[Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture] [Bringing Minamisoma’s unique “scenery created by horses and people together” to the future] Minamisoma City starts crowdfunding using the hometown tax system
Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture Press release: October 4, 2024 [Bringing Minamisoma’s unique “scenery created by horses and people together” to the future] Minamisoma City starts crowdfunding using the hometown tax payment system In Minamisoma City, which has been on the road to recovery, we are training people to support the culture/tradition of “human-horse coexistence,” which is the pride of the region, and passing the baton to the future. This is a project to go to. URL:
https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/3364
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/116976/16/116976-16-653f71737f0b2c23ea16929ad2eedc88-999×706.png ■Even after 13 years, the road to recovery is still continuing Minamisoma City is located in the northeastern part of Hamadori, Fukushima Prefecture, and has developed as the city with the largest population in the Soso region, but due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident that occurred in 2011, The landscape and lifestyle of our hometown changed in an instant, and there were times when we were unable to live in our hometown due to evacuation orders. Time has passed since then, 13 years. Minamisoma City has been making repeated efforts toward recovery. We still have a long way to go to become a city that we can be proud of. ■Minamisoma’s unique “human-horse coexistence” where horses and people create scenery together is an important culture Under such circumstances, the culture of “human-horse coexistence” has been carefully cultivated to keep Minamisoma’s light running. A representative example of this is “Soma Nomaoi,” which has been designated as a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and is said to have a history of over 1,000 years. “Soma Nomaoi” is known as a brave festival, but at its root is a prayer and wish for the prosperity and peace of the region, and a heart of compassion for the Soso region and its people. In Minamisoma, you can see horses walking on public roads and horses being kept as part of families, not only before the Soma Nomaoi event but also throughout the year. A culture of symbiosis is alive and well. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/116976/16/116976-16-04e2cd050c68ed5c0512065e30eaafce-960×640.jpg ▲“Soma Nomaoi” is a traditional event that connects people even in times of earthquake (Photo provided by Soma Nomaoi Executive Committee)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/116976/16/116976-16-e68c209a57d14d8938f1b89800a54d93-676×485.png ▲The sight of horses walking around town is a sight unique to Minamisoma, where humans and horses coexist ■To overcome various barriers and continue to create precious scenery However, in recent years, the number of horses kept in the region and the number of horse owners have gradually decreased due to the increasing trend of nuclear families and the increasing burden of raising horses, and the coronavirus pandemic has further accelerated this trend. Even though they live in this area, many children have never touched a horse.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/116976/16/116976-16-22f1d72047c181fc4c1737947b6356c5-997×748.jpg ▲“Horse interaction learning class” at an elementary school. A variety of efforts are needed to preserve the landscape created by horses and people for future generations. While facing such issues, we are rising to the challenge of preserving this precious culture and passing it on to the next generation. With the desire to never perish the local culture and traditions that have been cultivated over a long period of time, we are launching Government Crowdfunding (R) using the hometown tax payment system. URL: https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/3364 ◆ Project name: Minamisoma “A town that walks with horses” project ◆Donation reception site: Furusato Choice “Government Crowdfunding (R)” (Managed by: Trust Bank Co., Ltd.) ◆Project URL:
https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/3364 ◆Target amount: 6 million yen ◆Period: October 4, 2024 to January 1, 2025 *The period may be extended. ◆How to use donations ● Inheriting culture and developing leaders Enhancing educational activities and experience programs to protect local traditions and pass them on to the next generation ● Inheriting culture using horses Through creating jobs using horses and developing tourism, we aim to attract immigrants and create fans of Minamisoma City. “New Efforts to expand the possibilities of the relationship between people and nature
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/116976/16/116976-16-d6272c27e378126dbe1e7aab0e88e4d2-1110×1569.png [Inquiries regarding this matter] Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, Commerce and Tourism Department, Tourism Exchange Division 2-1 Honmachi, Haramachi-ku, Minamisoma-shi, Fukushima 975-8686 (North Government Building 1F) Phone: 0244-24-5263 FAX: 0244-23-7240 MAIL: kankokoryu@city.minamisoma.lg.jp HP: Minamisoma City Official Website
