-受賞 - ホテル、街づくり、高齢者施設の企画・設計・コンサルティング

[Press Release]A first in Western Japan! Kagoshima Prefecture’s Amagi Town has been recognized as the “Best Tourism Village 2024″ by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) for its ‘sustainable urban development”!

The town of Amagi in Kagoshima Prefecture , which was produced by architect Yasuhiro Yamashita (representative of Denpaku), has beenrecognizedfor its efforts in creating a sustainable tourism region atthe “Best Tourism Village 2024” awardsorganized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).

Yamashita has unearthed and re-edited the charms and characteristics of Amagi Town that had been buried in everyday life, and under the theme of“tourism in everyday life” created together with village culture and local residents, he has offered suggestions and support for implementing sustainable town development that will pass on traditional culture and the natural environment to the next generation.

We hope that this certification will be an opportunity for more people to learn about the rich culture and natural charms of Amagi Town. In addition, to celebrate the certification,Denpaku has prepared a special plan for you to experience Amagi Town.

What is the Best Tourism Village?

The Best TourismVillage isa project launched bythe United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in 2021 torecognize excellent regions that are working to create sustainable tourism destinations.

Villages and regions that are certified are required to protect the unique local culture and natural environment while aiming to develop the local economy through interaction between visitors and residents and job creation.

Official UN Tourism website:https://tourism-villages.unwto.org/en/villages/

Official website of the Japan Tourism Agency:https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/news07_00006.html

● Certified regions worldwide: 130 regions(until 2023)

●Certified regions in Japan:6 regions(until 2023)

The tourist resource of “Amagi Town’s daily life” that we want to pass on to the next generation

Amagi Town is located in the northwest of Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, and is a key transportation hub with Tokunoshima Airport and Hirado Port. It is an area with a thriving agricultural industry, including sugar cane, livestock, potatoes, fruit trees, and flowers.The town’s philosophy, “Amagi, a town that weaves life with a spirit of Yui,” represents the spirit of “Yui,” which is to share joys and difficulties and support each other through collaborative work, and is still deeply rooted in the community.

In order to preserve the spirit of Yui and the culture of Amagi Town,the local government, local residents, and private companieshave worked together to carry out various initiatives. This sustainablecommunity developmentled to the town being recognized as the Best Tourism Village. Below,we will introducesome of the “everyday tourism” initiatives being promoted by Amagi Town .

“Agriculture” that implements recycling-oriented initiatives

Amagi Town is a major production area forsugarcane(the raw material for brown sugar),boasting one of the largest harvest areas in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The project promotes circular agriculture, whichcirculates resources between agriculture and livestock farming, for example by feeding sugarcane leaves to cows and using the cow dung as fertilizer. It also provides support for people to continue farming, thereby contributing to the establishment of a sustainable production system.

“A culture of coexistence between humans and cows”

Bullfighting cultureon Tokunoshimahas continued for over 400 years andis deeply rooted in traditional events and daily life as part of the island’s identity.

Bullfighting tournaments are held on the island about 20 times a year, and at the Matsubara Bullring in Amagi Town, you can watch training andeven get to interact with the bulls by brushing and feeding them. Children strolling with the bulls on the beach and through the town are a part of the everyday scenery of Amagi Town.
Besides bullfighting, the livestock industry is also thriving andhas been designatedas a local specialty .

“The sea of coral reefs, rich in biodiversity”

The diverse coral reefs that develop in the waters of the Amami Islands can be observed even in the sea off Amagi Town.The scenic spot “Inu no Monfuta”is one of the strangely shaped rocks that were created by the erosion of uplifted coral over many years.

There are also several important prehistoric ruins of the Ryukyu Islands, including the underwater limestone cave “Umbuki,” where pottery from over 7,000 years ago was excavated .Whale watchingis also possible in the winter, so you can enjoy sea tourism all year round.

“The Amami rabbit, a living fossil that is a special natural monument”

The mountains, which are registered as a World Heritage Site,are home to many rare plants and animals, includingthe Amami rabbit, a natural monument and endangered species that is found only on Tokunoshima and Amami Oshima.

