Announcing the Winners of the Hamamatsu Well-Being Idea Contest for a Brighter 2045

Celebrating Youth Innovation at the Hamamatsu Well-Being Idea Contest

In an inspiring initiative aimed at improving the quality of life in Hamamatsu, the city recently announced the winners of its Well-Being Idea Contest for the year 2045. This contest encouraged young residents to create innovative, data-driven ideas based on the Local Well-Being (LWC) Index, which quantifies the community's livability and happiness.

Background of the Contest

The contest was designed not just to gather ideas but to motivate the younger generation to engage with the LWC Index and leverage data for convincing urban planning suggestions. During a workshop held in August, participants utilized gamification materials developed by LODU, effectively learning about the LWC Index through immersive experiences. The outcome was a collection of unique and feasible ideas that truly reflect the aspirations of the youth.

Announcing the Award Winners

Judging criteria for the contest included the charm of the catchphrases, the persuasive nature of the theme, and the practical applicability of the proposals. The competition included several categories, notably for university students and high school students.

University and Graduate School Category

Grand Prize Winner:
Riko Uchiyama
Aichi Shukutoku University
Title/Catchphrase: “Citizen Participation Platform: Yaramai-ka Dashboard”
— A Future-Ready Disaster Resilience City Fueled by Individual Voices.

Excellent Award (Team):
Takuya Kataiwa, Takahisa Okawa
Shizuoka University
Title/Catchphrase: “Redesigning Well-Being Starting from Mobility”
— Bringing the Mountain Village into Everyday Reach.

Overview of the Grand Prize Project

The Yaramai-ka Dashboard is a citizen participation platform that enables residents to engage in disaster preparedness through various activities, such as participating in disaster drills or checking the adequacy of emergency supplies. Users can accumulate points via daily surveys about street lighting or the comfort of evacuation centers, which can be exchanged for local store benefits. The data collected is analyzed and visualized to create a real-time map showing the