路地裏の地域通貨湯路（ゆ～ろ！）

湯路について

「路地裏の地域通貨・湯路（ゆ～ろ！）」は、「い～湯～！（＝安心・安全のまちの湯協議会）」の指示を受け、「アチチ中央銀行（アチ銀）：本店は別府市」により発行されている地域通貨です。

湯路は、湯本位制をとっており１湯路は概ね別府市内の共同湯の入湯料金と連動します。

（発行当初は１湯路＝100円　2024年現在は１湯路＝200円）

湯路の歴史

「湯路」は、2003年の発行以来、紆余曲折を経て今に至ります

以下に簡単な歴史を紹介します。

＜歴代のアチ銀総裁と主な業績＞

い～湯～総裁　河村健一さん　南部地区まちの湯

2003　初代　栗田達夫さん　フリチンサミットでの湯路宣言
2004　２代目　野上泰生さん　紙幣デザイン
2005　３代目　林曉甫さん　　グリーン湯路／学生総裁
2006　４代目　後藤幸彦さん　グリーン湯路

2007　５代目　岩田憲明さん　理論的支柱・名誉総裁
2008　６代目　吉永秀生さん　　緊急経済対策～定額給付湯路
2009　７代目　高崎富士夫さん　こども手当湯路　朝見地区まちの湯開発
2010　８代目　菅健一さん　APEC記念　インターナショナル湯路
2011　９代目　高橋伸子さん　亀川地区　まちの湯開発

2012　10代目　宮川園さん　混浴温泉湯路1.0
2015　11代目　勝正光さん　混浴温泉湯路2.0

2017　12代目　佐藤正敏さん＠名人会　梅園復興湯路

2018年～2023年は、ばらまき過ぎによる財政破綻・コロナショックにより活動自粛

2003 First generation Yuji

One year after the EU began issuing euro banknotes in 2002, the "Furichin Summit Declaration" between I-Yu! (Safe and Secure Town Hot Spring Council: Chairman Kenichi Kawamura) and the first president of Achi Bank, Tatsuo Kurita, led to the issuance of Yuro, a local currency for the back alleys. (The first Yuro had red and blue Yuro.) The name Yuro was coined by Toshichin of Beppu Napoli, and the banknote design was done by the second president of Achi Bank, Yasuo Nogami.

2005 Green Yuji

In response to the growing global environmental awareness, and under the direction of Akio Hayashi, the third president of Achi Bank and a current APU student, and Yukihiko Goto, the fourth president of Achi Bank and guardian of the Uchinaru rice terraces, the "Green Yuro" was issued. The sustainable Green Yuro, with no expiration date (no cooling down), was distributed to participants of the Beppu Eight Hot Springs Walk and became the most widely circulated and representative hot spring guide for the longest period of time.

2009 Fixed amount benefit Yuji

In response to the Bank of Japan's inflation targeting policy—a fixed-amount cash handout—which has been hampered by a deflationary recession, the Bank of Achi, under the grand command of its 6th Governor, Hideo Yoshinaga, also launched its own spending policy (inflation targeting). As the first step, it issued 10,000 "Emergency Economic Measures - Fixed-Amount Cash Handouts," causing a massive influx of hot water into the bathtubs.

2009 Child Allowance Euro

Following the opinion of Fujio Takasaki, the 7th president of Achi Bank, that "there are no children to be seen in Beppu's public baths," the second wave of stimulus measures to combat the declining birthrate in public baths was implemented, with 10,000 "Child Allowance Euros" issued. The "Child Allowance Euros" provided many children with the experience of bathing in Beppu's public baths, mainly in the Kamegawa Onsen area, which is the base of operations for Nobuko Takahashi (Kame Kame Club), who later became the 9th president of Achi Bank, and successfully halted the decline in the birthrate in public baths. During the period, a hot spring bathing manners class for children was also held by Yuichi Tsuchiya, the first permanent master of the Beppu Eight Hot Springs Way.

2010 International Yuji

In 2010, to commemorate the APEC Growth Strategy High-Level Meeting held in Beppu City, we decided to issue the first English version of Yuji. The issuance was made possible with the cooperation of Kenichi Suga, the 8th Governor of Achi Bank, and Kenichi Kai, Chairman of the Beppu City Council for Accepting Foreign Tourists. The issuer of the International Yuji was HSBC (Hot Springs in Backstreet Community). Yuji finally established its position as an international regional currency.

2015 Mixed-gender bathhouse route 2.0

To commemorate the 3rd Beppu Contemporary Art Festival "Mixed Bathing Hot Spring World" held in 2015, the first hand-designed Yuro (hot spring guide) by Masamitsu Katsu, the 11th president of Achi Bank (a local arts organization), was published. During the festival, the Mixed Bathing Yuro guided young artists living around President Katsu's base, the Kiyoshima Apartments, to the nearest hot springs in town, such as Kamiya Onsen.

2017 Baien Fukko Yuro

In 2016, following the earthquake, the famous Umezono Onsen, a hot spring resort nestled in a back alley, was damaged. To support its recovery, the Umezono Reconstruction Hot Spring Guide was published at the behest of the 12th President of Achi Bank, Masatoshi Sato (Beppu Hatto Onsen-do Masters Association). The beautiful design was created by President Katsu, who also designed the Mixed-Gender Hot Spring Guide 2.0. Subsequently, Umezono Onsen achieved a remarkable recovery thanks to the efforts of the local people.

2024 My Own Hot Spring Journey

Having overcome two major crises—a financial crisis caused by the "hot springs spending" policy that began under the 6th Governor Yoshinaga of Achi Bank, and a health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic—Achi Bank has made a comeback. As Achi Bank has no money (Japanese yen), it has launched the "My Own Hot Springs Project," which is based on a self-centered (other-centered) system. As the first step, in commemoration of the conferment of an honor on Kenichi Suga, who is leading the Beppu Eight Hot Springs Movement, and the Beppu Eight Hot Springs Grand Gathering, the first "My Own Hot Springs = Congratulations to Mr. Suga Hot Springs" has been issued. *The Congratulations to Mr. Suga Hot Springs is an other-centered type.

thank you.

We express our heartfelt gratitude and deepest condolences to Mr. Noriaki Iwata, the 5th President of Achi Bank, who provided the theoretical foundation for the Yuro (hot spring) movement.

We also express our gratitude to Mr. Hideo Yoshinaga, the 6th President of Achi Bank, who initiated the Yuro movement's revival through its generous spending policies.

And we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Kenichi Kawamura, President of "I-Yu (Safe and Secure Community Hot Spring Council)," who supported the Yuro movement from the perspective of community hot springs.

We offer our sincerest gratitude and deepest condolences to all of you.