There are alsorare villages where the Amami rabbit appears among the people’s daily lives .You can easily observe rare wild animals at the Amami rabbit observation hut or by participating in a night tour.

Yasuhiro Yamashita’s town development in Amagi Town

Since opening Denpaku Tokunoshima in Amagi Town in 2018, architect and town development producer Yasuhiro Yamashita has been working on town development in collaboration with the local government and the local community, mainly through operating an accommodation facility with the aim ofpassing on Amagi Town’s traditional and legendary architecture and village culture to the next generation, as well as running the Denpaku Cafe & Office, a community space for village residents and a place wherepeoplecan experience the charm of local ingredients .

These initiatives have been recognized assome of the most innovative efforts the region has made to promote tourismin the Best Tourism Village 2024 awards .

1. Preserving the village landscape by reusing traditional and legendary architecture as accommodation

The Amami Islands have experienced the influx of multiple cultures and have developed a unique culture and architecture due to their warm climate, but there are some things that cannot be newly constructed due to changing times and the need to protect the natural environment.

Therefore, by preserving buildings that retain the unique traditional architectural style of Amami, we are contributing to the preservation of the landscape of the villages lined with traditional old houses. There are also lodgings that have been renovated from legendary buildings in the national park, as well as historic and valuable traditional buildings such as coral stone huts and Ryukyu style buildings.

2. Communicating with the local people through cultural experiences will help pass on village culture to the next generation.

We provide experience programs that unearth and re-edit experiences that are everyday for the local community but special for tourists. At Umigame Beach Inn, located a 10-second walk from the beach, you can experience the traditional fishing method of “Oikomi-gyo” taught by an uncle from the island.
Shimachu acts as a guide for Oikomi-gyo, which is being lost due to aging and a lack of successors, with the aim of passing on this traditional fishing method rooted in the region to the next generation.

3. Denpaku Cafe & Office: a place to promote the appeal of food made with local ingredients and a place for interaction between the village and tourists

Denpaku Cafe & Office, which was renovated from the first floor of a vacant building, aims to promote local production and consumption by using fresh organic vegetables and seasonings from the Amami Islands, mainly from Tokunoshima, and aims to reduce the environmental impact of production and transportation.
In addition, users can use it as a shared office, and it is also used as a place for communication between village residents and tourists.

About Denpaku

Denpaku was establishedin 2016 with the desire to protect and pass on to future generationsthe rich natural environment that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the approximately 360 different village cultures that have been passed down for hundreds of years for each “island” (village). It consists offour types of accommodation facilities– Denpaku Old House, Denpaku Akakina Hotel, Denpaku Dormitory & Laundry, and Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA – and is working to promote interaction between village residents and tourists. Currently, there are 42 accommodation facilities with 52 rooms on the three islands of Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, and Kakeromajima. (Official website:http://den-paku.com/)

【Award】Received the Gold Award in the “Kyushu Tourism Town Development AWARD 2023” sponsored by JR Kyushu

Denpaku”, a lodging facility on Amami Oshima Island, by Yasuhiro Yamashita (President of Atelier Tekuto Co., Ltd. and Amami Innovation Co., Ltd.), has won the Gold Award (in the “Inn (Hospitality)” category) in the “Kyushu Tourism Town Development AWARD 2023” sponsored by Kyushu Railway Company (hereinafter “JR Kyushu”). Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “JR Kyushu”) in the “Kyushu Tourism Town Development AWARD 2023”. In conjunction with this award, Denpaku participated in the award ceremony held at the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Conference on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
Taking the opportunity of receiving the “Kyushu Tourism Town Development AWARD 2023” award, Denpaku will continue to make it its mission to pass on the “village culture” of the Amami Islands to the next generation, and will continue to work in deeper cooperation with the local community to create a town that makes the village happy.

What is the “Kyushu Tourism & Community Development AWARD 2023”?

