HEXA, in partnership with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. ("Tohoku Electric Power"), is launching today "Yori, Sou, NFT" (a play on yorisou, "to stay close") (the "Project"), a regional co-creation project using NFT*1 technology, which gives digital data uniqueness.
Today, in the six Tohoku prefectures and Niigata Prefecture, a range of issues such as population decline, a falling birthrate and aging population, and the decline of local industries are emerging faster than in other regions. Among them, population decline is a serious issue directly tied to the sustainability of these regions, as it leads to lower consumption and weaker local community ties.
With this awareness of the issues, Tohoku Electric Power, which has been promoting regional co-creation initiatives, and our company, which supports regional revitalization using NFT technology, have joined forces to launch this Project, with the aim of creating related population*2 and revitalizing local economies.
Through this Project, Tohoku Electric Power and our company will work together to support municipalities and other organizations in the six Tohoku prefectures and Niigata Prefecture in planning, issuing and using NFTs that draw on attractive local resources and stories.
The NFTs issued can be promoted and sold nationwide through HEXA, bringing the appeal of the six Tohoku prefectures and Niigata Prefecture to people all over Japan.
With the issuance of NFTs as a starting point, we aim to introduce the appeal of these regions to people throughout Japan and create a flow in which they stay involved with the regions on an ongoing basis, such as by actually visiting, buying local specialties, and visiting tourist facilities or attending events.
By promoting this Project in partnership with Tohoku Electric Power, our company will contribute to creating related population and revitalizing local economies in the six Tohoku prefectures and Niigata Prefecture, and support the sustainable growth of the region as a whole.
*1 NFT
"NFT" stands for "Non-Fungible Token," a digital technology. Using blockchain technology, it gives digital data uniqueness and makes copying and tampering difficult.
*2 Related population
"Related population" refers to people who are involved with a region and its people on an ongoing basis in various ways, as distinct from the "settled population" who have moved there and the "visiting population" who come as tourists.
◆About HEXA, the NFT marketplace◆
HEXA is one of Japan's largest NFT marketplaces, offering a simple system that requires no crypto-assets and supports payment in Japanese yen. It provides an environment where NFTs can be used as "practical digital tools," building an ecosystem in which a wide range of issuers, including artists, companies and municipalities, can use NFTs with confidence.
How NFT issuance works: https://hexanft.com/issuermanual/
Apply to issue NFTs here: https://nft.hexanft.com/issue