【Rediscover Paradise Okinawa by Corona Extra] Vol. 1 Kanna and her husband pass down the architecture of Okinawa in their new private home VILLA.

Okinawa, one of the most famous tourist cities in Japan, was greatly affected by COVID-19, and the city has changed so drastically that it is obvious to the eye. However, there are people in Okinawa who are waiting for people to come back and visit Okinawa again.

In order to save Okinawa's tourism industry, a beer brand calledCorona ExtraDid you know that "Corona Beer" is providing full support? Corona Beer is currently supporting the tourism and travel industry all over the world and decided to support Okinawa , as a way of giving back after 5 years of hosting the "CORONA SUNSETS FESTIVAL" in Japan.

The content of the program is that the brand's budget will be used to pay in advance for vacant rooms at lodging facilities in Okinawa Prefecture, and the purchased rooms will be offered to consumers for the vacancies. (AlreadySpecial SiteThe campaign is now open at)

In addition, a documentary movie was produced to show the "now" of Okinawa. What kind of life are the people of Okinawa living while praying for the return of their former lives? We interviewed four groups involved in the tourism industry in Okinawa, and will reconfirm the charm of Okinawa by delivering their life-size stories along with the scenery of Okinawa.

HOUYHNHNM's will show a limited number of the performers' stories that could not be included in the movie. We will follow their backgrounds and perspectives on life in a total of four installments. The first installment is about Hanna and her husband, who run an inn that makes the most of Okinawa's natural beauty.

An encounter that crosses 14,000 km away.

Jun was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and became a naturalized Japanese citizen to carry on the family name "Hanna" of his grandfather, who was born in Okinawa. Sakura was born in Paris and raised in Alsace, with a French mother and father from Hokkaido, Japan.

Their lives began in Caracas and Paris, 7600 km apart, and crossed paths via Japan, another 14,000 km away. In discussing the "new minka" that they later built, we cannot avoid talking about their experiences and the background that gave birth to their sensibilities.

Jun moved to Japan from Venezuela when he was 10 years old for family reasons. His father was a sculptor, so I was interested in three-dimensional art from a young age, and I naturally thought I would end up living in a world like this," he said. The largest and most powerful of these sculptures happened to be architecture.

His wife, Sakura, moved to Hokkaido from France because of her father's work. However, from childhood, she had felt the cramped conditions in Japan, such as being treated like an alien. Furthermore, working for a company in an environment where no vacation and no freedom were the norm, she felt this feeling became stronger. I wondered what life would be like if all I did was work and had no vacations.

The two traveled together and chose to create a building made of local materials.

Although the composition of the overworked Japanese and the vacation-loving French may seem like a straightforward social problem, Jun says, "In fact, this may have been important in the creation of VILLA.

The two met several years ago. Jun was already active as an architect in Tokyo, and Sakura was just starting out as a model. Despite the fact that they were at a financial low point, Ms. Sakura wanted to go on vacation every year, even if it meant pushing herself too hard.

However, it was this action that created the two of them as they are today. The two, who were accustomed to traveling, gradually became interested in places where they could see the lives of the local people, and they strongly felt empathy for architecture that was constructed using local materials that were readily available in the area in an appropriate manner.

Architects should make things happen with architecture.

VILLA" was originally designed as a residence. When we asked Jun why he decided to use the building as a lodging facility, he replied, "I became very conscious of the idea that architects should create things through architecture, rather than creating things themselves.

They found a way to communicate their thoughts on architecture and space through lodging facilities. We are managing the facility, but in the case of Shin-Minka VILLA, it is almost impossible for the guests to be in direct contact with the building. And although we are the management, in the case of Shinminka VILLA, we rarely have direct contact with the guests. Even so, it would be ideal if the guests feel something or empathize with us," says Jun.

The great response, including word of mouth from guests, as well as the fact that the entire crew for this interview left with smiles on their faces, is the best proof that the hotel embodies this ideal.

Understanding and sympathy for Okinawa .

At VILLA, one can experience how the original Okinawan idea of an old house is superior. . For example, ventilation. . The house is designed so that the wind blows through the house, so much so that you can spend your evenings without air conditioning. In Tokyo, we used to think about how to block out the negative outside conditions, but in Okinawa it is rather the opposite, we think about how to bring in the abundant nature," said Jun.

It is a concept that feels new to those of us who take technology and the pursuit of convenience for granted, but the old houses of Okinawa have been telling the same story for a long time.

Looking only at the economic aspect, COVID-19 was a big blow, as most of the visitors had been from outside the prefecture and from overseas. However, on the contrary, during that period, people within Okinawa Prefecture became interested in the event.

The architecture was intended to convey to the Okinawan people the appeal of Okinawan housing. The fact that its original purpose is being fulfilled under these circumstances, oddly enough, is of historical significance that cannot be measured by economic value alone. Corona Beer will continue to support this project so that the day when many people can enjoy such an old and new minka experience will return.

Photo_Yoshihiro Kato(ikism)

The film is available on the official YouTube channel.