RISHIRI ISLAND | HELP THE KELP
-Rishiri Island, known for its production of kombu kelp—an essential ingredient for creating umami flavor in Japanese cuisine—was facing challenges in preserving the tradition of kelp harvesting due to the younger population migrating to cities.
-We developed a mobile recruitment tool called "Help the Kelp." Kombu, a lengthy seaweed, requires flat drying before processing. We took inspiration from this method to design mechanics for a smartphone game where players virtually laid out 3-meter-long pieces of kelp. Those who
achieved higher scores were then encouraged to apply for kelp farming positions.
-This innovative approach gained the attention of more than 60 Japanese media outlets. The news spread globally, reaching 27 countries.
-As a result, website traffic surged by 4000%. Eventually, five individuals in their twenties were successfully employed as part-time kelp farmers.