[Press Release] Connecting the region and the world through “making friends” – Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, overseas digital nomad exchange program “TADAIMA”
SHIMODA” will be held in November
*ELENTO LLC*
Press release: September 19, 2024
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Connecting the local community and the world through “making friends” – Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, holds overseas digital nomad exchange program “TADAIMA SHIMODA” in November
*To create a globally relevant population, we will hold the “World Culture Festival 2024” on November 16th, bringing together local high school students and businesses. We are recruiting participants from Japan and abroad. *
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ELENTO LLC (Headquarters: Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Representative: Erika Tsukada, hereinafter referred to as “ELENTO”) has been commissioned to build a digital nomad attraction model implemented by Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and is working to create a global related population. Digital nomad exchange program “TADAIMA”
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding “SHIMODA”. This program will run for approximately one month from November 3rd to 30th, 2024, and will host a total of 100 digital nomads from Japan and overseas.
*1 ) is the first in Japan to directly interact with local residents, overcome cultural and language barriers, and aim to make friends. ) initiative. On November 16, 2024, the “World Culture Festival” co-created by Shizuoka Prefectural Shimoda High School students, local businesses, and overseas digital nomads will be held.
2024” will be implemented. Through this program, we will develop the workation business promoted by Shimoda City and expand the acceptance of overseas digital nomads as a “city where you can make friends in Japan”. Furthermore, we aim to create an environment where domestic and international digital nomads and local residents can interact naturally, and create a “Shimoda Model” that creates a sustainable population that connects the global and local. *
* ■ Background of this program*
In recent years, the digital nomad market has grown rapidly, and expectations are rising for long-term stays to revitalize the local economy, create business opportunities, and revitalize the region. In Japan, a digital nomad visa will be introduced in 2024, and it is expected that inbound demand will increase in regional cities. However, currently popular destinations in Japan are concentrated in metropolitan areas with a population of over 1 million people, such as Tokyo, and there are concerns that the gap with regional cities will widen. Japan has over 1,700 local governments, many of which are small cities with a population of less than 20,000 (*
*3*
). Shimoda City, as a typical regional city with a population of approximately 20,000 people, will take on this challenge. With this program, it is predicted that the number of people will reach 1 billion by 2035 (*
*4* ) We aim to capture the demand of the digital nomad market and build the “Shimoda Model” that takes advantage of the unique charm of the region.
The charm of rural areas lies in the fact that you can deeply experience Japan’s local culture and traditions while sharing daily life with local residents (allowing you to blend into the local community). Survey by Japan Digital Nomad Association*
(*5) *
According to , when digital nomads choose a place to stay,
“experiencing and understanding local culture” is the second most important thing after work environment and security, and in
particular, about 70% of overseas digital nomads who wish to stay in Japan for one month or more answered, “I want to deeply understand Japanese culture and traditions.” This data shows that “living while blending into the local community” is one of the values that digital nomads cherish.
On the other hand, overseas digital nomads say, “I want to go local, but I don’t know how* (*6)*
” and “There is a lack of information in English in Japan, making it difficult to decide where to stay outside of major metropolitan areas.” In order for local cities to attract digital nomads, it is necessary to remove these barriers and create an environment where digital nomads and local residents can interact naturally.
In Shimoda City, we have been promoting the workation business since fiscal 2019, aiming to create and expand the related population, taking advantage of the easy access of about 3 hours from Tokyo, rich nature, and historical background as a city that opened the country. It was (*7). Through this initiative, the foundations for accepting long-term residents are being laid, such as improving the environment and work environment for long-term residents, and making it easier for them to integrate into the local community. As the next step, we aim to create a global population of overseas digital nomads.
『TADAIMA
SHIMODA’s purpose is for domestic and international digital nomads to deeply interact with the local residents of Shimoda and ‘make friends in Shimoda.’ A program whose main purpose is to “make friends” between local residents and digital nomads is rare in the world, and is the first of its kind in Japan. Through this program, Shimoda City will We will provide a new value for staying as a “town where you can make local friends in Japan” and rediscover the potential charm of the region.We will also identify local issues from the perspective of digital nomads and build a sustainable global population. We will continue to create it.
* ■ About “TADAIMA SHIMODA” *
This program is a program commissioned by Shimoda City to build a model for attracting digital nomads to attract digital nomads who prefer medium- to long-term stays of one month or more to Shimoda City. Currently, a total of more than 70 people have been scheduled to visit* from 11 countries and regions including Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America, including practitioners who work with digital nomads in each country. “World Culture Festival” run with local high school students
2024,” we will deepen relationships through experience as a sushi chef and exchange with local residents through music, sports, etc., as well as experience of businesses run by local businesses and practical feedback from an overseas perspective, which will contribute to the growth of the local economy. We aim to help you achieve your goals. *As of September 19, 2024 (including Japan)
overview
– Date: November 3rd (Sunday) to November 30th (Saturday), 2024 – Location: Various locations in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture – Main accommodation: * Kazemachi Shimoda *
– Program details: * TADAIMA SHIMODA, Japan*
– Participation fee: Free admission
– Contents: World-local food experience with overseas digital nomads and local high school students, tea ceremony experience with Shizuoka Prefectural Shimoda High School Tea Ceremony Club, talk session between local businesses and overseas digital nomads, Miyazaki A.K.A. DJ
Codomisco by PLEASURE, stained glass experience by Master Sano, activities using cutting-edge technology, DJ party, etc.
