Secret Book for Travelers to Encounter Life Enriching Wisdom: Co-creating New Signposts to Elevate Quality of Travel Together with Successors of Local Cultures

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Nanako Koyama

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

nanako@lucky-clover.jp

Additional applicants

No additional applicants.

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

Yes

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

The NFTs we create are not going to be open source.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

NFTs

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG goals:

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SDG subgoals:

By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

Universal Human Rights Index (UHRI):

#proposertoolsdg

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

There are many valuable intellectual properties about nature and plants that have been passed down from generation to generation all over the world. For example, festivals related to local customs, the harvest of agricultural products, tea and incense made from herbs, and wisdom about ornaments and dyeing. However, if things go on like this, these valuable intellectual properties are likely to be completely lost along with the decline of regional culture. This is not just a problem for the region's cultural stakeholders, but it will be a great loss for all of humanity.

We believe that by digitizing the local cultural narrators, who are a treasure trove of such wisdom, and using the power of blockchain, we can preserve them for future generations. We also believe that by compiling these digitized wisdoms into a secret book, we can help travelers rediscover the many valuable insights that many modern people have overlooked. These insights are the historical assets of humanity, and they can make travel deeper and more interesting. As travelers change their perspective, they can connect more with nature and mother earth, and their lives can become more fulfilling.

There are many valuable intellectual properties about nature and plants that have been passed down from generation to generation all over the world. For example, festivals related to local customs, the harvest of agricultural products, tea and incense made from herbs, and wisdom about ornaments and dyeing. However, if things go on like this, these valuable intellectual properties are likely to be completely lost along with the decline of regional culture. This is not just a problem for the region's cultural stakeholders, but it would be a great loss for all of humanity.

We believe that by digitizing the local cultural narrators, who are a treasure trove of such wisdom, and using the power of the blockchain, we can preserve them for future generations. We also believe that by compiling these digitized wisdoms into a secret book, we can help travelers rediscover the many valuable insights that many modern people have overlooked. These insights are the historical assets of humanity, and they can make travel deeper, more interesting, and the quality of travel will improve significantly. As travelers change their perspective with the book, they can connect more with nature and mother earth, and their lives can become more fulfilling.

I have traveled the world for the past 15 years, focusing on local cultures that are passed down from generation to generation in communities and homes. Through this experience, I have come to believe that the most fulfilling way for humans to live their lives is in harmony with nature and the earth. Based on these experiences, I will create a blockchain platform that digitizes local wisdom and information from storytellers around the world, providing travelers all over the world with it to enhance the quality of their travel.

The key to realizing this mission is the existence of "guides" who connect local storytellers and users. Guides must be able to interview storytellers in the communities with which they are personally involved. As a kickoff for the project, I will be the first guide, focusing on a sparsely populated village in the mountains of Japan called "Nakajo". I will interview the village's elderly and upload photos and videos as the first volume of the "Secret Book". Then I will select the first few guides from our network and support them as role models for those who will follow. In the future, I would like to discover people from all over the world who can become guides, such as through the Catalyst community.

The main role of the guide is to collect cultural information from storytellers in small communities with which they are familiar and upload it to the "Secret Book". Many of the valuable wisdoms that storytellers share may seem trivial at first glance, but it is the guide's skill to not miss them. Each guide will regularly add information to the book, and travelers who are interested can receive direct guidance and travel advice from the guide. Travelers can obtain more detailed travel information and valuable advice from guides from all over the world by obtaining the key to the "Secret Book" on the blockchain.

Blockchain projects that connect the digital world and the non-digital world have been increasing in recent years, but there are still a few of them, and in terms of actual effective use cases, they are still very rare. In this situation, if the stories of storytellers such as elderly men and women in small villages far from the city, who are not experts who are good at presentations, are digitized by Cardano technology and reach the world's travelers of the digital native generation, it will be a very groundbreaking thing. For Cardano, it can become a pioneer in opening up a new realm of blockchain technology, and it can also lead to the acquisition of a new layer of users.

People who benefit from:

• Travelers - The quality of their travels will improve.

• Regions - The culture will be preserved and inherited.

• Storytellers - They will have a sense of purpose in life.

• Guides - They will gain experience in working with the latest blockchain technology.

• Cardano - The non-digital domain will be opened up, and new layers of users will be acquired.

