Self-reliance and Creativity



in department store in Oita city



Hello!　Where did you go winter vacation? I went to my hometown ,Oita prefecture( ONSEN prefecture ). I relaxed with my family and my friends , and saw some specialties through the One Village One Product movement( OVOP ) in department store in Oita city. In Oita Nadeshiko JAPAN will visit training camp next month. Oita people have been looking forward to seeing them.

Today I will write second of the OVOP Movement’s principles ; Self-reliance and Creativity. It’s about realization of the OVOP Movement through independent actions utilizing potential of region. The OVOP Movement is activity that people live in each cities, towns and villages in Oita prefecture find the valuable local resources which can boast of nationally, and raise value through processing, sale, marketing, and so on.

 < The number of the OVOP Movement products > 

The OVOP Movement was initiated autonomously in 58 cities , towns and village of Oita prefecture. In the year of its introduction, the number of the OVOP Movement products throughout the prefecture was 143, but 20 years later the figure had increased more than two-folds to 336.　The OVOP Movement wasn’t always met with success, and there were many trials and errors along the way.1)  They have treasured characteristic of each regions and thought of technical guidance and distributional measure.

 Examples of products developed under the OVOP Movement are ‘White spring onions’ ( Bungotakata city ), ‘Kabosu’ ( Taketa city ), ‘Bungo beef’ ( Yufuin town ) and ‘Shochu spilits’ ( Usa city ) and so on.

< Support of the prefecture government >

The prefecture government never attempted to provide subsidies for the OVOP Movement. This movement isn’t a project but regional movement, so it is important that people live in each cities, towns and villages think of ideas and act. The prefecture governor supports it. The prefecture government established some laboratories and have researched and coached regional people for production and processing technology. For example, Oitaken nougyou gijyutu center ( Oita prefecture Agricultural Technology Center ), Oitaken tikusan shikenjyou (Oita prefecture Stockbreeding Experiment Station ), Oitaken kinoko kenkyuu shidou center ( Oita prefecture Mushrooms Research And Guidance Center ) and Oitaken kaiyousuisan kenkyuu center ( Oita prefecture Marine and Fisheries Science Center ) and so on.

 Distribution routes were opened and expanded by the efforts of the prefectural government and the then governor Mr.Hiramatsu himself, who organized numerous fairs in major Japanese cities and abroad, where he personally advertised Oita’s prospective products.1)

Budget of the prefecture used publicity of the OVOP Movement and exchange between human and human. The other was covered by community. The OVOP Movement is covered by private organization at present. Because they feared that such assistance would only hamper self-reliance and prevent lasting success of the OVOP Movement. Instead, the government assisted in product development and distribution. Moreover, groups and individuals with outstanding achievement in the OVOP Movement were honored with reward.1)

 It snowed much today. Please be careful not to slide on road next morning. Thank you!

1) Website ,www.ovop.jp