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Welcome back to Nomad Cloud. On this edition holiday edition, we fly our plane through the clouds and below we see a little-known Japanese city, Fukuoka which is looking to romance digital nomads with its iconic landscape. This is a full and exclusive interview with Akina Shu, the woman helping the Japanese government bring digital nomads to contribute and impact the nation positively. It’s cloudy with a 100% chance of sun in Fukuoka, Japan today.

Upcoming

• Deep Dive: An exclusive preview of Japan’s upcoming nomad initiatives

• An introduction to Akina Shu, it’s leading figure

• Sights & smells of Fukuoka Japan, a beach city poised for nomad collaboration

• eKairos Forum is less than 5 days away

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What does it cost to join Global Rescue? Just the price of membership, which starts as low as $139. Global Rescue memberships provide peace of mind with travel services designed for unexpected medical and security emergencies, whether you’re a digital nomad, expat, or family.

If you don’t have a plan in case of an emergency get Global Rescue

Meet Akina Shu: Japan's Ambassador to the Global Digital Nomad Community

Today we have an open conversation with someone you may not be familiar but someone you will definitely be hearing a lot from in the future. Let’s meet Akina.

Q1: Hi Akina, nice to meet you. Can you introduce yourself to our community?

A: I’m Akina, full time digital nomad since 2020 from Japan. I’m a founder of Nomad University. Nomad University has a podcast and Online Community for digital nomads who are interested in coming to Japan. As of December, 2023 we have 88 episodes for the podcast and nearly 450 members for Discord Community.

Q2: Tell us about Colive Fukuoka

We as Yugyo.inc and Nomad University co-host Colive Fukuoka outsourced by Fukuoka City. We also co-host the first digital nomad summit with the Japan Digital Nomad Association.

Q3: You mention Colive Fukuoka, what’s that about?

Colive Fukuoka was a one-month program, where approximately 50 digital nomads from 24 countries gathered in Fukuoka for a community program. 

Throughout the month, there were over 60 official events and participant-led self activities.

The theme was "Connect, Colive, Collaboration," with the aim of establishing connections with local communities that one might not experience when traveling alone. 

The program not only offered cultural and traditional experiences expected of tourists but also provided numerous opportunities for business matching with startup companies in Fukuoka, renowned as Japan's leading startup town.

The proactive involvement of the Mayor of Fukuoka, along with the collaboration between the government and the private sector, marked the first initiative of its kind in Japan. This initiative gained attention, being featured in over 180 media outlets in both Japanese and English, making it a notable and widely discussed event.

Q4: Why Fukoaka? What’s so special about it (things to do etc)

A: Well there are 5 reasons why I love Fukuoka. Fukuoka is located on the western side of Japan, making it closer to Asia than any other major Japanese city and easily accessible. The airport is within 15 minutes of the city center, and the compact urban layout ensures that everything is within walking distance.

With convenient access to nature, including beaches, mountains, parks, and hot springs, Fukuoka becomes particularly appealing to digital nomads. 

The city has focused on nurturing startups for over a decade, standing out in a Japan facing population decline. Fukuoka boasts the highest population growth rate among major cities, attracting a youthful demographic and providing ample opportunities for business matching.

Beyond its appeal to foreigners, Fukuoka is highly regarded by locals as a gourmet town. Ramen, in particular, is considered Fukuoka's soul food, with an abundance of choices that could leave you wanting to try a different ramen every day. Fukuoka city is selected for BEST IN TRAVEL 2023 EAT by lonely planet and 52 places to go in 2023 by The New York Times.

With a relatively warm climate within Japan, along with the amiable nature of its people, Fukuoka consistently ranks high in the national list of desirable places to live. This livability factor further captivates digital nomads seeking a city that offers both a pleasant lifestyle and professional opportunities.

Q5: How was the first official program? Who showed up and how did it go?

Around 50 digital nomads came from 24 countries and regions!

Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Canada, America, Israel, Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Thailand, Bulgaria, Morocco and so on.