Purchase method:

The secret key to open the secret book that will serve as a guide for your journey can be purchased with ADA from the platform. The secret key, which is issued in limited numbers for each region, can also be sold to others. The information on the secret book is updated on a regular basis, so its value in use increases gradually.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

We will digitize and collect the oral wisdom that is disappearing all over the world on this platform. In 10 years, we will have created a valuable "Library of Wisdom" on Cardano that is second to none. The wisdom introduced in the Secret Book will freely circulate among all people who are involved, as a guide to the richness of the human heart that lives with the earth.

By implementing this project, Cardano can strengthen its ties to the non-digital realm, that is, the physical world, more than ever before. Cardano will be able to attract a new layer of users who have not been involved in blockchain in the past, and at the same time, a new non-exclusive and inclusive value will be created as a dense global community of people who love to travel, regardless of generation, culture, and borders. However, in order to make this a sustainable project, we will not aim for rapid expansion, but will gradually accumulate information from all over the world over a period of about 10 years. This time, I will be the guide for the first installment of the Secret Book, and I will disseminate information to travelers, especially to Japan. Now that the pandemic has subsided, the number of travelers to Japan is rapidly recovering, and we can expect many visitors to the website where people can purchase the NFTized Secret Book with ADA.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

To begin with, I will be the first guide to collect information from the storytellers of Nakajo Village, a treasure trove of wisdom. I will digitize the information and convert it into NFTs, which I will publish and sell. I will then start recruiting guides from all over Japan. The success of a project in the early stages is measured by the number of NFT buyers, sales, and the number of potential guides who have applied.

This is a realistic indicator because the results are clearly shown in the form of numbers and people. The number of NFT buyers and sales directly indicates the short-term contribution of this project to the Cardano ecosystem. We will also ask travelers who have actually used the platform about their level of satisfaction and impressions, and will report the results in more detail as much as we can.

We believe that the level of satisfaction of platform users is more important than recent sales, and is an important indicator for the long-term development of the Cardano ecosystem and for us. It takes time to build something great. If this project is to develop significantly in the future, I believe that the only way to do it is to steadily acquire fans of the project and to grow the community little by little by cherishing each and every one of them.

Ten years from now, we envision this project growing into a “wisdom library” that is loved by travelers from all over the world. That is our biggest goal at the moment, and we have no doubt that achieving that goal will continue to have a positive impact on the Cardano ecosystem in the future.

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

The results of the project mentioned in the previous section will be made available to everyone on the platform. For example, if an NFT is sold, the fact will be made public. When a new guide is hired, information about the guide and the area they cover will be posted. We will also share customer satisfaction information that can be shared with all users.

In addition to the secret book, our company plans to launch a standard e-commerce site where users can purchase local products without visiting Nakajo Village. This site will be open to the general public, and we will try to expand the community of the secret book by informing users of the existence of the secret book and the fact that the secret key to open it can only be purchased with ADA. That would be a good way to promote ADA.

When the platform has accumulated information and the community has become active, we plan to develop virtual travel experiences in virtual worlds such as the metaverse, in addition to physical travel. I believe that the possibilities that blockchain technology can bring to our travel are literally limitless.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

I am a professional art and creative director who has undertaken numerous projects for companies and governments over the past 20 years and has led them to success. During that experience, I have learned how to manage budgets, and the knowledge, flexibility, and leadership that are absolutely necessary for the success of a wide variety of projects. 

In addition, as my lifework, I have actively carried out activities such as art projects to raise awareness of animal welfare, writing books about depopulated villages, and supporting the holding of local events. For about 15 years, I have been interviewing elderly people in Nakajo Village, a depopulated village in Nagano, Japan, about food ideas and festival knowledge. rice field.

Based on the above experiences, I believe that I am qualified to carry out this project, and I am confident that it will be completed.

Here are some of my skills that I believe will directly contribute to the success of this project.

• Able to create designs and edits that people are interested in, even with difficult content
• Able to approach contemporary content
• There are many people who have deep ties with people in mountain villages and are willing to cooperate with novel projects like this one.
• Already have experience guiding travelers to mountain villages and can coordinate trips with a high degree of satisfaction
• There is know-how on how to create a new community, learned through the experience of store management

Moreover, telented creative members specializing in each field, such as plant experts with experience issuing NFTs and web directors, are participating in this project. Together with them, I am confident that we can handle any unforeseen circumstances and make the project a success.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals of the project is to find guides who are closely connected with the people and culture of a specific region, find suitable candidates to become narrators of the wisdom that has been passed down in the region for a long time, and digitize and NFTize the wisdom and introduce it to many travelers around the globe.

