was divided into 11 domains and prefectures.

Due to this historical background, Niigata Prefecture still has distinct cultures in different areas, and each municipality is actively adopting Web3.0 technologies as part of their branding strategies.

One prominent example is the 'Nishikigoi NFT' and 'Yamakoshi DAO' initiatives in Yamakoshi Village. The 'Nishikigoi NFT' serves as a digital resident card for Yamakoshi Village. Owners of this NFT can actively participate in sustaining the Yamakoshi area by contributing ideas and business plans as members of the community.

In Nagaoka City, Yamakoshi Village, the pioneering Local DAO utilizes NFTs and DAOs for regional revitalization. The 'Nishikigoi NFT,' issued in December 2021, features the local traditional industry of Nishikigoi breeding as its motif. This NFT, termed as a 'digital resident card,' is used not as a financial investment but as a tool to gather people, setting a precedent for the use of Web3.0 in Niigata.

Implementing organizations: Yamakoshi Village

Known as the town of tableware, Tsubame and Sanjo cities have jointly launched the 'Tsubame-Sanjo NFT: Guardians of Craftsmanship.' This initiative, a first in Japan, involves issuing a common NFT by two neighboring municipalities and offering it as a return gift for hometown tax donations. The NFTs for sale personify the numerous manufacturing companies, shops, and organizations in Tsubame-Sanjo. NFT owners can enjoy various utilities at different locations in both cities. Additionally, they can connect to the Tsubame-Sanjo DAO's Discord server, participating in town revitalization efforts.

▶The 'Guardians of Craftsmanship' project, a collaboration between academia and industry in Tsubame and Sanjo cities, aims to personify local industries for PR and to expand the relational population. The popular trading card game's top 30 cards, plus some, are issued as NFTs on Polygon, providing holders with local benefits such as restaurant coupons and event tickets, along with the opportunity for interaction within the Tsubame-Sanjo DAO.

Participating entities include Tsubame City, Sanjo City, and Tsubame-Sanjo Corporation.

In Tsubame City, the brand knife manufacturer 'Tojiro' is using blockchain technology for the authentication of its knives.

▶︎SBI Group is pioneering an innovative traceability & NFT service that combines real assets with blockchain. This service is actively used to protect the brands of Niigata's specialties such as knives and sake, employing methods for authenticity and tamper-proof verification. NFC tags complete the process without the need for location information or a dedicated wallet, allowing smartphone reading.

Organizations implementing this technology include SBI Traceability Co., Ltd., Daikoku Bank, and Tojiro.

In the Manza area of central Niigata City, 'NiiFT' is an NFT marketplace dedicated to regional content, transforming local culture, traditions, industries, and tourist resources into NFTs for trading. The focus on specific areas is aimed at making it easier for municipalities to showcase their unique characteristics.

▶︎A local Web3.0 project from Niigata, NiiFT aims to rediscover and revitalize the region's traditions, culture, industries, and tourism resources using NFTs. The name 'NiiFT' combines 'Niigata' and 'NFT'. It is compatible with other marketplaces like OpenSea and wallets like MetaMask.

Implemented by the company/organization → NIZA Corporation

In the unique setting of Niigata City's Furumachi area, there is 'oO SPACE Niigata,' a community space created to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with local business owners. The operational decisions of this retail space are made through a DAO, where voting rights are influenced by the amount of money spent, labor provided for the operation of the space, or tokens acquired through referrals.

▶︎ Linked with the online community 'oO COMMUNITY', this initiative fosters real-world encounters, discussions, and learning, nurturing ideas for regional business revitalization. The space includes a standing bar and a members-only lounge for entrepreneurs and challengers, where users, staff, and investors can vote in management meetings using 'Contribution Tokens' and 'Owner Tokens'.

Adopting organizations → E Innovation Inc.

Speaking of regional revitalization, in June 2025, Sekikawa Village will launch the first 'Regional Revitalization Support Team DAO' in the prefecture. By digitizing the village's natural and cultural attractions, this initiative aims to promote regional development starting with hometown tax donations. Fresh perspectives from outside the local government spark a chemical reaction with the residents' sentiments, creating innovative solutions. This is leading to an increase in interaction and relational populations, with sustainable regional development expected to spread nationwide.

In this way, Niigata, where diverse cultures have coexisted for a long time, is actively using Web3.0 as a strategy to protect its culture and pass it on to the next generation.

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