Fukuoka, one of the leading regions in Japan that actively utilizes Web 3.0, with some of the first initiatives being undertaken by local governments
In recent years, the number of local governments undertaking Web 3.0-related initiatives has been on the rise. Among them, Fukuoka Prefecture is one of the prefectures that has been moving forward the earliest. Fukuoka Prefecture has been seriously working on the use of blockchain even before the term Web 3.0 became widespread, and initiatives are active throughout the prefecture.
Fukuoka Prefecture is the largest city in the Kyushu region and is known for having one of the leading economic powers in Western Japan.
It also has the largest population in the Kyushu region, and Fukuoka City in particular has the highest population growth rate in the country (see "Population, demographic trends, and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register (as of January 1, 2023)" by the Resident System Division, Local Government Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), making it a highly attractive city.
Fukuoka Prefecture has flourished as an important international port since ancient times. In particular, Hakata Port has played an important role in promoting exchanges with China since the 1st century. On the other hand, it can be said that it has been greatly affected by the trends of the times, sometimes being caught up in wars and driven to ruin.
Currently, Fukuoka Prefecture functions as a key location on land, sea, and air, with the development of airports and transportation facilities. It can be said that it has a face as a "gateway" for business and tourism.
Fukuoka Prefecture not only has a very bright outlook for the Web 3.0 field, but there are actually movements to actively utilize it.
In 2021, the prefecture's budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 listed the three fields of "blockchain," "space," and "bio" as new pillars of growth industries.
Fukuoka City, a government-designated city, is also the first local government to join Astar Japan Lab, an organization related to Astar Network, a public blockchain developed in Japan. The city is looking to strengthen collaboration with companies and local governments to promote Web 3.0.
However, it is no exaggeration to say that it was Iizuka City in Fukuoka Prefecture that impressed upon the prefecture that it is a local government that is native to Web 3.0.
In 2020, Iizuka City announced the "Iizuka City Blockchain Promotion Declaration." It emphasized that industry, academia, and government would work together to tackle blockchain. In fact, Iizuka City has shown a proactive attitude toward using blockchain, and has conducted two demonstration experiments on public certificates in 2020 and 2022.
In this demonstration experiment, five parties, including Chaintope Inc., How International Inc., Kaguya Inc., Gcom Holdings Inc., and Iizuka City, collaborated to verify the electronic issuance of resident registration cards and income certificates.
In particular, the second demonstration experiment on income certificates was conducted using actual data, and 197 people, or 83% of the 238 respondents, answered that they would "like to use it if there was an opportunity" or "will use it," successfully gathering a certain amount of support.
In order to realize the electronic issuance of these public certificates, legal amendments will be necessary. Therefore, Iizuka City will continue its efforts on blockchain while preparing for the time to come.
In addition to the government, Fukuoka Prefecture has many examples of Web 3.0 in the private sector. First, there are signs that sports teams based in Fukuoka Prefecture are making use of NFTs and establishing DAOs.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, a professional baseball team, will begin offering "Takakore NEXT" as their official NFT from June 2022. With this NFT, you can view scenes of Hawks players performing well in games and off-shots from practice. Another attractive feature is that you can experience NFTs in 360 degrees with a 3D viewer.
In addition, Avispa Fukuoka, a member of the soccer J1 League, launched the "Avispa Fukuoka Sports Innovation DAO" in February 2023. This DAO is being developed with the cooperation of Financier, which provides the token-issuing crowdfunding service "FiNANCiE" that utilizes blockchain.
With the vision of "co-creating an innovation model that spreads from Fukuoka to the world with the power of Web3 x sports," this is the first DAO to be formed by a Japanese professional sports team.
In the DAO, not only will the team and fans communicate with each other through various projects, but they will also discuss player development, stadium experiences, and more. In addition, by discussing community contributions and problem solving together, they are also working on urban development and creating a related population in Fukuoka Prefecture.
To participate in this DAO, you need to hold Avispa Tokens issued by Avispa Fukuoka on FiNANCiE since 2021. The rewards such as NFTs that you can receive vary depending on the number of tokens you hold, so if there is something you want to get, it's a good idea to actively participate.
