{"id":4905,"date":"2026-05-23T13:41:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T04:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doguyasuji.or.jp\/?p=4905"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T00:09:00","slug":"%e5%8f%b0%e6%b9%be%e8%a8%aa%e5%95%8f%e3%82%92%e9%80%9a%e3%81%98%e3%81%9f%e5%9b%bd%e9%9a%9b%e4%ba%a4%e6%b5%81%e3%81%a8%e5%95%86%e5%ba%97%e8%a1%97%e3%81%ae%e5%8f%af%e8%83%bd%e6%80%a7%e3%81%ab%e3%81%a4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doguyasuji.or.jp\/en\/4905\/","title":{"rendered":"International exchange through visits to Taiwan and the potential of shopping districts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, the Doguyasuji Shopping Street had the opportunity to visit Taiwan to learn about local shopping districts, regional revitalization initiatives, and community development utilizing design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This visit was made possible thanks to a connection formed when Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), a design organization directly affiliated with the Taiwan government, visited the Doguyasuji Shopping Street last year, and we were warmly welcomed by many people there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through exchanges and site visits across Taiwan, these three days provided many valuable lessons and inspiration regarding the approach of communities, local government, design sectors, and shopping districts working together to cultivate the charm of a town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Taipei to Taichung. Inspecting the Tianwei Highway Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I traveled from Taipei to Taichung, and the first place I visited was the Tianwei Highway Garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tianwei is home to about 300 plant-related shops, and rather than just selling plants, efforts have been made to create an area that can be enjoyed throughout the entire town, incorporating experiences, tourism, and community exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locally, efforts to build a brand across the entire region and convey the charm of the town to visitors could be seen everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, initiatives in collaboration with the Taiwan Design Research Institute are underway, and I was very impressed by how they are creating new value for the city while utilizing local resources.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Town development connecting the old and the new learned in Konishi-dori Shopping Street<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, we visited \"Konishi Characteristic Streets and Alleys,\" which is working on regional revitalization by making use of its historical streetscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Konishi Characteristic Street, we also visited the historic building \"Kobinkaku (former Changhua Railway Hospital).\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built in 1938, this building once flourished as the luxury traditional Japanese restaurant \"Kohikaku,\" and later became cherished by the community as a railway hospital. Today, it has been revitalized as a place for culture, exchange, and creativity, serving not only to preserve the historic building, but also as a hub for generating new value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The approach to urban development that leverages history and local memory while passing them on to the new generation serves as a highly informative reference for future shopping district activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was impressed by the attitude of not just preserving old things, but creating new stories together with the community by utilizing the younger generation and digital technology. In addition, the development of mechanisms to revitalize the town in cooperation with local governments and community organizations was underway, and I could see many ingenious ways to pass culture on to the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Returned to Taipei and visited the Nanjichang Night Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I returned to Taipei and visited the Nanjichang Night Market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On site, we were invited to the shop of Mr. Lin, the president of the Nanjichang Night Market, and received a very warm welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The vibrancy of the entire night market and the bustling crowds made me feel the strength of a deeply rooted local commercial culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was also able to experience the local culture through food, such as the peanut butter cake popular as B-class gourmet food, Taiwan's representative Lu Rou Fan, and stinky tofu, which I tried for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was reminded once again that the charm of a city is created not only by its shops, but also by the people who gather there and its overall atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Visited the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most significant learnings from this visit was our visit to the Taiwan Design Research Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where is TDRI located?
This is the \"Songshan Tobacco Factory (Songshan Cultural and Creative Park)\" area, which was originally built during the Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Design<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Art<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Startup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Display<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Caf\u00e9<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Event<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    has become a representative creative hub of Taiwan where people such as gather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Efforts were underway to make the entire country better by utilizing \"design.\" In Taiwan, the concept that \"design is the power of the nation\" is emphasized, and I was deeply impressed by how this philosophy is being shaped into concrete organizations and policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was a place where I could strongly feel the energy and creativity of the younger generation, as well as the power to connect the community and its culture to the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    For the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Through this visit to Taiwan, it became an opportunity to re-evaluate the charm and potential of the Doguyasuji Shopping Street once again from an external perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Through our exchanges with the people of Taiwan, I am once again reminded of the importance of creating new value while cherishing local history and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    From now on too
    Taiwan Design Research Institute
    While deepening interaction with everyone, we hope to rediscover the appeal of Doguyasuji from an external perspective and apply those insights to the shopping district's activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First, aiming to visit the Taiwan Design Expo scheduled for October, I hope to lead this to further exchanges and initiatives moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This stay in Taiwan was a very fruitful opportunity that allowed us to build international relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (May 20\u201322, 2026 Visit to Taiwan)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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