The “Kyushu Tourism & Community Development AWARD 2023” is sponsored by Kyushu Railway Company, and was established with the basic philosophy of “honoring people and organizations that take root in Kyushu and develop it into an attractive “town” that will be the pride of the region and inspire travelers. The purpose of the festival is to highlight people who are creating new “things,” “events,” and “scenery” for the future while preserving the traditions and folklore unique to the region, and to communicate the unique attractions of the area.
The “Nishi-Kyushu Tourism & Town Development AWARD” held in 2022 was further developed and expanded to cover the “Kyushu” area, and was divided into four categories: “Food,” “Manufacturing,” “Nigiwai (liveliness),” and “Inns (hospitality). This is a very valuable award that recognizes the efforts of individuals and organizations in Kyushu that are engaged in attractive urban development.

Judging Criteria
(1) “Tradition”: Respect for the town’s unique climate, history, and traditions.
(2) “Evolution”: Creating new values that lead to the future without being bound by existing concepts.
(3) “Cyclical”: Sustained development by utilizing and protecting the richness of nature.
(4) “Collaboration”: Making efforts while involving the entire town.
(5) “Diverse”: Everyone can experience it, regardless of whether you are a traveler or a resident.
(*Quotes from the official release of Kyushu Railway Company)

Official release from Kyushu Railway Company: https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/news/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2023/08/30/03_230830_kyushu_machidukuri_award.pdf

Commendation comments received from the judges

▼From Kyoko Sekine (hotel journalist)
I was very impressed by Denpaku’s mission of “passing on village culture to the next generation. I agree wholeheartedly with the concept of “aiming to create a society in which no one is left behind” by putting grandmothers and grandfathers in the leading roles.
The spiral of “the hotel is not destroying nature because it is built,” but rather “the surrounding environment is improving because the hotel is built, and cultural activities are growing and developing along with the hotel. The spiral is no longer just a place to stay overnight. The strong belief of the representative is utilized in the creation of this facility.

Comments on the award (from Yasuhiro Yamashita, architect and representative of Amami Innovation Co.)

I had been traveling abroad as an architect for many years, and my experience in supporting earthquake disaster reconstruction efforts had led me to believe that I must protect my own countryside.
At that time, the residents of my hometown, Amami, requested that I work on vacant houses, and the business was born in 2016. Almost 7 years have passed, and the company has grown from 2 employees to over 100 employees today. Denpaku has only highly motivated employees, but they are all amateurs. We are not experts in lodging, tourism, or city planning, but we want to be the “ultimate group of amateurs. This is because we believe that the grandparents are the main actors and that they should be the ones with strong feelings to accompany them. Receiving such a gratifying award encourages all of us to move forward into a new world. Thank you very much.
We will continue to make it our mission to pass on “village culture” to the next generation, and through community development that “turns everyday life into tourism” in villages, we will move toward the realization of “a society where no one is left behind.

【Publication information】Featured in “Discover Japan”.

Denpaku was featured in the October issue of “Discover Japan – 15 trips to heal me. / Double Special Feature “Kyushu”” on September 6, 2023. Denpaku was awarded the Gold Prize in the Lodging (Hospitality) category of the Kyushu Tourism Town Development AWERD and featured in the article about Denpaku’s town development.

Thank you very much for the wonderful article in the magazine introducing the charm of Amami Oshima and Denpaku’s town development.
Please pick up a copy of the magazine and take a look.

【Award】Denpaku, a lodging facility on Amami Oshima Island, received the “Best Luxury Resort Architecture in Japan 2022” award for its design and community development efforts.

Yasuhiro Yamashita (President of Atelier Tekuto Co., Ltd. and Amami Innovation Co., Ltd.) has won the “Best Luxury Resort Architecture in Japan 2022” at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2022 for his “Denpaku” accommodation facility and restaurant & bar on Amami Oshima. Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2022, for “Best Luxury Resort Architecture in Japan 2022”. This is the first time Amami Oshima has received this award.

The award was given to “Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA” and its restaurant and bar “2 waters”.
Denpaku” started in 2016 with “Denpaku Old Folk Houses” based on the concept of “handing down the island’s traditional and legendary architecture and village culture to the next generation,” followed by “Marun Plaza + Denpaku Amami Hotel” as a center for interaction between villagers and tourists, “Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA”, a newly built luxury villa resort hotel, and a wide variety of other facilities. This year’s award recognized the company’s “contribution to building a cooperative relationship with the local community by designing buildings and landscapes that harmonize with the local community, while taking into account the social structure of the area.
We will continue to work toward the realization of “a society where no one is left behind” through community development that preserves village culture and nature through people-to-people exchanges.