In addition, JR Kyushu will start offering "JR Kyushu NFT" from July 2023. JR Kyushu NFT was launched as a project to propose new experiences and ways to enjoy Kyushu to users. All NFTs are issued on the Aster network.
In this initiative, NFTs will not only be used as content for collections and buying and selling, but will also be distributed when actually using transportation such as stations, trains, and buses, as well as commercial and accommodation facilities. This makes it possible to enjoy NFTs as commemorative items and certificates, and as added-value content.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, there is a movement to incorporate NFTs into hometown tax donations. In May 2023, Kitakyushu City announced that it would offer original NFTs in collaboration with Kitakyushu NFT Nexus, a general incorporated association that promotes the spread of NFTs, and the NFT community "Big Hat Monkeys" as hometown tax donation return gifts.
This NFT is designed as an original manhole cover, and the front side features an arrangement of Kokura Castle, a tourist attraction in Kitakyushu City, based on the motif of the NFT collection "KURENAI" created by Big Hat Monkeys.
The back side features an actual design of Kitakyushu City's environmental mascot characters "Teitan" and "Black Teitan" with Kokura Castle in the background.
Another example of NFTs being adopted as hometown tax donation return gifts in Fukuoka Prefecture is the "Asakura City x JUNKeeeeS (Junkies) Collaboration Traveling NFT" launched by Asakura City. This initiative was launched in 2023 by the City Promotion Division of Asakura City, which is focusing on promoting the city.
Meanwhile, JUNKeeeeS is a character brand NFT with a motif of junk food such as fries, hamburgers, pizza, and donuts, and was launched in 2022.
The traveling NFT, created through a collaboration between the two companies, is limited to 100 pieces and depicts six popular JUNKeeeeS characters traveling to five famous places in Asakura City and traveling through different scenery at different times of day. The famous places to travel are the "Triple Waterwheel," "Akizuki no Kuromon," "Cormorant Fishing on the Chikugo River," "Amagi Park Cherry Blossoms," and "Haratsuru Onsen," and the characters, famous places, and local products are all different combinations.
Going forward, Asakura City is showing an attitude of actively using NFTs to create related populations and attract tourism, and plans to develop new return gifts.
So far we have introduced examples of Web 3.0 use in Fukuoka Prefecture, but there are many other initiatives being undertaken within the prefecture. Fukuoka Prefecture can be considered a "key center for blockchain use," and we will likely continue to see more Web 3.0-related examples emerge throughout the prefecture.
Fukuoka Prefecture has historically played an important role in connecting with the world, and it has the potential to become even more prominent as a global gateway in the increasingly digital society.
The official NFT has been launched by the professional baseball team Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. In addition to being able to view scenes of Hawks players performing well in games and off-shots from practice, you can also view the NFT from various angles in 360 degrees using the 3D Viewer.
[Companies and organizations that have introduced this]
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Avispa Fukuoka, a member of the J1 League, is the first DAO in Japan's professional sports, launched in February 2023. In addition to promoting interaction and communication between teams and fans, the DAO is also working to develop Fukuoka Prefecture's towns and create a related population.
[Companies and organizations that have adopted the DAO]
Avispa Fukuoka
Financier
JR Kyushu began offering the NFT service in July 2023. It was launched as a project to propose new experiences and ways to enjoy Kyushu to users. NFTs can be purchased, but are also distributed when actually using transportation such as stations, trains, and buses, as well as commercial and accommodation facilities.
[Companies and organizations that have implemented the service]
JR Kyushu
Kitakyushu City is collaborating with the Kitakyushu NFT Nexus General Incorporated Association and the NFT community "Big Hat Monkeys" to offer original NFTs as hometown tax return gifts. The design is based on Kokura Castle, a tourist attraction in Kitakyushu City, and is issued as an SBT.
[Companies and organizations that have adopted the system]
Big Hat Monkeys
Kitakyushu NFT Nexus General Incorporated Association
This hometown tax return gift NFT was created in collaboration between Asakura City and the junk food-themed character brand "JUNKeeeeS". Only 100 copies were issued, and the card depicts a journey around five famous places in Asakura City, experiencing different scenery at different times of day.
[Companies and organizations that have adopted the card]
JUNKeeeeS
Red Horse Corporation
Kitakyushu NFT Nexus General Incorporated Association
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