Our demographics were 65% male and age-wise, 60% were 30 years or older.

It was a huge success in terms of participant satisfaction and the economic impact to the local Fukuoka city.

Q6: Is your program for singles, couples, or families

We had singles and couples but in the future we are also open for families.

Q7: What can we expect in the future from you

Colive Fukuoka 2024 will be held in October, 2024 in Fukuoka. You are welcome to join us!

We will be inviting 300 digital nomads from all over the world to come to Fukuoka, Japan.

Please stay tuned and get more details in Nomad University’s Discord community.

Q8: What has been feedback from the locals so far about Nomads? 

Well instead of telling you, why don’t I show you? Check out popular nomad Youtuber Sergio Sala’s guide to Fukoka here.

Our official video about Colive Fukuoka will be published around Christmas and has some participant feedback in it so stay tuned for that!

As for the locals, employees of Fukuoka City are very happy about this huge success of Colive Fukuoka, and Fukuoka City is keen to have nearly 300 digital nomads in 2024.

Bonus Question: What’s your favorite 3 cities and why?

🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina

🇵🇹 Madeira Island, Portugal

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

Learn About Fukuoka’s Diverse Landscape 🗼⛰️🌳

Fukuoka, Japan, can be described as having a diverse landscape. This diversity is evident in the blend of urban and natural elements, as well as cultural and historical sites. Here are some aspects that contribute to Fukuoka's diverse landscape:

Urban and Modern Architecture: As a major city in Japan, Fukuoka features modern architecture, high-rise buildings, and bustling commercial areas. The cityscape is a mix of contemporary structures like Fukuoka Tower and Canal City Hakata, a large shopping and entertainment complex.

Natural Beauty: Despite its urbanization, Fukuoka is surrounded by natural beauty. It has beaches along Hakata Bay, numerous parks like Ohori Park and Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, and islands like Nokonoshima, offering a contrast to the city's urban areas.

Historical Sites: Fukuoka is rich in history, with sites like the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and the ancient Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. These historical elements add a layer of cultural diversity to the landscape.

Rivers and Coastline: The city is bordered by several rivers, including the Naka River, and has a significant coastline along Hakata Bay, providing diverse water landscapes within the urban environment.

Mountains and Hiking Trails: The surrounding region offers mountainous terrain and hiking trails, such as those in the Aburayama and Atago areas, providing opportunities for outdoor activities and showcasing the region's natural diversity.

Seasonal Changes: Fukuoka experiences distinct seasons, each bringing its own beauty. From cherry blossoms in spring to colorful foliage in autumn, the landscape changes dramatically throughout the year.

Culinary Diversity: Fukuoka's landscape is also marked by its culinary scene, including the famous Yatai food stalls, which offer a variety of local and international cuisines.

eKairos Forum 2023 is Less Than 5 Days Away!

We’ve decided to update our event to a much more intimate and tighter version.

Instead of 8 hours, it will be 4:44 (4 hours 44 minutes)

Instead of 44 speakers, it will be the top 24 people in the world we identified are already contributing to impact life on earth over the next 100 years

And although we have over 5,000 members on this newsletter list.

The room will only permit a maximum of 240 people to join live.

This means you have a 1 out of 240 chance to win a trip to the Maldives!

Some of the speeches from our speakers I believe are going to be played back decades from now as proof of what was to come.

So we only want the serious ones who care about the Future of Humanity.

Focused, attentive, and participating in this significant moment.

If any of this resonates with you, it’s our pleasure to invite you to join us by saving your seat.

Meet Kamya Buch. She’s been a digital nomad since 2015, traveling the world, exploring ancient cultures, and facilitating spiritual experiences. She holds an MSc in Economics with distinction from the University of Warwick, and now runs a travel blog and spiritual education page on Instagram with active engagement through online workshops and in personal spiritual tours and experiences. She aims to build a conscious new earth rooted in ancient indigenous wisdom, natural health, and spiritual growth.

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