Community Impact in Action

Through an industry-government-academia collaboration agreement between the village of Kunigami in Okinawa Prefecture, the Kunigami Chamber of Commerce, and the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, this project has been engaged in redesigning its local community with a michi no eki (roadside station) as its focal point. From 2024, it became possible for the michi no eki to accept evacuees in the event of a tsunami, allowing them the usage of the exchange and observation buildings. Offering a co-working space, free Wi-Fi, and power outlets, the station has been verified to be useable as a disaster prevention center. The installation of thin solar panels and storage battery solutions have been underway since their technical verification from AY 2023, accelerating local resilience and consumption of locally produced energy through the use of advanced technology. These developments will revolutionize the way toward a new type of resilient michi no eki.

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