On September 22, 2023, the web media "Kurashiki Tocotoco" celebrated its 5th anniversary.
It was launched by an individual following the heavy rain in July 2018 (Western Japan Flood), and has now become a media operated by the organization " Haretoco General Incorporated Association" that was established afterward, but from the beginning, we aimed to "operate as a team."
In other words, the reason we have continued for five years is thanks to the local community members we have interacted with through interviews and everyone involved in the operation as writers.
I would like to express my deep gratitude.
In this article, I, the founder and representative director of Haretoco General Incorporated Association, Toi Kengo, would like to introduce the five years of "Kurashiki Tocotoco" and what lies ahead.
The information provided is based on the information at the time of the article's publication in September 2023. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
Continuing for 5 years was one of our goals
On the day of the release of Kurashiki Tocotoco, September 22, 2018, I wrote the following article.
In fact, from that time, I considered "5 years" as a milestone and decided that for five years, we would maintain the original concept and do our best with our own strength.
One of the concepts I was thinking about at that time was since it is a media established for the community, we should refrain from disseminating information that would make local people feel uncomfortable.
One specific example was the decision not to write articles that compare or rank things in the form of summary articles.
The theory of "content that can attract numbers" has not changed significantly from 2018 to now (2023).
However, since we are disseminating information while living in Kurashiki, there are times when we might unexpectedly meet interview subjects in the city, so we decided to avoid situations that would make things awkward.
Ignoring the theory of what can attract numbers may seem cool at first glance, but it means giving up on operating through advertising revenue.
Whether we could continue for five years under such conditions was a significant challenge.
There were many setbacks, but we found "support for our activities" within them
Over the five years of operation, many things have happened.
- Frequent departures of writers
- Increasing deficits
These two were particularly tough.
At the time of the release in 2018, we were operating by having friends who were bloggers write articles, but starting around 2020, members began to leave one after another.
At that time, we had just entered the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people were struggling with changes in their environment.
While I understood the reasons, hearing "I want to quit" was mentally tough, and I thought many times, "Maybe this is impossible."
On top of that, we were struggling to secure operating funds, and the increasing deficit made it even more difficult.
Is there value in continuing "Kurashiki Tocotoco"….
During that time, I received insights that would become the foundation for our current activities.
- The idea of "community media" to involve more people
- Enriching lives by disseminating local information as writers
The idea of "community media" to involve more people
I have always thought that claiming to be a "public entity" while basing it on personal information dissemination like a blog is a contradictory idea.
Therefore, I had refrained from activities such as recruiting writers, but after listening to Ken Saku Okubo from FM Kurashiki, a senior media figure in Kurashiki, my perspective changed.
In normal times, we create vibrancy in the city through broadcasting, and during disasters, we fulfill the public role of emergency announcements and disaster broadcasting.
These two are the social responsibilities of community broadcasting stations.
When I considered that it is an ideal for residents to be involved in media, I thought that web media is the most suitable medium.
"Then, let's increase the number of people who can get involved."
Since then, Kurashiki Tocotoco has come to identify itself as a community web media.
Enriching lives by disseminating local information as writers
Additionally, I have had more opportunities to feel the "benefits of disseminating local information" through my own experiences.
What I first feel when I go out to interview is the joy of being able to go to places that are normally off-limits and meet people I wouldn't normally meet.
And above all, I often receive the words "thank you" in appreciation.
In the working world, being able to do something is often taken for granted, so it is surprisingly rare to be thanked.
I felt that this is an activity where I can experience a sense of "fulfillment."
And before I knew it, the "acquaintances in Kurashiki" who were almost nonexistent increased.
Now, if I walk in the Bikan Historical Area, I have a high probability of meeting acquaintances and saying "hello" in a familiar world.
It may be a small thing, but after living in Kurashiki for nearly 40 years, I finally felt, "I'm glad to live in Kurashiki. I want to be here."
There are tough times as well.
Even so, I can now proudly say that I am enjoying life.
Increasing companions with the same aspirations and enhancing information dissemination
Involving more people and increasing those who disseminate information while enjoying the community.
This idea was materialized in two seminars.
Currently, most of the writers active in Kurashiki Tocotoco are those who have taken these seminars.
Everyone shares the same aspirations, so we can enjoy our activities.
We can continue without bending the original concept from the beginning.
I have finally come to feel that we have reached a point where this is possible.
However, on the other hand, problems have also arisen.
The financial issues of media operation have become apparent
"How do you operate without charging publication fees and paying writers? Is media operation that profitable?"
This is a question I have received many times over the past five years.
Media operation is not a profitable business.
We have been doing other work such as website production and using the profits from that to fund media operations, somehow managing to continue.
In other words, media operation has been a "side job."
However, the number of interviews, which was about five per month at the beginning, has now increased to about 15 to 20, and the burden on the editorial team has increased to the point where it can no longer be considered a side job.
I cannot make a living without doing other work, but I also do not want to stop the current activities that are fulfilling and enjoyable.
Continuing Kurashiki Tocotoco in the future
I believe that the structure of the community web media "Kurashiki Tocotoco" has reached a certain level of completion over the past five years.
With the premise that we will not overdo it, we aim to continue for the next 10 or 20 years.
At the same time, as we mark our 5th anniversary, I would like to make a request to our readers for the first time.
Could you support our activities to the extent you can?
We are always short on funds.
We would like to ask for donations called "Tocotoco Supporters" and also for advertising placements...
Introducing that such media exists or expressing gratitude to the writers who wrote the articles also serves as support.
I want you to know that the activities of community web media are fueled by words of gratitude and can be fulfilling.
To everyone who has supported us for five years, thank you once again.
We will continue to uphold our previous stance, take responsibility, enjoy the community, and play a part in disseminating local information, so we look forward to your continued support.
Additionally, we are recruiting "Tocotoco Supporters" who support our activities on the page below.
The page introduces not only media operations but also social welfare activities and other activities we are currently engaged in, so please take a look if you are interested.
