Economics Student Triumphs in Sustainable Town Development Proposal for Tokyo's "Kuwa Capital"

Teikyo University's Yuki Nakagawa, alongside four fellow students, clinched the grand prize on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the "Tourism/Urban Development Proposal Session." Their groundbreaking proposal focused on harnessing Japan's heritage, particularly the cultural treasures of "Kuwato" and "textiles," to invigorate the Hachioji region. Notably, this marks the university's debut in the session, securing its first-ever win.

Spearheading the initiative to deepen community ties, Nakagawa's presentation, titled "An Attempt to Deepen Knowledge," resonated with the judges. The event, sponsored by the University Consortium Hachioji, aims at fostering off-campus/interdisciplinary exchange, community/social contribution, presentation opportunities/experience, academic conferences, and job opportunities. Hachioji, renowned as the "Kuwa Capital," stands as Tokyo's sole Japanese heritage site, with "textiles" being a cornerstone of its rich history and culture. Despite this, the decline in related businesses prompted the university team to explore leveraging these valuable resources for sustainable town development.

During the summer vacation parent-child experience, the collaborative effort with the Hachioji Textile Industry Association saw students engaging in hand-woven placemat creation under the guidance of traditional craftsmen. The event also featured a picture-story show and Sugoroku, a traditional Japanese board game, set in the old Hachioji shopping district. Participants lauded the experience, noting heightened concentration and completion even among younger participants. Comments from participants emphasized the positive impact: "Working together as a parent and child enhanced our focus, even in the lower grades," and "Both parents and children deepened their interest in 'Kuwato' and 'textiles' through hand-weaving and student projects. Craftsmen learned about the purpose of life." Building on this success, the Faculty of Economics plans to expand parent-child experiences and introduce Hachioji textile Sugoroku, further cementing Teikyo University's commitment to innovative community development.

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