These goals can all be quantified, so the success or failure of the project and the degree of success can be shown to anyone in a visible way. By clearing one goal at a time, the project will get closer to success.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: Select guides and target regions

• There will be 3 guides. Two other guides will be selected in addition to me.
• The target regions are Nakajo Village, which I am responsible for, and 2 other regions that will be handled by 2 other guides.
• The new guide and their target region will be selected after interviews and other comprehensive assessments. We are considering guides from Europe and South Asia.
• By April next year, two other guides and their target regions will be selected in addition to me.

Milestone 2: Select narrators and collect wisdom

• The guides will be the core of this project. They will select 3 to 4 narrators from each region to participate in the project.
• After the narrators are selected, the guides will interview them and collect about 20 pieces of wisdom from each of them.
• The narrators will be selected and interviews will begin within one month after the guides are selected.

Milestone 3: Create NFTs of the secret books

• Three secret books will be issued as NFTs in this project.
• Basically, the secret books will not be finished after they are issued once, but they will be designed to be able to add information as needed.
• In particular, the second and third books will be updated after they are issued.
• We aim to complete the secret book of Nakajo Village by February next year, and the other secret books by July next year.

Milestone 4: Launch a special website

• A special website that introduces the NFT-ized secret books will be created and uploaded to the internet. This will allow ADA holders to purchase the secret books and communicate with the community.
• We will also create a flow to attract users from the EC site for the sale of local products that will be created separately.
• The test version is scheduled to be completed in March next year, and the official launch is scheduled for August 1st of the same year.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Select guides and target regions

The output of the milestone 1 is to identify suitable candidates to become guides. I will find two more guides by April next year. The essential conditions for guides are that they love and are familiar with the culture of a specific region, and that they have already built deep relationships and friendships with the local people. If I can find such guides, this project will be a big step towards success.

Milestone 2: Select narrators and collect wisdom

The output of the milestone 2 is to find people who will become narrators in the region and to collect the wisdom that will enrich people's lives. It is the job of the guides to find and interview the narrators, so the success or failure of this milestone will naturally depend heavily on their skills. If this does not go well, we will promptly take measures such as looking for another guide.

Milestone 3: Create NFTs of the secret books

The output of the milestone 3 is to complete the secret books in the form of NFTs, which are digitized and collected by the guides from the narrators. If we can summarize the precious wisdom that has been passed down in the region in a clear and attractive way, it will become an NFT that will be loved by travelers.

Milestone 4: Launch a special website

The output of the milestone 4 is to complete a website where you can purchase the secret book NFTs in ADA. The more users this site has, the more people will know about the secret book, and the more opportunities there will be to win fans. As a result, the number of people who will purchase the secret book is likely to increase.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Budget Breakdown

• Portal website coding: 9,000 USD
• Project visual design: 4,500 USD
• Secret book, key design, and CG design: 4,500 USD
• Web and graphic design: 9,000 USD
• Character design: 2,500 USD
• Travel expenses for interviews, stipends, and other expenses: 1,875 USD
• Editor-writer's salary: 1,875 USD
• Shooting costs: 4,500 USD
• Launch promotion costs: 4,500 USD
• Accounting and SNS operating costs: 9,000 USD (6 months at 1,500 USD per month)
• Plant and NFT advisor salary: 1,875 USD
• Two guides' salary: 2,500 USD

Total Amount: 55,625 USD

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of this project is expected to create a worthy economic value for the Cardano ecosystem in the short term as well as the long term. As mentioned above, this project will help Cardano to be more connected than ever with the non-digital world, i.e. the physical world. Cardano can attract new users who have never been involved with blockchain before, and at the same time create a new non-exclusive and inclusive value as a vibrant global community of people who love to travel. We envision that this project will grow into a "library of wisdom" that will be loved by travelers around the world in 10 years. As a first step towards achieving that vision, we believe this project is a justifiable investment for Cardano.

*For the actual cost calculation, we used the current average wage in Japan as a reference:

https://www.timedoctor.com/blog/average-salary-in-japan/

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept