"Regional secretariat" to promote wide-area cooperation

--What kind of relationship do you think is important between individuals and communities in order to realize their individual ideals and create a community where they can do so?

Nakanishi: No matter how much a restaurant takes pride in its food, I think that customers still come because of the town. For example, Sapporo has a large population and attracts a lot of tourists. Compared to towns with a population of several thousand, there is an overwhelming flow of people, so there is a high chance of customers coming.

If we compare it to a satoyama forest, it's an environment where you can get an abundance of nuts and mushrooms. But that being said, isn't it exploitative to just take them? Since we are blessed by the environment, I think we should make an effort to protect the richness of nature and to increase the number of nuts and mushrooms.

--It seems like such a one-sided relationship to simply receive the benefits without caring about protecting the environment.

Nakanishi: That's right. It's great that the number of customers increases through individual efforts, but I think you should be aware that you are also benefiting from the environment around you and get involved yourself. I don't want people to be indifferent to that or to have an attitude of "it has nothing to do with me."

The question is, "Who will bear the costs of maintaining the area and providing the resources to make it attractive?" Of course, some of the costs are covered by taxes, but I think that if people become more aware of the benefits they receive from the area, there will be more approaches to improving the environment in which they live. There is still a lot of room for this, and I think that accumulating these efforts is the ideal relationship between individuals and the area.

Nozawa: Depending on the region, some people say, "There's nothing in my town," or "My company isn't interesting." But every town and company has something interesting to offer, and we're good at finding them, and we think we can communicate their appeal by collaborating with various creators.

We believe that we are better able to do this than anyone else in Eastern Hokkaido, so we are actively working with local governments and businesses. We would like to help local governments and businesses use the relationships and resources of Dot Eastern Hokkaido to attract more people to the area and boost industry.

Nakanishi: I think that a small change in awareness can lead to innovation. Finding local resources fosters civic pride, and noticing the originality of the products you handle increases your sense of ownership of the company and your motivation for your work. I believe that such changes in awareness can steadily change people's behavior.

--When issues related to the community and the company become your own, you naturally become more passionate about your activities.

--You are involved in a variety of businesses, including creative work and consulting-type activities, but what kind of company do you two think Dot Doto is?

Nozawa: I believe that the purpose of Dot Doto is to create opportunities and communities that make people think, "This is possible because we are in Eastern Hokkaido" or "This can only be done in Eastern Hokkaido," whether it be for work or daily life.

The trend of "I'm going to the city because I can't do what I want in the countryside" is happening everywhere in local areas. It's sad, and I want to reduce it even a little. The more people who think "I can do what I want in the countryside, so I want to stay or come back", the more fun our lives will be. So I think that what Dot Doto should do is to encourage people who want to take on challenges and create an environment where they can do what they want.

Nakanishi: I think that creativity and consulting are just one of the weapons we have. People often think that we are a company that does just that, but I think of Dot Doto as a kind of regional secretariat or association. It is an association that brings together people who are enthusiastic about Eastern Hokkaido, and it is like a secretariat that supports the increase in things that can only be done in Eastern Hokkaido or that can only be done in Eastern Hokkaido.

--I see. When you say "secretariat," it's easier to understand the wide range of activities that Dot Doto undertakes.

Nakanishi: My current hypothesis is that by expanding the circle of people and business in this way, we can create connections and economic spheres in the broader Eastern Hokkaido area. I live in Kitami, but when I make friends and business partners in Kushiro, I start to like that city, right? If these kinds of relationships spread, I think people will become more active and money will start circulating in the region. In fact, such movements are starting to take shape around us, even if they are small.

I feel that when people develop a sense of belonging to the broader region of Eastern Hokkaido, which is separate from the city or town they live in, their behavior also changes. The resources and people in the Satoyama of Kitami are decreasing, but if a bridge is built between the Satoyama of Kitami and the Satoyama of Kushiro, travel will become possible, and a Satoyama called Eastern Hokkaido will be created. I always keep this image of wide-area cooperation in mind when I work.