[Taka Town] Promote the charm of Taka Town with Taka tartan, revitalize the town by supporting young people starting businesses

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Otari Kotani, who serves as both the chairman of the Takata Tartan Committee and the vice president of the Taka Town Tourism Otari , says she wants to promote the charms of Taka Town both in and outside the town through Takata Tartan products. We visited her office, the general store Sun 3ix, which stocks Takata Tartan products.

Written by

Local Prime/Travel Lab by Shinki Bus Co., Ltd.

What are good things and good experiences? There are many characteristics such as having a story to tell, overflowing with the thoughts of the creator, having a history, and being loved by the locals. Have you ever come across a special thing or experience that made you want to tell someone about it? And as a result of telling, someone new leads to something. We think that's what "good" is all about. In order to deliver such encounters to our customers, we discover Hyogo's good things based on the concept of "talk, communicate, and connect", and provide information that will shorten the emotional distance between customers and the region of Hyogo Prefecture.

Table of Contents
Any design is possible
What is "Taka Tartan"?
Opened "General Store Sun 3ix"
We will continue to support Taka Town and those who want to start businesses.
basic information

Any design is possible

Otari's office and store

Otari Kotani is a graphic designer from Nishiwaki City who lives in Taka Town . After graduating from high school, she trained at the Tokyo branch of an advertising design company based in Kasai City , and became independent at the age of 23. Next year will mark her 30th year as a designer.

Some of the works designed by Otari

Otari has worked on a variety of designs, including logos, business cards, shop cards, direct mail, envelopes, and packaging, mainly in the Kita- Harima region and throughout Hyogo Prefecture. With his Toyotomi of experience and achievements as a designer, it may have been a natural progression for Otari to be involved in the planning and development of "Taka Tartan" products.

What is "Taka Tartan"?

There are other "Taka Tartan" patterns

"Taka Tartan" is an original tartan check pattern that was created in Taka Town , Taka District, the birthplace of Banshu weaving .

The tartan pattern is woven in six colors. The six colors express the image of Taka Town, such as the yellow of Yamada Nishiki rice, the white of sake rice, snow, and Sugihara paper, and the green of Taka Town 's nature, all of which are meaningful and rooted in the town's climate. Another major feature is that the fabric is made by Banshu weaving artisans using traditional techniques.

Development of Taka Tartan began in 2018. We took over the "Banshu-ori Shirt Project" (a PR project utilizing the local Banshu-ori industry) from the local government and began thinking about a design for an original "tartan" for Taka Town.

In 2018, a planning committee led by Otari conducted inspection training and discussions, deciding on six image colors. In July 2019, the colors were registered with the Scottish Tartan Registry, and in September, the Banshu Woven Taka Tartan fabric was completed and debuted.

"It has to be registered with the Scottish Registry before it can be called tartan. Without it it's just a check."

Neckties 3,500 yen, masking tape 418 yen, handkerchiefs from 1,100 yen, water bottles 4,400 yen, etc.

Using the Takatartan that was created in this way, Otari has led the development of products that include stationery such as masking tape and clear files, clothing accessories such as handkerchiefs, hand towels, bags and parasols, practical items such as water bottles, accessories including corsages and earrings, and the number of items is increasing rapidly.

"Basically, we want our products to be advertising products that will make people recognize Taka Town when they see them, and we want them to have a high level of design that will appeal to a wide range of people," says Otari. Some of the "Taka Tartan" products are also available at the "Roadside Station Yamada Nishiki Taka Town Taka/Town Station Taka" and "Cafe Chattana" (inside "Chattana Mori").

In addition to product development, we also host social events, and in 2022 and 2023 we held the ``Tartan Summit in Taka- Connecting and Expanding the Circle of Tartan'', which included talk shows and exhibitions.

Otari said, "All of the prizes in the raffle at the 2023 summit were Takata Tartan items. I was really happy to see Takata Tartan all over the venue."

Opened "General Store Sun 3ix"

The products selected by Otari are lined up in a small space

In July 2021, Otari opened his own design firm, Land Graphics, and the general store Sun 3ix. It is a wonderful space renovated from an old house.

"We mix the best things from Taka Town, and the designs I create with companies, shops, and people...the store name has many meanings," says Otari.

"HALOP" products

In this shop, you can find not only Takatartan products developed by Otari, but also other good items selected by Otari. There are also eco-friendly goods, so it's fun just to look around. There are also local products.

This is a product of "HALOP", a washi paper brand from Taka Town, which uses "Sugihara paper" with a history of over 1300 years and "Banshu weaving" with a history of over 200 years. It really feels like "the Taka Town".

The extremely popular "conte" leather products

Wanting to support artists who work without a storefront and people who are working hard to dream of starting their own businesses one day, Otari not only sells their works and products on consignment in his shop, but also designs logos and business cards that are unique to each person.

We will continue to support Taka Town and those who want to start businesses.

With the popular teddy bear

When asked "What are your plans for the future?", he replied, "I want to develop more products to raise the profile of Taka Tartan." For Mr. Otari, product development is a way to contribute to the local community. Taka Tartan has been adopted for the tablecloths of the local junior high school library, and he is happy to be able to promote it to the local people.

The store has just started a new service called "mixBENTO." This service is for people who want to give a present but don't know what to choose, and allows customers to choose a present together with advice in store or online.

He said he wants to deliver a gift that reminds people of their favorite side dishes when they open the lid of their bento. He also wants to help people choose products from Taka Town and those of people who are working hard, while consulting with them.

Otari Kotani is a supporter of the town and a supporter of young entrepreneurs. He generously uses his abilities to play a major role in revitalizing Taka Town.

(Writer Utami)

*This article is current as of June 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

basic information

Rand graphics/Zakkaya Sun 3ix

Address: 108-4 Hyogo Prefecture , Naka-ku, Taka Town gun, Taka Naka Ward

Telephone: 0795-20-1689, 090-3486-3026

Business hours: [General store Sun 3ix] Friday and Saturday 13:00-18:00

*Open every day from July 21st to July 29th from 13:00 to 18:00

Closed: Sunday to Thursday

Access: 26 minutes by car from Takinoyashiro IC on the Chugoku Expressway, 28 minutes by car from Kozaki Minami IC on the Bantan Link Road, take the Shinki Green Bus from JR Nishiwaki City or Honkuroda Station and get off at the Yasusaka bus stop

Parking: 4 spaces

Social Media [Land Graphics]: Instagram , Facebook

[General Store Sun 3ix]: Instagram , Facebook

Written by

Local Prime/Travel Lab by Shinki Bus Co., Ltd.

Hyogo

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