d design travel Aichi

　
Editorial Philosophy:
Do not feature anything that doesn't move you. Write honestly, in your own words.
If there are problems, but the subject is excellent, point out the problems while still recommending it.
Limit proofreading by the subjects of articles to fact-checking only.
From the perspective of long-life design, feature only things that will last.
When taking photographs, do not use special lenses to exaggerate. Capture things as they are.
Maintain ongoing relationships with the places and people featured even after publication.
　
Selection Criteria for Coverage:
It must be characteristic of the region.
It must convey an important message from the region.
It must be run by local people.
It must be reasonably priced.
It must show ingenuity in design.
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I was so struck by the editorial policy written at the beginning that I decided to transcribe it here.
　
"d design travel" is a series of "travel guides with a design perspective" published by D&Department (D&D), with one volume dedicated to each prefecture in order.
　
The latest issue covers Aichi Prefecture. They featured a great deal about us as well, including Circles, Early Birds, Culture Club, and the Gourmet Century Ride Asuke.

　

　　
In the past, while I was working on a project for the Ministry of the Environment, I had the opportunity to interview D&D representative Kenmei Nagaoka. The word "design" came up repeatedly during that time, but it was used in such a broad sense that every time I heard it, I found myself mentally reinterpreting it—not in the common, superficial sense of things looking "cool" or "cute," but in the etymological sense of "turning a plan into a symbol," or in other words, "a method for solving problems."
　
I have linked a page below that summarizes Kenmei Nagaoka’s philosophy well for your reference. Although the content is from 2004, I believe the values remain unchanged today.
　

Kenmei Nagaoka (Representative Director, D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT)
Report | Kobe School | Felissimo
http://www.kobegakkou-blog.com/blog/2004/03/post-0071.html
　

Although our approaches are different, Circles is very similar to them in that our vision ultimately aims at serving society. I was particularly impressed by how the Aichi feature focused more on the person Shinya Tanaka than on the shop itself.
　　　

　
The research method used by the d design travel editorial team was truly wonderful. They spent most of their two-month research period staying in Nagoya, visited us frequently, talked about everything including trivial matters, and would fly off the moment they heard of an interesting place. Akiko Sasaki from the editorial team even participated in the Gourmet Century Ride Asuke. When I think about how they connect dots and lines, and people to people, wherever they go to weave the charm of Aichi, it’s easy to imagine that the other places featured are just as genuine.
　　　

　

　　

What is the charm of Aichi Prefecture?

Not long after this wonderful Aichi guide was published, survey results were released revealing that Nagoya residents feel their home city has no particular features and lacks charm compared to other major cities.
　
"Cannot recommend visiting Nagoya": City feels a sense of crisis over serious results
http://mainichi.jp/articles/20160707/k00/00e/040/257000c
　
It is true that Nagoya residents think this way.
But it would be a lie to say that it really lacks charm.
　

There may be few obvious charms that have been well-marketed, but for the rather conservative people of Aichi, the very things they do and enjoy as part of their daily lives—like a simmering pot of miso-nikomi—possess a content and quality that surprise outsiders. Editor-in-Chief Kuga hit the nail on the head regarding this in the afterword of the Aichi issue.
　
As someone who moved to Nagoya a year ago, I feel that a unique culture is brewed here, in between the mainstream spheres of Kyoto/Osaka and Tokyo, and that this is a characteristic of Aichi, including Nagoya food.
　
And this travel guide brings that to the surface. Thinking that perhaps local people should be the ones to read it, I intend to hop on my bike and head out to explore various places myself.
　　
　　
SimWorks Division Monja