We BUILD The New Digital Villages
Empowering The Locals
Real and Digital Merged into a New Community
Nishikigoi NFT is an NFT project of digital villagers identity. We started off in Yamakoshi Village, Niigata Prefecture, known as the home of Nishikigoi. This project, which began minting in 2021, is more than just a digital asset as it serves as a bridge to broaden the culture and identity of the region. As the local population continues to decline and depopulate, we strive to use digital space to increase the “related population” and create a new community that is built without being restricted to resident population.
There are about 1,700 Nishikigoi NFT holders (digital villagers), and the NFT is used as a place for support and interaction beyond the region. This has created a new community that bridges the real and digital worlds. Not only do we pass the traditions and culture of the area on to the next generation, but we also make it a place where new values and social interactions take place. Beyond that, digital villagers also have the opportunity to participate in important decision-making processes in the community, and serve as partners in building the future of the region together.
History of Nishikigoi NFT
Launched in Yamakoshi Village, Niigata. This project was initiated after the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake with the intention of connecting people together and increasing related populations. Today, there are more than 1,700 digital villagers around the world.
About Digital Villagers
Digital villagers are those who show their willingness to support the community by minting Nishikigoi NFT. Some enjoy actually visiting the regions and interacting with the culture and people living there. They can cross the boundaries between the digital and real world seamlessly and participate in decision-making.
Art of Nishikigoi NFT
So far, three generative art pieces have been minted, each representing the individuality of a different artist and the profound beauty of Nishikigoi. The first art, by Okazz, shows the graceful form of Nishikigoi in a colorful, abstract way. The second, by raf, highlights the movement of the flowing water and the presence of the Koi with a wavelike pattern in the background. In the third work, ykxotkx brings a new and unique perspective to capture the diversity and uniqueness of Nishikigoi, as well as the beauty of traditional Japanese art.
Each of these generative arts is designed to have different characteristics depending on the program, allowing each holder to enjoy holding one and only Nishikigoi NFT. Another unique aspect of generative art is that each time Nishikigoi NFT is generated and minted, it conveys you a sense of being “born” into the digital world. Through these arts, Nishikigoi NFT is more than just a digital asset; it is a symbol for building a sustainable local community and the future of the culture.
Vision of Local DAO
Yamakoshi to Other Villages of the World.
We define this local community of NFTs that happened to emerge from Yamakoshi as Local DAO. Local DAO is a community where local residents and digital villagers work together to create new value by solving local challenges and problems. Seeing digital villagers autonomously contribute to and interact with their local communities is incredibly valuable, and we hope to establish Local DAOs in other parts of the world to support local communities in the future. In doing so, we will also connect Local DAOs to each other to create a new local network. This started with Yamakoshi, and by June 2024 Tenryukyo (Nagano Prefecture) and Shiiba (Miyazaki Prefecture) have been approved and joined Local DAO.
Neo Yamakoshi Village（Niigata）
Yamakoshi, located in Niigata, is a region steeped in tradition and culture, known for its rich natural surroundings, Nishikigoi, and bull fighting. Following the Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004, the population drastically declined to approximately 720 residents. Despite this, the local community has continued to preserve its cultural heritage, leading to the establishment of the current "Neo-Yamakoshi Village" (formerly Yamakoshi DAO).
Tenryukyo（Nagano）
Tenryukyo in Nagano Prefecture is a region surrounded by beautiful gorges and abundant nature, and was once a popular tourist spot. In recent years, it has been losing its vitality as the number of tourists has been decreasing. Tenryukyo has been approved in June as the next Local DAO as they strive to develop “new tourism”.
Shiiba（Miyazaki）
Shiiba is a beautiful region located in the mountains of Kyushu. In recent years, the declining population has had a serious impact on the region, robbing it of its energy and making it difficult to carry on traditional kagura and other traditional cultures. It is an important issue for the region to carve out its future as a region that can confront the declining population while striving to preserve its traditional culture.
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