Every year, Big Hat in Nagano City holds an industry fair, a matching event for companies. This time, I would like to talk about an important encounter I had at that event.
As this is an event that the general public can participate in, there is an exhibition space on the right side of the photo where products can be proposed to companies and sold!
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we had few customers and few opportunities to meet new people, but we were able to exchange business cards with a few people.
Among them was Mr. Onodera, a member of the Nagano City Community Cooperation Volunteer Team, who came to see us after hearing rumors that there were leather people there (that's us)!
He said, "I've made some game leather and I'd like you to take a look," and immediately showed me the leather.
I was surprised when I unfolded the leather on the spot!!
Hmm? The finish is so beautiful?
Is the finish as good as the New Zealand farmed fish I usually use?
When I asked him about it, he told me, " It's leather made from deer skins exterminated in Nagano City, tanned in Iida City ."
Just hearing that tells you just how amazing this is.
During my previous job at Flathead, I had the opportunity to listen to the movements of game animals from Mr. XX from XX region, and at the time, the leather was not of a usable quality, but was incredibly expensive!
It was a bit unrealistic...
In comparison, this Shinshu deer leather (the leather brought by Onodera-san) was produced entirely from the materials onwards within Nagano Prefecture, with no transportation costs involved, making it an incredibly ethical endeavour!
However, according to what they said, they had previously contacted other people and then came to us, and they said that they had made the leather but were unable to sell it, so they were looking for a place to use the leather.
So, if that is what we are doing, we should create a sales channel that can continue to operate in a sustainable manner!! That is how we launched the "Shinshu Deerskin Ethical Project".
We must not waste the lives of those who were born and raised in Nagano City, and we must continue to live our original, ancient ways...
It's our job to ensure continuity!
I felt that way.
Ethical activities start here
Let's keep this activity going!
We will continue to think about how to financially benefit the actors who are involved in this project!
However, at that time I didn't have any weapons to present to the world, so I thought I would do what I could - crowdfunding!
I thought I'd give makuake a try!
With Makuake, rural workshops can make their mark nationwide.
And best of all, you can write this content clearly on the page and share the benefits of your activities!
If the deer are not eradicated, the forests will be destroyed and the ecosystem will be disrupted, affecting everything.
Therefore, we will continue to eradicate it.
If extermination continues, the economy will not thrive unless the leather is sold, and it will have to be thrown away.
The reason we continue with crowdfunding is to increase leather consumption. We hope for a future where we can run the economy using Japanese leather instead of using leather from overseas!
The project
It is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. on March 26th.
You can watch it from this URL , but it will only be available from the day it starts, so be sure to check it out once it starts!
A special early bird discount with up to 30% off!
Why not take this opportunity to be more ethical?
Makuake page: https://www.makuake.com/project/sinca/