Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai 2019 ～ An event to learn about the SDGs and shape Kurashiki’s future

“Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai 2019” was held from August 22 to September 21, 2019.

“Hiyasai 2019” consisted of 17 programs exploring the international goals known as the “SDGs.”

Kurashiki Tocotoco covered the program “Building the Future of Our Town by Discussing Local Issues with High School Students,” held on September 14 at Ohara House Katalyzer.

What Is Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai 2019?

“Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai” is a project organized by the Kurashiki Junior Chamber.
Experiential programs have been held in various parts of Kurashiki City since 2009, and 2019 marked the seventh time the project was held.

“Hiyasai” is a Kurashiki dialect word meaning “narrow, winding alleyways.”
There are hiyasai all over the Bikan Historical Area.

The event rediscovers Kurashiki’s culture, history, and human warmth scattered throughout the town, and considers the future of Kurashiki.

In 2019, the event was held in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, or “SDGs,” under the slogan: “From a ‘world that doesn’t last’ to a ‘world that does.’ The Kurashiki Future Project, built by our own hands.”

What Are the SDGs?

SDGs is an abbreviation for “Sustainable Development Goals.”

The Kurashiki Junior Chamber explains them as follows:

The SDGs are shared global goals for the period from 2016 to 2030,
created by governments, businesses, researchers, NGOs, NPOs, and others
to promote solutions to global challenges.
They comprise 17 goals and 169 targets addressing issues such as poverty, hunger, climate change, and peaceful societies.
All countries, whether developed or developing, are expected to work toward achieving the SDGs.
With the slogan “Leave no one behind,”
they aim to create a world where everyone can enjoy a better life,
through economic growth, social welfare development, and environmental protection.
Hiyasai 2019 × SDGs | The Kurashiki Future Project, Built by Our Own Hands

The 17 goals include, for example:

• End poverty
• Quality education for all
• Responsible consumption and production
• Protect life below water
• Achieve the goals through partnerships

Each of these goals has targets, as well as more detailed numerical targets.

According to a survey conducted in February 2019, the national average awareness rate for the name SDGs was 16.0%.
By prefecture, Okayama ranked first nationwide, with an awareness rate of 23.7%.

Programs in Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai 2019

The following programs were held as part of Kurashiki Future Project Hiyasai 2019.

Each program aligned with the SDGs, considering the world in a town where history and culture passed down since the Edo period coexist with everyday life.

Report: “Building the Future of Our Town by Discussing Local Issues with High School Students”

One of the programs, “Building the Future of Our Town by Discussing Local Issues with High School Students,” was held on Saturday, September 14, at Ohara House Katalyzer.

Ohara House Katalyzer (Former Ohara Family Residence) — A Residence Packed with Kurashiki’s Beauty

One of the great attractions of visiting Kurashiki is its white-walled buildings. “Ohara House Katalyzer (Former Ohara Family Residence)” is a place to enjoy the beauty of Kurashiki’s homes and storehouses, as well as a Japanese garden. A nationally designated Important Cultural Property…

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With the SDGs perspective of “sustainability” in mind, participants considered how to address local issues.

The program brought together adults and students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School, Kurashiki Chuo High School, and Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School.

At the opening, Director Yamashita of Ohara House Katalyzer said, “I hope that talking across generations will lead to new discoveries.”

Program Schedule

1. Each high school presents local issues it considered in advance
2. Learn the significance and potential of the SDGs through a card game
3. Consider which of the SDGs’ 17 goals apply to actions being taken to address local issues

High Schools Present Local Issues They Had Considered in Advance

First, the high school students used slides to present local issues and their efforts to address them.

Kurashiki Chuo High School identified issues with the local Mizushima Port Festival through “teach-ins,” discussion sessions involving local residents.
They proposed ways to improve the festival and put several activities into practice at the event.

They came up with ideas that people would want to post on Instagram to make it easier for young people to participate, and gathered visitors’ opinions through tablet-based surveys. Over several years, they have undertaken a range of activities to make the festival more lively.

The teach-ins reportedly helped increase participants’ sense of involvement in their community.

Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School presented what its students had learned at a workshop on planning tourism tours in Kibichuo Town.

They shared plenty of photos, including how the experience of a different way of life itself became a souvenir.

They also realized that the Bikan Historical Area has endured across six eras, from the Edo period to the Reiwa era, and that Ohara House Katalyzer, the venue, is a building where people have continued to live—both of which are truly examples of the SDGs.

They are currently researching the SDGs at the coworking space Bunbuku.

Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School entered the “Tourism Koshien” competition, where participants compete to create the best tourism video, to promote tourism in Kojima.
They passed the preliminary round, in which 50 plans were selected from 215 entries, and are now making their video.

To create the video, they used data on inbound tourists to decide which target audience they wanted to attract, planned a tour, created a storyboard, and visited locations to gather material.

They also introduced the filming process and the appeal of each location.

After each school’s presentation, participants wrote their comments and advice on sticky notes and shared their feedback.

The many sticky notes made the wall colorful, as if flowers had bloomed on it.
Getting comments and advice on their presentations from so many people must have been a valuable experience.

We asked students from Washu High School how they felt after their presentation.

“It was my first time making slides and giving a presentation, and I was nervous. My legs were shaking.”
“I used my summer vacation to plan, prepare materials, and visit the site.”
“I hope we can do more to share the good things and attractions of Kojima and our hometown.”