What are Luxury Lifestyle Awards?

The Luxury Lifestyle Awards, which have been running for 14 years since 2008, are global awards that evaluate more than 5,000 products in more than 400 categories from 120 regions around the world to select the best products and services. The awards are judged on a total of nine criteria, including reputation, reliability, creativity, brand recognition, and excellence. It is said to be the [world’s most prestigious award] that selects the best brands in various fields, from five-star hotels such as Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont to small stores.　*We will also ask Mr. Yamashita to double-check with the other two Japanese winners.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, Representative, Award Comment

I believe that the village culture inherited in my hometown Amami Islands and the people who have carried it on are precious treasures that we should be proud of to the world, and I have been working on community development through the operation of “Denpaku” and “Magun Hiroba. Today, we are the largest private enterprise in the northern part of Amami Oshima, and many local residents and businesses are involved in our activities. We believe that this recognition will encourage our employees and local community members to take pride in our culture, and to strive to maintain it with even greater ambition and initiative. We will continue to deepen our cooperation with the local community to realize sustainable tourism and to pass on the beauty of Amami.

Evaluation comments by the judges (excerpts)

Atelier Tekuto Inc. believes in designing buildings and landscapes that harmonize with the local community while taking into account the social structure of the region and building cooperative relationships. The luxury project being developed on Amami Oshima Island embodies this commitment and contributes to the creation of a healthy community.

On Amami Oshima Island, blessed with nature and culture and designated as a World Natural Heritage site in July 2021, many villages are in a state of crisis, with abandoned old houses and the destruction of local communities due to excessive tourism. Amami Innovation Corporation, headed by Yasuhiro Yamashita, has been working to renovate and revitalize the region and now operates restaurants, facilities for the elderly, products and galleries, and ample lodging facilities.

The award-winning facilities are making a significant contribution to the maintenance of the Amami Archipelago’s diverse village culture that has persisted for hundreds of years.

Award-winning facilities

・Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA” and “2 waters
(Project details：https://yamashita-yasuhiro.net/）
Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA, which had its grand opening in July 2019, is a luxury villa resort facility located on Amami Oshima, a World Natural Heritage site blessed with rich forests and beautiful ocean. Under the concept of “Dialogue with Nature on the Island,” the villa offers a lodging experience that allows guests to forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and adjust the depths of their minds through the great nature spreading out through the glass windows. This was followed by the opening of the “2 waters” complex in April 2021, which includes a restaurant & bar, pentagonal infinity pool, and accommodation reception.

【Award】 Received the Excellence Award at the 12th Regional Revitalization Awards -Awarded for activities to enhance the appeal of the island by utilizing traditional island architecture and vacant houses.

On January 30, 2022, Amami Innovation Corporation, which is engaged in community development in the Amami Islands which is engaged in community development in the Amami Islands, has received the [Excellence Award] at the 12th Regional Revitalization Awards sponsored by 46 local newspapers and Kyodo News.

The award was given in recognition of the company’s efforts to enhance the attractiveness of the community by reusing vacant traditional island houses and former supermarket facilities as lodging facilities, dining halls, senior citizen facilities, cram schools, and other community interaction centers.

We will use this award as an opportunity to expand recognition of our community development activities, and at the same time, we will work with local residents to realize a society in which “no one is left behind” by returning profits to the community.

What is the Community Revitalization Award?

The award was established in 2010 by 46 local newspapers and Kyodo News to recognize organizations that have achieved success in activities that energize and enhance the attractiveness of their communities. The awards are intended to support organizations that are taking on the challenge of solving regional issues such as population decline, aging, disparities, and disasters. In the fall of each fiscal year, newspapers and other media nominate a total of 50 organizations as candidates for the Grand Prize. After screening the nominations and conducting on-site surveys, the selection committee determines the Grand Prize, Runner-up Grand Prize, Block Prize, and Excellence Prize at the end of the year. The winning organizations’ efforts will be reported in newspapers and on the Internet from various perspectives. (Quoted from the Regional Revitalization Awards website)

Click here for the Regional Revitalization Awards website

Den-paku “The Beachfront MIJORA” was the first hotel in Amami Oshima to receive the Good Design Gold Award for 2021.

