New Project Aims to Solve Local Problems through Vacant Houses THEDDO." Project Launched in the Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture

THEDDO. (THEDDO.), a project based in the Osumi Peninsula of Kagoshima Prefecture, was launched in January 2024 to explore and disseminate information on a "new way of renovating vacant houses" that goes beyond demolition, utilization, and abandonment.

Website: https://theddo-osumi.com/

THEDDO. logo

What is THEDDO.

THEDDO. is a project that aims to solve regional issues through vacant houses.

Vacant houses are on the increase due to the declining population and depopulation in the region. Currently, when an owner inherits a vacant house, he or she must choose between demolition and utilization, both of which require a huge investment by the individual and a heavy psychological burden. Vacant houses that are left unattended because the owners are unknown or unable to pay for them increase the probability of incidents and accidents as they deteriorate, and have a negative impact on the local community.

In this "age of one vacant house per person", THEDDO. considers vacant houses as a local resource, and is seeking new ways to renovate and utilize them by introducing the self-build method (a method in which the owner, designer, and carpenter work together to build and renovate the house themselves) and by connecting knowledge from Japan and abroad. We are also seeking a new way of renovation and utilization of houses by connecting domestic and international knowledge.

Origin of the organization's name

In Kagoshima dialect, it means "I will! I'll do it! The name of the organization is derived from the Kagoshima dialect word "suddo," which means "I will do it!

Statements

THEDDO. is a group of people who want to do something about vacant houses in the community.

We will do something about them by connecting local human resources and wisdom from all over the country.

Vacant houses are treasure chests filled with the wisdom of the people who lived there and the local community.

How we make use of them depends on the knowledge, skills, and love of the people who live in them today.

Connect, connect, connect, and do something.

Let's brighten up the community from vacant houses.

Logo

The symbolic logo is designed to be a "banner" for people to come together to address local issues.

Sud Logo (2)

This project has been adopted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a model project for measures against vacant houses in 2023.

Website: https://theddo-osumi.com/

Official note account: https://note.com/theddo_osumi/m/m3ad5a3604bde

Official Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/theddo_osumi/

Background of the launch of THEDDO.

One of the THEDDO. members inherited his parents' house on the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture in 2022, which had been vacant for more than 120 years. Since there were many vacant houses in the neighborhood and he had no knowledge of vacant houses, he launched the project to disseminate information, plan and manage related events, and begin renovating vacant houses.

We would like to preserve vacant houses not as scrap-and-build, but as places that make sense based on the local lifestyle, history, climate, etc. As one of the contents of THEDDO, we will also disclose the process of renovating vacant houses that have actually been inherited through self-building, a third method. As one of the contents of THEDDO.

Introduction of THEDDO. members

Experts in various themes such as community, architecture, agriculture, etc., will explore new ways of living and local community as parties concerned with the issue of vacant houses.

THEDDO. members

(1) Narihiro Nabeta (pictured right)

First-class architect / Director of NPO Tagayasu

Born in Kagoshima Prefecture. After working for the Kagoshima prefectural government, he moved to the Osumi Peninsula in search of a richer way of life in the region. Currently, while working as a designer for a local construction company, he is struggling to find vacant houses and homes that are unique to the area. He enjoys roasting coffee and is the father of a child and two cats.

(2) Yuichiro Amano (left)

Director of NPO Tagayasu / Secretary General of the Osumi Peninsula Noufuku Consortium

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, former backpacker. After working for a major travel agency, he moved to the Osumi Peninsula. Currently involved in NOUFUKU-related projects throughout Japan as an expert in promoting cooperation between agriculture and welfare, and will try to live in two locations, one on the Satsuma Peninsula and the other on the Osumi Peninsula, across Kinko Bay, from 2024!

(3) Chiharu Fukudome (center photo)

President of "NORTHERN LIGHTS," a community and food business / Director of NPO Tagayasu

Born in Kagoshima Prefecture and currently residing in Tokyo, Chiharu Fukudome will remotely take over her parents' house on the Osumi Peninsula in 2022 after it has been vacant for more than 120 years. In his day job, he is active in various parts of Japan with the theme of "community and food." Together with THEDDO. members, he is exploring ways of renovating and utilizing vacant houses in the new era.

About Official Note

The official note of THEDDO. ( https://note.com/theddo_osumi/m/m3ad5a3604bde ) provides a record of the activities of THEDDO. members, their thoughts and ideas about vacant houses, as well as articles about the vacant house issue and interviews with people who are already working on the creation of new spaces in various areas. The site also features interviews with people who are already working on the issue of vacant houses and the creation of new spaces in various regions. The site also provides information that may provide hints for those who are considering the issue of vacant houses and the renovation and utilization of vacant houses.

Expert Introductions

The following four experts have been selected to be featured in the official notebook.

(1) Katsuhiro Hiramatsu, Representative of Hiramatsugumi First-Class Architect Office

(Article published on Friday, January 19, 2024 at https://note.com/theddo_osumi/n/nfba30f2a51ec?magazine_key=m3ad5a3604bde )

Born in Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, Mr. Hiramatsu established Hiramatsugumi First-Class Architect Office in 2007 and has been engaged in architectural design based on Awaji Island, as well as launching various initiatives such as "recominca," an information proposal service for old private homes, and the "Awaji Island House" project to propose houses using Awaji Island materials.

(2) Daigo Iwashita, Representative, Yamamura Terrace (article to be published on Monday, January 29, 2024)

Born in Saku City (formerly Asashina Village), Nagano Prefecture, Mr. Iwashita opened the self-built hut "Yamamura Terrace" in 2014 in Sakuho Town, Nagano Prefecture. Since then, he has developed a total of four accommodation facilities, including "Tsukiyo no Silkworm Hut" and "Yokusaru no Hut" in the same town, and "Kiba no Waltz" in Mochizuki, Saku City.

(3) Mr. Teppei Kobayashi, Representative of Scenery Shop Co.

(Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Article published at https://note.com/theddo_osumi/n/nfc48645c3dca?magazine_key=m3ad5a3604bde )

Born in Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He was involved in supporting the development of a landscape plan for the Lake Towada Rest Area in Aomori Prefecture, and renovated a vacant house on the shores of Lake Towada. Owner of "yamaju," a members-only co-working space and guesthouse exclusively for mid- to long-term residents.

(4) Mr. Chen, Chia-Wei, CEO of Truth Architecture

(Thursday, January 25, 2024 Article published at https://note.com/theddo_osumi/n/n9120c41af9b9?magazine_key=m3ad5a3604bde )

Mr. Chen is the CEO of Truth Architecture, a real estate development company in Taiwan, and is involved in urban development in Taiwan as a developer. He renovated a 50-year-old building in Taipei and is currently managing "Suseya," which sells Japanese sake and Japanese food products.

■Lectures & workshops were held on January 13 (Sat.) - 14 (Sun.), 2024

As a kick-off event for the launch of THEDDO., a lecture meeting and workshop were held on the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Lecture】16:00〜18:00 January 13, 2024 (Sat) Place: Guest House Yorodte

We invited Mr. Daigo Iwashita, a self-build expert, and Mr. Junichi Tanaka, a creative director who created the statement for THEDDO. to give a lecture on how to face the issue of vacant houses in the Osumi Peninsula in the future.

Lecture

Craft Workshop] January 14, 2024 (Sunday) 10:00-12:00 Location: Ihira-cho, Kanoya City

A workshop was held to actually remove tatami mats and floorboards and begin renovations while looking at a vacant house with self-build expert Daigo Iwashita.

Craft Workshop