"NFT" that can be seen in the app is exhibited in the shopping district, and can be purchased on the spot Aiming to transform the shopping district into a metaverse Okayama City
An art initiative using the latest digital technology is being carried out in the shopping district of Okayama City. Our goal is to create a shopping street that attracts people from all over the world.
(reporter report)
"If you read the QR code here with a special app, you'll see cute pictures floating in the air. There are a lot of them."
This is the Nishihokancho shopping street in Kita Ward, Okayama City. Looking through a smartphone, the arcade displays about 40 works by 7 artists. This digital art is a technology called "NFT", and because it cannot be duplicated or counterfeited, it is also subject to buying and selling.
(Takuya Kitajima, representative of KAMP who planned the event)
“Since you can immediately access and buy digital art works, Houkan-cho shopping street is probably the first in Japan to be able to do that, which is probably a big advantage.”
You can also buy art works displayed in the shopping district on the spot by paying virtual currency by tapping the description.
Furthermore, in front of a shop that sells CDs and records...
(reporter)
"I heard a sound, but what kind of NFT is it?"
(Mr. Kitajima)
“This is an NFT made by a rice farmer, and if you buy this NFT, you will receive rice.”
The initiative to display digital art in the shopping district was scheduled for one month from July 2022, but there have been many inquiries, and it has been decided that the 4th will be held from the 23rd. And what is the shape of the shopping street ahead?
(Takuya Kitajima, Director of Nishihokancho Shopping Street and Representative of KAMP)
“From now on, tourists will probably come back, so I thought it would be nice to have something to sell at that time.
The Metaverse allows you to enter a virtual space with your alter ego called an avatar and communicate with the people around you. Mr. Kitajima says he wants to create a system in the future to connect with people from all over the world in the virtual space and have them support the shopping street.
(Takuya Kitajima, Director of Nishihokancho Shopping Street and Representative of KAMP)
“If people who are interested move to Houkan-cho, even if only a little, I think it will develop, so we will continue to introduce new things and let them know about this town. I think that's probably the most important thing."
From the 23rd, digital art works collected from the general public are scheduled to be exhibited, and the focus is on works by 7-year-old artists. Art works can be viewed by anyone by downloading the app "STYLY".
