“I want to share the charm of my beloved hometown through a picture book,” expressed Moe Ito, a 21-year-old senior at Tohoku University of Art and Design (Yamagata City). Miss Ito, driven by her love for her hometown, is currently crowdfunding to cover the production costs of a picture book set in her hometown of Daisen City, Akita Prefecture. The story features an Akita dog character named “Lulu.” The book uses real shops and memories from local junior high school students, intending to inspire readers to visit Daisen City.
The story begins with Lulu receiving a mysterious invitation on her second birthday. On the day of the nationally renowned “Omagari Fireworks Competition,” Lulu visits Daisen City, exploring its charm through encounters with local shops and people.
The idea for the book came about during a conversation about hometowns with friends at university. While Daisen City is known for its impressive fireworks, many people have never actually visited. “I wondered if there was a way to encourage them to come,” thought Miss Ito.
Miss Ito chose a picture book as her medium to appeal to a broad audience. She hopes readers will see themselves in the characters and enjoy imagining, “Where would I go, and what would I ask if I met this person?”
“I hope the picture book will motivate people to visit Daisen City and rediscover its charm. I would be grateful for your support,” said Miss Ito.
The crowdfunding campaign is hosted on the platform “SCOP” and accepts contributions starting from 2,000 yen. The target is 600,000 yen, and the campaign runs until January 20. Rewards include the picture book and postcards.
※This project has ended.