They seemed nervous, but their presentations were clear and easy to follow. The writer was impressed, thinking, “How capable they are!”

Learning the Significance and Potential of the SDGs Through the “2030 SDGs” Card Game

The card game “2030 SDGs” lets players experience the journey to 2030.

Each team has its own goals. Some people want to live a comfortable, carefree life, while others want to become rich or place importance on protecting the environment.

Treating all the participants as the Earth, teams use the money and time cards they are given to carry out projects and work toward achieving their goals.

Projects require time and money to carry out, and when completed, they change the situation for the team and the world.

For example, carrying out a “Developing Transportation Infrastructure” project requires 500 in money and 3 in time. Completing it earns you 1,000 in money and 1 in time, for instance, while changing the state of the world by +1 for the economy and -1 for the environment.

As in real life, teams are free to negotiate with one another.

Now, form teams of a few people you’ve just met, and let the game begin.

At first, each team competed to carry out the projects they had been assigned.
The excitement was palpable.

Many projects were carried out quickly, and teams also exchanged time and money.

Then the first half ended, with 5 of the 11 teams having achieved their goals.
But when they looked at the state of the world…

Only the blue magnets representing the economy had risen.
What kind of situation did this represent?

Chairman Matsumoto of the Kurashiki Junior Chamber gave an explanation.

“The economy is a huge success. But the environment and society are devastated. Global warming is unchecked, forests continue to be destroyed, crime is rampant, and people can’t even trust their neighbors. It’s a tense, hostile world.”

“Read the words on your goal card again, all the way to the end. Is this the kind of future world you want?”

After this question, the second half began.

The atmosphere changed remarkably from the first half.
Teams had negotiated with one another before, but now negotiations became much more active.

“Are there any teams with time to spare?”
“We can donate this.”
“Would you work with us on this to make society better?”
“Why don’t we pool our money and time to complete this project together?”

Seeing the state of the world, partnerships began to form one after another.

And then the game ended.

Ten of the 11 teams achieved their goals, and the state of the world improved significantly as well.

What does this game teach us?

According to the explanation, the difference between the first and second halves is the reason the SDGs exist.
In other words, the SDGs allow people around the world to share and confirm the goals they need to achieve, encouraging cooperation and bringing those goals closer to reality.

Even as an observer, the author could clearly see the differences in perspectives, actions, and outcomes between the first and second halves.
The participants must have felt them even more strongly.

These are the points the Kurashiki Junior Chamber hopes people will take away from “2030 SDGs.”

• “The world is connected,” and “I can be the starting point.”
• The central idea of the SDGs is “Achieve the goals through partnerships.”

It was a game that made us feel how each person’s actions can change the world, and how essential it is to work with those around us.

Everyone was having a wonderful time, enjoying the lively, friendly atmosphere. The Kuratoco reporting team felt envious, thinking, “They look like they’re having so much fun—we want to join in.”

Consider which of the SDGs’ 17 goals the activities addressing local issues contribute to

Next, they revisited the activities they had presented earlier to address local issues, this time from the perspective of the SDGs.

The teams discussed whether farming experiences might contribute to “Zero Hunger,” and whether interviewing working women might fit under “Achieve Gender Equality,” among other possibilities.
They stuck on stickers for the goals that applied, then presented their findings.

It also became clear that the activities we had carried out so far were related to the SDGs.

Participants’ Impressions

Finally, participants shared their impressions and thoughts about the future.

They shared comments such as the following:

• During the card game, at first I thought only about my own goals, but in the second half I was able to think about how I could contribute to society. Remembering that, I felt that I need to continue activities connected to the SDGs.
• I learned about the SDGs, and was able to exchange opinions with many different people and gain new perspectives.
• I want to keep the SDGs in mind as I take part in activities from now on.

Closing Remarks and Greetings from the Kurashiki Junior Chamber

Finally, representatives of the Kurashiki Junior Chamber gave their overall comments and closing remarks.

“We hope you’ll do one or two things, however small, that you can start today. Even if there’s nothing you can do right away, simply knowing about the SDGs and sharing that knowledge can help make the world a better place.”

“The essence of the SDGs is to create a society that leaves no one behind. As we work toward 2030, I hope we can join hands and create a world where people can continue to live.”

“You are the treasures of this community. The Kurashiki Junior Chamber will work hard to create a community where you can live comfortably when you enter society, and where your ideals can be realized.”

Reporting on “Discussing Local Issues with High School Students to Envision the Future of Community Development”

This program offered participants the chance to experience and learn about the essence of the SDGs, not just their general outline.

There are few opportunities for high school students to talk with adults other than their family members and teachers, so this must have been a valuable experience for both sides.

The high school students’ presentations were excellent. I felt encouraged about the future, and at the same time, I was reminded of the importance of creating a society where they can freely demonstrate their abilities.

I, too, want to think about the SDGs and put into practice what I can, starting with what is possible.

Kurashiki Mirai Project Hiyasai 2019 Information

Name	Kurashiki Mirai Project Hiyasai 2019
Dates	August 22 (Tue)–September 21 (Sat), 2019 “Discussing Local Issues with High School Students to Envision the Future of Community Development” was held on September 14 (Sat), 1:00–4:30 p.m.
Location	Various locations in Kurashiki City
Participation fee (tax included)	Free to ¥8,500 (tax included), depending on the program
Website	Hiyasai 2019 × SDGs | Kurashiki Mirai Project, Created by Our Hands

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