– Details/Participation application: *
https://shimoda-worldfes2024.peatix.com/*
Sponsor: Shimoda City / Planning and management: ELENTO LLC, WITH A TREE / Cooperation: Yamamoto Architecture, Shimoda Clock Tower Front, Sushi Shirabo San02, Watamoko & Watamoko
kids, Shizuoka Prefectural Shimoda High School, etc.
*Contents may change without notice.
Click here to apply for participation
* ■ Comments from Shimoda City *
Since 2019, Shimoda City has been creating an environment that accepts digital nomads and remote workers through the workation project. This “TADAIMA”
The SHIMODA project is a new regional revitalization initiative that provides a place for local residents and digital nomads visiting from Japan and abroad to interact, share new discoveries, and become friends. Shimoda City has a historical background of being the stage for the opening of Japan to the world at the end of the Edo period, and has always maintained pride as a town open to the world. On the other hand, the country faces challenges such as a stagnation in economic activity outside of the tourist season, an exodus of young people, and a lack of information dissemination in English. Through this project, local residents and digital nomads will work together to find new solutions to these issues, and we will warmly welcome digital nomads from all over the world as a “town where you can make local friends in Japan,” making it more than just a tourist destination. Blending local and global perspectives while collaborating with citizens and local businesses
We aim to build the “Shimoda Model”, a new form of “glocal” regional revitalization, and communicate this to the world.
* ■Comment from ELENTO representative Erika Tsukada*
I myself am one of the “related population” who visited Shimoda in 2020 and incorporated it due to the workation project promoted by Shimoda City. Since 2019, I’ve been traveling around Japan and abroad as a digital nomad, and I feel like saying “I’m home.”
“Home”
I felt comfortable in Shimoda as a professional and moved there in 2023. As we interacted with each other as digital nomads, we heard voices such as the lack of English information about Japan and the desire to live in Japan in a way that blends in with the local community.We decided to create a new initiative called TADAIMA to solve these problems.
SHIMODA” was planned.
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to plan and operate this program in my beloved Shimoda, and I would like to express my gratitude to Shimoda for its sustainable digital technology that takes advantage of not only its nature, history, and culture, but also the charm of Shimoda, which allows you to blend in with the local community. We will work together as a team to build the “Shimoda Model” to attract nomads.
* ■ Overseas digital nomad participants (example) *
Aron Meteling / from Germany
Engineer freelancer. Utilizing his experience traveling around the world as an engineer since the age of 18, he provides advice on preparing for accepting digital nomads.
Haren Tambi / From Indonesia
Community manager of Bali, Indonesia, a sacred place for digital nomads. We accept over 400 digital nomads every month. It will play a central role in this project, promoting interaction between local residents and digital nomads.
Mavel Robayo / From Colombia
A freelancer based in Taiwan who works across borders in a variety of fields as IT sales, customer success, reporter, and English teacher. Promote interaction with local students and provide an international perspective to younger generations.
Nuri Kasimov / from Switzerland
Entrepreneur. Co-founder of Brandfetch. A digital nomad who changes his place of stay every 2-3 months. As a startup entrepreneur, he provides a global perspective to local businesses through business exchange events between local businesses and digital nomads. Yeji Cheon / From Korea
A pioneer community builder in Korean coworking spaces. Currently, while working as a digital nomad, he also runs a co-living and co-working community in Seoul. We will provide advice based on our knowledge of accepting digital nomads in Asia.
Rammy & Estelle / from Switzerland
Video production “NS90” that tells stories about world culture and history
A video photographer who runs “. In charge of shooting promotional videos during the period.
others
*1
Digital nomads are people who use the Internet to work and live while freely moving around the world without being tied to a specific location. According to estimates in 2020, more than 35 million people (*) around the world have chosen the digital nomad lifestyle, seeking things such as “freedom of location,” “freedom of work,” and “pursuing self-growth and life balance.” It is estimated that. ABrother “The Digital Nomad Statistics for
According to “2021”, approximately 70% are from regions with strong passports, such as North America, Europe, and Australia.
*MBO Partners. (2020). 2020 State of Independence in America Report. *Digital Nomads: Toward a Future Research Agenda (Toronto Metropolitan University）
*2 According to our research
*3 Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau “Population, demographic trends and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register”
*4 Nomad list levels.io *5 From Japan Digital Nomad Association Digital Nomad Book
*6 Toronto Metropolitan University：Digital Nomads: Toward a Future Research Agenda
*7 2nd Shimoda City Tourism Town Development Promotion Plan
[About WITH A TREE]
This is a huge warehouse near Izu Shimoda station. It is a place where diverse people from all over the world and the region gather, from 3-year-olds to people in their 80s, students to working adults, managers and entrepreneurs, artists and musicians, instructors, politicians, Japanese and foreigners. As a base for sustainable manufacturing, we develop “play” into “work” by eliminating
preconceived notions and creating with sensibility, and we conduct demonstration experiments to make it fit for modern times.
[About ELENTO]
ELENTO LLC is a communication firm founded in 2020 in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, a city that opened to the world. Our mission is to bring positive change to society through global communication that connects the region and the world. TADAIMA is a digital nomad exchange program that aims to create a globally connected population through PR/promotion projects and “making friends” between local residents and overseas digital nomads.
We are developing “SHIMODA”. Please see our website for details. URL: * https://elento.jp/jp*
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