Visualizing New Movements North of 44°N: Launch of the 'Oku-Dohoku' Website as a Platform Connecting People and Projects in Northern Hokkaido

As the second phase of the "Oku-Dohoku" initiative announced in October 2025, Nakagawa Town has officially launched the Oku-Dohoku website.

◎ Oku-Dohoku Website: https://okudohoku.com

October Press Release:

Launch of the 'Oku-Dohoku' Project in the Unexplored Region of Northern Hokkaido | Nakagawa Town Press Release

This website serves as a platform to visualize the movements currently taking place in the area north of 44°N in Northern Hokkaido, the people involved, and the projects currently underway.

We will convey the "current state of Oku-Dohoku" as it is, including challenges and concepts that are still in the development stage.

Purpose of the Website

The website features the direction Oku-Dohoku should take and the charter it should uphold. Furthermore, we will continuously share information about the "people," "movements," and "stories behind the scenes" within Oku-Dohoku.

The goal is to increase the number of people involved in the Oku-Dohoku regional initiative, connect players with one another, and serve as a "starting point" for new movements. Moving forward, we aim to expand collaborations with companies and businesses and create co-creation projects on an Oku-Dohoku scale.

Introduction to Website Content

■ Oku-Dohoku FUTURE — The Future (Purpose) Oku-Dohoku Aims For

The future Oku-Dohoku aims for is the creation of an "Oku-Dohoku Economic Zone."

This includes regional resources such as the livelihoods of the people, the natural environment, and the living culture found in this land.

It includes the "relational population" such as visitors, supporters, and companies outside the region who are involved.

And it includes the various large and small projects that continue to be born in this land.

Rather than existing independently, these elements will loosely but surely connect, overlap, and circulate to create a sustainable economic and cultural sphere. That is the "Oku-Dohoku Economic Zone."

It is a circle of relationships that expands through challenges and practice, rather than being defined by frameworks or administrative units. Regional resources are being rediscovered as value, and the people involved are...