A pleasant day for waiting
#01 The reason for placing a ping pong table in a townscape with white walls.

Hello everyone. This is Morino.

Currently, I'm involved in disseminating information about migration and settlement, as well as working on local projects, together with members of Monosus who are active in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Ms. Kojima, who is working as a member of the Yanai City Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team.

Among these, a new initiative has recently begun in which we are also involved in the management.

Its name is "Machitaku Yanai".

Here, a new challenge begins: "Community development through table tennis."

"Using table tennis for community development?"
Some of you might find this a little strange.
Actually, I was the same way at first.
Because I didn't really associate them with each other.

However, as I learned more about the background and the feelings of the people involved, it became clear that this initiative was not simply about enjoying table tennis.

This time, I'd like to write about the beginnings of "Machitaku Yanai," which we will be involved in running from now on.

A new challenge begins in a town with white walls.

The white-walled townscape of Yanai City is an area that still retains the atmosphere of Edo-period merchant houses.
Some of you may have visited this place as a tourist.

"Machitaku Yanai" is a project that aims to create a new community hub by utilizing the historic building "Sagawa Family Residence" located within that townscape.

This location serves as a Wi-Fi hotspot, a consultation center for relocating and settling in the area, and a meeting space for citizens. Efforts are underway to create a space where people can easily gather and interact through activities such as table tennis, food and drinks, and events.

The unexpected connection between Yanai City and table tennis

"Why table tennis?" Many of you might be wondering that.

Actually, Yanai City has an unexpected connection to table tennis. If you play table tennis, you might know the brand "BUTTERFLY." It's a table tennis brand that is used by top players all over the world, and Yanai City is the birthplace of Tamasu Co., Ltd., the company that develops that brand.

Even now, 76 years after its founding, Tamasu Co., Ltd. maintains ties with Yanai City through its naming rights to "Butterfly Arena" and its cooperation with the Platinum Table Tennis Tournament held in the city. In April of this year, Tamasu Co., Ltd. and Yanai City signed a cooperation agreement regarding regional revitalization.

And "Machitaku Yanai" was launched as one of those initiatives. The main objectives of this project are to "bring people together and create opportunities for interaction through table tennis" and "to create new ways of engaging with the local community."

What's beyond the ping pong table

When you hear the name "Machitaku," you might imagine a place to play table tennis. However, this project is not aiming to be a sports facility.

It's a place where people from all walks of life—tourists, locals, newcomers, children, and adults—can easily drop by and naturally strike up conversations.

This place is where they first meet. They gather around the ping pong table and begin a rally. With drinks in hand, the conversation flows easily.
Perhaps it is the accumulation of such seemingly insignificant moments that connects people to people, and people to their communities.

Why are we involved?

"Machitaku Yanai" is a project being advanced by Tamasu Co., Ltd., Yanai City, and us at Monosus, each contributing from our respective positions. We at Monosus have been involved in Yanai City's migration and settlement promotion projects, while also promoting the charm of the local lifestyle, work, and people.

In addition, members of the city hall's community development promotion division and the community revitalization cooperation team are also engaged in various activities while interacting with local people and businesses.

A common concern I hear from people considering relocating is the anxiety of not knowing anyone in the area. However, once you actually start living there, you'll find that connections with people are just as important as housing and work.

Being shown around town by someone, being greeted by a local resident, or meeting someone by chance at an event—these small events can greatly change one's impression of a town.

That's why we hope that "Machitaku Yanai" will become not just a facility, but a gateway where people can meet and connect.

Tamasu Co., Ltd. is trying to give shape to its feelings for Yanai City, the place where it was founded; Yanai City is working to create a new exchange hub; and we at Monosus are involved in creating a place that fosters connections between people.
With everyone's feelings coming together, this place is starting to move.

What is about to begin

"Machitaku Yanai" has only just begun.

I honestly don't know yet what kind of people will visit, what kind of interactions will take place, or what kind of place this will become. But that's precisely why I'm looking forward to it. People will gather together through table tennis, and new connections will be formed. I hope to share these experiences little by little from now on.

In future posts, I plan to introduce the preparations leading up to the opening, the actual operation of the facility, events, and the people I met there.

First, we talked about the background behind the start of "Machitaku Yanai".