“Den-paku The Beachfront MIJORA”, an accommodation facility designed by Yasuhiro Yamashita and his architectural design office Atelier Tekuto (Shibuya, Tokyo), has been awarded the Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) for 2021 by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.This is the first gold award for Amami Oshima, and the award was given in recognition of the quality of the design of the accommodation facilities, the activities of the architects themselves to solve the local problems of Amami Oshima from various perspectives and to achieve sustainable management of the island, and the presentation of a new way of working. With this award, we will take the opportunity to expand the brand recognition of “Den-paku” and return the profits to the local community in order to realize “a society where no one is left behind.

“Den-paku” is a lodging facility that Yasuhiro Yamashita is working on in the Amami Islands to pass on traditional and legendary architecture, villages and culture to the next generation. For more information, please refer to “What is Den-paku” below.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, President of our company, comments on the award.
I am very grateful for being selected for the Good Design Gold Award for 2021. I am also very happy that this project has been recognized not only for its architecture but also for its community development. Amami Oshima Island was recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site this year, but more than that, it is a region characterized by the fact that each small village has its own culture and traditions for hundreds of years. I would like to continue to do my small part to support the preservation of this unique village culture.

The following is an excerpt of evaluation comments by the Good Design Award judges.
A plan for a decentralized accommodation facility on Amami Oshima Island. The purpose of the project is to solve various problems inherent in the island such as lack of nursing care, care for the handicapped and few job opportunities, and to make the island a sustainable and rich living area. The facilities consist of newly built villas on the beachfront, an inn renovated from an existing old house on the island, and a center facility renovated from a former supermarket building. The guests of the facilities selected for judging will not only stay in the facilities, but will also be able to walk around in the relaxed daily life unique to Amami Oshima and interact with the islanders, making the experience itself a pleasure of travel. All of the facilities are well designed and highly evaluated as they present a new way of profession in which the architects themselves are responsible for the sustainable management of the island.

Facility Name：Den-paku The Beachfront MIJORA(WEB:https://den-paku.com/the-beachfront-mijora/ ）
Facility Overview：
Den-paku The Beachfront MIJORA is a luxury villa resort facility located on Amami Oshima Island, a World Natural Heritage Site blessed with lush forests and beautiful seas. Based on the concept of “interacting with the nature of the island”, the resort offers a relaxing stay experience that allows guests to forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax their minds through the great nature that spreads out through the glass walls.

Architect: Yasuhiro Yamashita x (Atelier Tekuto + Amami Design Group)
The following is the introduction page on the Good Design Award website.
https://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/52624?token=hDBFO59mIh

What is Den-paku?
Den-paku is a community development project that promotes interaction between tourists and local residents by operating three types of lodging facilities: “Den-paku Old House”, “Den-paku Amami Hotel”, “Den-paku The Beachfront MIJORA”, and the complex “Ma-Gun Plaza”.

Amami Oshima Island has nurtured a rich natural environment and ecosystem, and in 2021 it was registered as a World Natural Heritage site. In the same way, about 360 village cultures have been inherited for hundreds of years through the course of various histories, and the “shima” (villages) are Amami’s precious cultural resources that it boasts to the world. Den-paku considers them as “treasures of Amami” and started “Den-paku” in 2016 with the desire to protect and pass them on to the future.

What is the Good Design Award?
The Good Design Award is an evaluation and promotion activity of Japan’s representative design, succeeding the Good Design Product Selection System established in 1957. As a global design award with the participation of many companies and organizations in Japan and abroad, the Good Design Awards are held annually with the aim of improving the quality of life and utilizing design to solve social issues and themes.

The “G Mark,” the symbol of the Good Design Award, is widely known as a symbol of excellent design.

https://www.g-mark.org

The Den-Paku inn renovated by TEKUTO received the Guest Review Awards 2017

We are proud to announce that “House with a View of Harbor and Sunset; FUNAGURA, “ one of the Den-Paku inns that TEKUTO renovated, received the Guest Review Awards 2017 of Booking.com!

http://den-paku.com/amami