Municipalities across Japan grapple with unique regional challenges, from attracting residents in depopulating areas and boosting tourism to digitizing administrative processes. While local governments and businesses typically tackle these issues independently, Hokkaido's Kamikawa Town is fostering town development through public-private collaboration that extends beyond its borders. To this end, they have launched a hands-on business development program, announcing its inception at an event held on August 8th in Tokyo.

Kamikawa Town is situated almost at the center of Hokkaido, about an hour's drive from Asahikawa Airport.
The town boasts tourist attractions such as Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan's largest mountain nature park, and Sounkyo Onsen, one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resorts. It draws approximately 1.85 million tourists annually, a figure that once reached as high as 3 million, highlighting its history as a tourism-focused town.

However, the town faces a significant challenge: its population.
As of 2022, the population stood at 3,261, and it continues to decline.
The town has implemented initiatives such as relocation support programs and partnerships with corporations to curb population decline and address regional issues like a shortage of human resources.

These efforts have yielded notable results, earning the town the "2022 Regional Creation Award" from the national government.

Now, Kamikawa Town is launching a hands-on business development program to further tackle its regional challenges: the "Kamikawa Town Yattemiyokka Division" program.

Detailshere

The "Kamikawa Town Yattemiyokka Division" seeks individuals and ideas for starting businesses in Kamikawa Town.
True to its name as a hands-on business development program, it is designed with the actual implementation of businesses in mind.

Here is the schedule.

There are no restrictions on nationality, age, gender, or place of residence for applicants.
In essence, anyone with the desire to start a business in Kamikawa Town can apply. Furthermore, if a business is approved for implementation, the town will provide necessary funding and assign a support staff member to the individual.

This presents a clear opportunity for those hesitant to take the first step due to a lack of capital or connections.

The sole condition is that the proposed business idea must address a regional challenge in Kamikawa Town.

These are the regional challenges the "Kamikawa Town Yattemiyokka Division" aims to address.
Applicants are invited to devise and submit business ideas that align with these challenges. Following this, they will participate in town visits and other activities to refine their proposals. If selected, the applicant will become the driving force behind launching their business in Kamikawa Town.

While town officials will provide support for each business's implementation, that's not all. Depending on the business concept, participants can also leverage the expertise and know-how of the companies Kamikawa Town has previously partnered with.

The following is a brief overview of the initiatives undertaken by partner companies in Kamikawa Town, presented by their representatives at the event.

Ms. Odagiri, from Uzabase Inc.
NewsPicks, operated byUzabase Inc., launched "KAMIKAWA GX LAB" in 2022, aiming to foster co-creation between NewsPicks' readers nationwide and the region.
They have organized online sessions and networking events for community members and conducted on-site tours for business leaders, sharing the content through NewsPicks.

A new project themed "Creating Jobs in the Town" is set to launch soon, running from this fiscal year into the next (scheduled to start August 25, 2023).

Mr. Yoneda, from Goodpatch Inc.
The design companyGoodpatch Inc.conducted workshops for town officials and research activities in the town last year. Furthermore, Mr. Yoneda, the speaker, relocated to Kamikawa Town as a regional revitalization entrepreneur, contributing to the town hall's operations while utilizing his skills honed at Goodpatch.

They are preparing for full-scale implementation of measures based on the research findings next fiscal year. As a pilot initiative, they recently hosted a corporate training program for a Tokyo-based company in Kamikawa Town.

Mr. Abe, from Club Tourism International Inc.
The travel company Club Tourism International Inc. featured Kamikawa Town on a TV travel program, allowing viewers to experience destinations they saw on screen. They have also developed tours that highlight Kamikawa Town's unique appeal, such as its "earliest autumn foliage in Japan" and its cold climate.

Mr. Abe, also a regional revitalization entrepreneur, has lived in Kamikawa Town for two years and experienced firsthand the town's labor shortage. In response, he devised a novel approach for tours that addresses this issue by involving tourists, proposing long-stay tours as a current pilot program.

Kamikawa Town, along with its partner companies, is actively working to solve regional challenges by leveraging their respective strengths.
The "Kamikawa Town Yattemiyokka Division" is now recruiting individuals to join this collaborative effort.

The application deadline is the end of August. Those who pass the initial screening will attend a kickoff event in late October. Following this, they will participate in on-site visits (travel expenses to the location are the applicant's responsibility) to finalize their business plans within the current fiscal year.

Business implementation could begin as early as next fiscal year. Those interested are encouraged to at least submit an application.

Detailshere

It is difficult for a town alone, or even with its partner companies, to solve regional issues. The strength of each individual with diverse talents is essential.

Perhaps you are the one who will bring about change in this town.

Special Page:Kamikawa Town Yattemiyokka Division
Provided by:Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido