Update! Food Hub Project wins Good Design Gold Award!

Following on from last month , we have some exciting news!

The Food Hub Project, which won the Good Design Best 100 award in 2018, has now been awarded a special prize, the Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) .

About the Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award):
The award is given to the design that the Good Design Award Judging Committee judges to be the most outstanding this year from a comprehensive perspective, including its approach to social issues, its proposals for the future, and its level of completion.

We are very happy that our design was recently selected as one of the "Good Design Best 100" from among approximately 4,800 entries, and that it has now won the "Good Design Gold Award." Thank you for recognizing our design as one of the best designs of 2018!

*This award was awarded to four companies: Food Hub Project Co., Ltd., Kamiyama Town Office, Kamiyama Tsunagu Public Corporation, and Monosus Co., Ltd.

Click here for the 2018 Good Design Award winners announcement website

After a tense "Special Award Judging Panel", he won the award!

The "Special Award Judging Meeting" was held on October 10th to select the Special Award winners. The Best 100 winners gave presentations at the judging meeting. This year, for the first time, the judging was open to the public, with the general public also able to watch.

The presentation time was four minutes. The person in charge was Manabe, the manager of the Food Hub Project. How could they convey their thoughts clearly in such a short time? Manabe rarely gets nervous normally, but he said that he could hardly sleep the night before.

The cover of the slides presented at the special judging session. It was an extremely tense four minutes.

On the day of the event, many members of the public were in attendance, creating a quiet, lively atmosphere. Manabe appeared on stage with a solemn look on his face (perhaps due to nervousness?) and gave a passionate presentation about the thoughts and ideas that drive the activities of Food Hub.

What was particularly impressive was his perception of food.

When we talk about "food," it can be broadly divided into two opposing categories: "food for survival" and "food for pleasure." What we at Food Hub aim for is " everyday food ," which is in the middle.

There were a few nods in the audience at the keyword "everyday food." Although they were nervous about the sharp questions from the judges, they all finished their presentations without any problems, even laughing at times.

Although Mr. Ito seemed to have had many regrets about his presentation, saying "I wish I could do it again!", he received a call from the secretariat later and was given the opportunity to present again as part of a special program at the award exhibition starting on October 31st.

A presentation that touches the heartstrings!
We are extremely pleased to have received recognition in so many different forms, including winning the gold award.

Members from Kamiyama also rushed over to celebrate.

And yesterday, the Good Design Award celebration was held in Tokyo. Manabe, designer Ishibashi, Food Hub Project agricultural director Shiramomo, and head chef Hosoi rushed to the event.

The special awards were announced in front of a packed venue with so many people that they could not all fit inside.

Good Design Gold Award, Food Hub Project!

On behalf of the team, agricultural director Shiramomo and manager Manabe took to the stage.

As I watched the award ceremony being held on stage, the faces of the many people who support the activities of Food Hub every day came to mind: the people of Kamiyama Town in Tokushima Prefecture, the producers, the people who support the work on the ground...without any of these elements, I believe that the great achievement of winning the Good Design Gold Award would not have been possible.

Once again, thank you!
I will make sure to bring the trophy and certificate back to Kamiyama!

Please come to our exhibition

The "GOOD DESIGN Exhibition 2018" at Tokyo Midtown started on the same day as the awards ceremony, and there are also plans for a special exhibition in the Kansai region. Please come and visit us.

It's finally until Sunday, November 4th!
"GOOD DESIGN Exhibition 2018"

http://www.g-mark.org/gde/2018/index.html

The award-winning exhibition "GOOD DESIGN Exhibition 2018" has been held since October 31st. It is a big event that attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year, and this year it has been crowded with many people every day. The exhibition area for the Food Hub is in the Special Award and Best 100 Award Exhibition Area G-1 in the main venue G1 (Midtown Hall/Midtown East B1F) . It is located immediately to the right as you enter the venue, so don't miss it!

Here's a look at the exhibition. Please come and visit!

Award-winning exhibition "GOOD DESIGN Exhibition 2018"
Period: Wednesday, October 31, 2018 to Sunday, November 4, 2018, 11:00-20:00 / Open throughout the period Venue: Various locations in Tokyo Midtown Admission: 1,000 yen (valid for 5 days) / Free for university students and younger
URL: http://www.g-mark.org/gde/2018/index.html

This is the first special exhibition in Kansai!
"GOOD DESIGN AWARD Kobe" (11/23-12/24)

https://design.city.kobe.lg.jp/2018/10/gda-kobe/

This is an event in Kansai. The "GOOD DESIGN AWARD Kobe" will be held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Kobe City's UNESCO Design City designation. The Good Design Best 100 and Long Life Design Award will be exhibited.

This will be the first time that a Good Design exhibition will be held in the Kansai region. The event will run for a month, so please come along if you are in the western part of Japan!

Special exhibition "GOOD DESIGN AWARD Kobe"
Date: November 23, 2018 (Friday) - December 24, 2018 (Monday) 10:00-18:00
Venue: Kobe Fashion Museum
Admission: Adults 1,000 yen / University students and those 65 and over 500 yen / High school students and younger free
URL: https://design.city.kobe.lg.jp/2018/10/gda-kobe/

So, I've been reporting on this while the excitement of winning has still not yet died down.

Since receiving the "Good Design Best Top 100" award last month, we have received congratulations from various sources, as well as messages of joy from members' families, and have often felt a sense of accomplishment in receiving this recognition in the form of an award.

And now, the "Good Design Gold Award"! Of course, winning the award itself is not the goal, but I am filled with gratitude to the people who have been so happy and supportive as if it were their own achievement. Thank you all so much!

The special award ceremony will be held in December, and I would like to share with you at that time how I came to enter the Good Design Award and my thoughts on winning the award.

<Food Hub Project: Award Summary>

Name of the award recipient:
"Food Hub Project" - A local circulation system for agriculture and food culture
(Category: Regional/Community Building)

Winners:
・Food Hub Project Co., Ltd. (Tokushima Prefecture)
・Kamiyama Town Hall (Tokushima Prefecture)
・Kamiyama Tsunagu Public Corporation (Tokushima Prefecture)
・Monosus Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)

producer:
・Taichi Manabe (Food Hub Project Co., Ltd.)

director:
・Keiko Hosoi (Food Hub Project Co., Ltd.)
・Kaoru Shiramomo (Kamiyama Tsunagu Public Corporation)

designer:
・Tsuyoshi Ishibashi ・Toshio Tase (Plantago)
・Landscape Products Co.,Ltd.
・Shimazu Omiyoshi (Shimazu Omiyoshi Architectural Design Office)

overview:
The Food Hub Project is an agricultural company that aims to connect local agriculture and food to the next generation with the motto of "local production for local food." It is being carried out in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, which has a population of about 5,500, in cooperation with industry, government, academia, and the local community.

Through a small food circulation system of "growing, making, eating, and connecting" aimed at people living in the town, regardless of age or gender, the town welcomes new farmers, runs a farm, operates a restaurant, bakery, and grocery store using the produce they grow, develops processed products using local ingredients, and conducts food education activities in collaboration with primary, junior high, and high schools.

We are not just involved in agriculture and the food service industry; we are also responsible for solving a wide range of issues in the local community, including solving local agricultural problems, preserving food culture, creating jobs, encouraging immigration, revitalizing the community, and educating the next generation.

Click here for the 2018 Good Design Award winners announcement website