#Japan #Sendai #DAO #Web3Technology #NebutaFestival

Local Revitalization through Web3: The Nebuta Festival DAO Initiative

As Japan moves towards embracing innovative technologies, a groundbreaking initiative has emerged to leverage Web3 technology in revitalizing local communities. On July 23, 2025, Hitachi Solutions East Japan, based in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, in collaboration with Plat'Home from Chiyoda, Tokyo, announced the launch of a pilot experiment for the "Nebuta Festival DAO". This initiative aims to enhance local community-led revitalization efforts by utilizing decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) models and Real World Assets (RWA).

The Experiment

Scheduled to run from August 2 to August 7 during the Nebuta Festival period, this real-time experiment will incorporate blockchain-based Web3 technologies into the traditional celebration, focusing on participant engagement and community interaction. Attendees will be able to use smart devices to take part in the festivities digitally, creating new synergies between tradition and technology while fostering a sustainable community model.

What is DAO and RWA?

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)

DAO represents a collective governance model that empowers participants through transparent decision-making and shared ownership. In this context, participants of the Nebuta Festival will hold non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that signify their involvement, allowing them to partake in community decisions.

RWA (Real World Assets)

RWA refers to tangible assets like real estate, stocks, or commodities that can be tokenized on a blockchain. The pilot aims to explore how these assets can generate economic value for the community participants. By examining and integrating RWAs, the initiative anticipates creating a viable economic model linked to the unique cultural assets of the Nebuta Festival.

How the Experiment Works

Through the use of the "Nebuta Festival DAO App", participants can engage in the following activities:

1. Issuing NFT Participation Certificates:
Attendees will scan QR codes at the festival venue to receive a blockchain-based digital participation certificate as an NFT. This certificate serves as an immutable digital memento, allowing participants to retain their memories as digital assets.

2. NFT Photos and Sharing:
Participants can upload photographs taken during the festival to the app. Each photograph will be coupled with an NFT that records the ownership of the image, which can then be shared globally through acquired social media channels like Instagram, amplifying the festival's appeal.

3. Social Media Engagement and NFT Rewards:
Engagement statistics on Instagram, such as the number of likes on submitted photos, will be collected and translated into value distributed among the corresponding NFTs. This feature allows participants to gauge how well their contributions are received.

The technological backbone of this initiative is developed from Plat'Home's ThingsToken™, which documents participant relationships and experiences as digital assets, thus facilitating ongoing community involvement beyond the festival.

Expected Benefits

This innovative experiment aims to foster greater participant engagement, attract a broader fan base, and contribute to local economies through digital asset utilization. By analyzing data collected from NFT issuance, social media interactions, and participant feedback, the findings will inform future integration of this model into the Nebuta Festival and other community events.

Future Directions

With the ambition to connect the physical and digital realms using token-based interactions, this venture is poised to create a new model for local revitalization that integrates traditional cultural practices with cutting-edge technology. Both Hitachi Solutions East Japan and Plat'Home are committed to pursuing community digital activation challenges, bringing innovative solutions to regional issues. Their combined expertise in managing RWAs through the ThingsToken™ technology will strive to solve real-world challenges while simultaneously enriching community participation and enhancing the festival experience.

For further details about Hitachi Solutions East Japan, visit Hitachi Solutions East Japan.

For insights on Plat'Home's initiatives, check out Plat'Home.