ABOUT
Iwate, the Last Frontier is a co-creative project created by a travel agency, destination management company (DMC), and tour operators in Iwate prefecture, the north-east region of Japan (known as Tohoku), who are experts at creating unique, adventurous travel designs.
OUR VISION
That the people of Iwate can continue to live in this area with pride.
OUR MISSION
By re-weaving Iwate's untold history and stories with timely sensibilities and gaining external interest and appreciation, we will bring about a "transformation of values" and awaken the pride of the people of Iwate.
MEMBERS
Haruka Tada
- Representative Director / Local Coordinator
- to know / Tono
- Born in 1990 in Tono City, Iwate. Majoring in cultural anthropology when she was a university student and studied abroad in Cuba. After working for an IT company in Tokyo, made a return to Tono in 2018. With the aim of "creating a place for learning that encourages awareness", she plans and manages training programs and lifelong learning. In this project, she will be the regional coordinator and guide for Tono area.
Ryuta Kubo
- Representative Director / Producer
- Kamaishi DMC / Kamaishi
- Born in 1983 in Kamaishi City, Iwate. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, he decided to return to Kamaishi City, and in 2015 he became the reconstruction project coordinator for Kamaishi City. Active in the tourism field, involved in tourism planning and establishment of DMO corporations. Pursuing the possibility of sustainable tourism, he has helped implement the international standard and certification system for sustainable tourism in Japan for the first time. Advisor to the Japan Tourism Agency "Japanese Sustainable Tourism Guidelines". In this project, he is mainly in charge of planning and concept making. His aim is to revive the identity of the Tohoku area.
Gaku Tomikawa
- Representative Director / Producer
- to know / Tono
- Born in 1987 in Nagaoka City, Niigata prefecture. Moved to 2016 after working for an advertising company in Tokyo. After meeting a 77-year-old master researcher of the local history, he devoted himself to learning more about Tono's rich local culture. He strives to reknit the story of the area in order to be relevant to the people currently living through various forms, such as tourism, souvenir development, design, publishing, etc. In this project, he will be responsible for tour planning, Tono's regional coordination, and public relations.
Fumiko Abe
- Local Coordinator
- MATOWA / Hachimantai
- Born in 1979 in Tokyo City. Obtained a qualification as a museum curator and a majored in comparative culture and folklore at Iwate University. Engaged in the tourism industry and traveled to England. After working for a human resources consulting company in London, she developed an antique handling business. While going back and forth between Europe and Japan, she broadened her perspectives on the history, culture, nature, and people's lives and ways of life in Japan and overseas. She has lived in Hachimantai at the foot of Mt. Iwate since 2015. Currently is living with horses, engaged in event planning, tour coordination and guide business as a representative of “MATOWA”.
Kazutomo Miyagi
- Local Coordinator
- Michinori Travel Tohoku / Morioka
- Born in 1981 in Miyako City, Iwate prefecture. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he changed jobs from working as a civil servant to the private sector. Planning and coordinating various types of travel with the aim of regional reconstruction and revitalization through interaction between people through travel. This time, heading up an elite group of people from both inside and outside the prefecture, he has set up a project team in order to connect the inland and coastal areas of the prefecture and to promote the essential charm of Iwate prefecture while pursuing a sustainable and new way of tourism.
Katy Shina
- Local Coordinator
- Michinori Travel Tohoku / Morioka
- Born in 1984 in Brisbane, Australia. An interest in Japanese culture and traditional performing arts, led her to study abroad in Japan on multiple occasions, after which she moved to work in the Tourism section in Hokkaido, Japan. Moved to Iwate in 2012. Despite the many interesting cultural aspects and performing arts in various parts of Iwate, she is participating in this project with the desire to do something about the fact that these are mostly completely unknown to foreign tourists. Responsible for product development from a foreigner's perspective, sales activities and local English support.
Quinlan Faris
- Local Coordinator
- Morioka
- Born in Madison, Wisconsin. Arriving in Japan around 20 years ago after spending 10 monthsliving in China. After 10 years living in Tokyo, during which he took multiple backpacking trips to India and Nepal, he moved north to Iwate in 2010. He is an avid hiker, runs an Airbnb, and his own Youtube channel. He also forages for wild vegetables and creates and edits his own YouTube. A past student of Tibetan Buddhism/Classical Tibetan language, certified Sake Sommelier, and coffee enthusiast.
Masaya Yamada
- Creative Design Manager
- tateito-yokoito llc. / Miyagi
- Born in 1980 in Gunma prefecture. Experienced in technical support, creative management, and production in TVCM and movie production. In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, he created a place to reconsider the value and charm of the local culture that is passed down in the Tohoku area, to promote it, and launch "Tokyo Deer Dance" and "Tateito-Yokoito Company" as activities to help pass on the culture to the next generation. Aside from the Deer dance, he is planning / producing communication designs that take advantage of the climate and culture of the Tohoku area. Active in two bases, Tohoku and Tokyo.
ACTIVITIES
Creating opportunities for people to deeply connect and interact with Iwate's rich history and culture and increasing the number of “new storytellers” who rediscover the values of Iwate and pass them on to future generations.
In order to achieve the goal, we carry out the following activities:
- Tours (domestic and inbound)
- Planning and management of study tours and study programs
- Organizing cultural events
- Development and management of training programs
- Product development featuring local resources
- Creating original contents such as manga and animation
- Academic research and publication of local culture and history
- Lectures and consulting based on the results of the above activities
- Establishment of our base to experience the world of Iwate
- Additional activities to achieve our goal
CONTACT
- Company Name
- Michinori Travel Tohoku
- Personal Information
Protection Administrator - Kazutomo Miyagi
- Contact
- 1-17-18 Kuriyagawa, Morioka-shi, Iwate, 020-0124, Japan
- Tel
- +81-19-641-8811
