In this study, we conducted a survey analysis targeting both ongoing and suspended operations of “places for the elderly” in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture in order to extract factors that enable its continuous operation. Then we compared it with that of “places for the elderly” in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture. As a result, we identified five necessary points for continuity: 1) reducing the burden on operators, 2) relaxing registration conditions, 3) expanding registration benefits, 4) integrative information dissemination and 5) providing a venue for information exchange. Consequently, we made recommendations for support measures to Takamatsu City. Additionally, 77.2% of the elderly who participated in the “places for the elderly” demonstrated an increased motivation for living, regardless of gender, age or duration of participation.

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There is much attention on entrepreneurial ecosystems. From the viewpoint of policy making, there is much increasing movement that public institutions have the core role of entrepreneurial ecosystems building. The one side is nation-led entrepreneurial ecosystems building, the other side is local government-led ones. This study focuses on the role of local government in entrepreneurial ecosystems building. From the case study on Tokachi region centered around Obihiro city, this study indicates three roles of local government on entrepreneurial ecosystems building.

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Few surveys and studies have examined and analyzed the influences of local industrial policies implemented by local governments on targeted SMEs as a result of their support. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects and challenges of the support by focusing on the Kawasaki model in Kawasaki City and interviewing the companies that received the support to find out what effects the support had. 　The survey revealed that management evaluated the support not merely in terms of sales and profits but also as a countermeasure to other management issues. While quantitative policy evaluation has been the focus of much attention, qualitative evaluation is supposed to be significant in terms of regional industrial policy as well.

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A two-axis diagram was devised, with the horizontal axis representing the formal level of BCP formulation and the vertical axis representing the perceived level of management capability enhancement, to model the current status of SME BCP and the route to the ideal in policy terms. The findings leading to the ideal include: “informatization and human resource issues are today's management issues that can contribute to accelerated BCP formulation,” “companies that have already formulated BCPs are likely to have awakened, and there are many specific requests for facilitation support, training support, and seminar support as their needs,” and “most SMEs cannot recognize the improvement of management capabilities through BCP formulation. The majority of SMEs are unable to recognize the improvement of their management capabilities through BCP formulation, but the support of BCP experts is a common characteristic of those companies that have recognized the improvement.

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The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of long-term practical internships, focusing on the effects after entering the company, through a follow-up questionnaire survey of working adults who participated in long-term practical internships organized by an organization in Gifu Prefecture when they were students. We examined the effects of participating in a long-term practical internship by conducting a follow-up survey of participants. We were able to confirm that those who responded that they would recommend a long-term practical internship to others expected to be able to “play an active role within the company”, “communicate with people in the organization”, “play an active role by making use of their abilities”, and “promote understanding of the company” after joining the company. In addition, it was confirmed that, in the case of long-term practical internships, although the workload is high for students, there are opportunities for practical experience and challenges working with managers, which leads to growth and self-confidence.

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This study aims to promote Ushikubi tsumugi, a regional resource of the Hakusan Tedori River Geopark in Hakusan City, by exploring its application in small items beyond traditional kimonos, specifically focusing on the development of body bags. Using the photo evaluation empathy method, a sensory evaluation technique, we translated consumers’ vague impressions into concrete design elements to explore contemporary uses for Ushikubi tsumugi. Analysis results showed that Bags A and B received high evaluations as practical designs suited for everyday use, while Bags C and D were perceived as “formal,” indicating room for improvement in terms of visual appeal and approachability. These findings suggest that for Ushikubi tsumugi to gain broader acceptance as a regional resource, designs that balance practicality with sensory appeal are essential. Additionally, the photo evaluation empathy method proved effective in accurately capturing consumer needs, underscoring the significance of integrating regional culture with fashion and continuously pursuing designs that reflect current consumer demands.

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When efforts to create related populations have been increasing in recent years, their designs are generally divided into “fan-based” and “business-based”. Based on the hypothesis that shared houses can be one of the mechanisms for creating related populations, this study proposed on “Community-Engaged Shared Houses” as a hybrid private business model that combines a fan base connected to the community with a business base. By investigating the relationships from three perspectives such as between the residents and leaders surrounding the shared house, and the people in the community, it became clear that the importance of motivation based on awareness of problems in the community, the existence of a concept and policy, messaging, the existence of a method to select high-quality related populations, and the hybrid function of fan-based and business-based.

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This study proposes a measure to improve profitability through the production of multiple varieties of mandarin oranges, which can be easily undertaken by elderly farmers, by utilizing abandoned mandarin oranges land. With the ageing of mandarin farmers and the increase in abandoned land in recent years, there is a need for specific measures to make effective use of these lands. In this study, crops suitable for abandoned mandarin orchard land are selected and their annual working hours and farmers' profitability are compared and verified. The results show that a combination of lemon, Shonan gold, plum and kiwifruit as the most profitable crops that can reduce the workload of pruning and pesticide spraying and increase farmers' profitability by 19%. In particular, lemons can reduce the annual workload by 40% compared to mandarin oranges and cause almost no damage to birds and animals, so farmers can expect greater earnings by utilizing abandoned land and converting it to lemon fields.

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More than eight years have already passed since Kumanozakura was recognized as the first new cherry species in 103 years. During this time, a variety of local initiatives have been undertaken. Among them, the establishment of the “Japan Kumano Cherry Association” was one of the major occasions. In working on regional revitalization, this kind of organizing movement is very helpful in other regions as well. Therefore, we will review the status of local efforts since the discovery of the new species, and further confirm the significance of the existence of the “Japan Kumano Cherry Association” as an organization. We will review the state of raising awareness of Kumanozakura and the establishment of the association from the initial stage, and report in detail, including the advantages and disadvantages of organization.

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It is very difficult to prove something intangible, such as a thinking model or thinking system . In such a case, the only way to show the effectiveness of the model is to give examples as many as possible. Therefore, in this study, we take up the “e-Cycle Model” as a trial-and-error thinking model and examine past examples. Examine whether the thinking patterns of the model actually worked to achieve the goal. 7 past cases are applied to a matrix of models and thinking simulations are performed. After verifying the results focusing on “ e-Cycle Model”, we attempted to compare the U-theory with the entire “Process Model”.

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Through case studies, this study aims to identify the characteristics of Rakugo artists' creative abilities for community revitalization activities in the context of their involvement with the community. The case study is The Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei, a theater dedicated to Kamigata Rakugo, which opened in 2006. Content industry experts (Rakugo storytellers, hereafter referred to as Rakugo artists in this paper) were involved from the planning stage for the theater's establishment, and as a result, 18 years after its opening, the theater continues to have a positive economic and social impact on the community. In response to this fact, this study will conduct a questionnaire survey using the Civic Pride and Creative Qualities scales, assuming that community-supported activities have changed the Rakugo artist's attitude toward the community and that the Rakugo artist has demonstrated creative abilities toward community revitalization activities. The survey was conducted with the cooperation of the Kamigata Rakugo Kyokai (Kamigata Rakugo Association) on rakugo storytellers belonging to the association. A covariance structure analysis was conducted based on the results obtained. The analysis revealed that rakugo storytellers with a long artistic career had higher creative qualities, and that regional participation and loyalty to one's hometown had a positive influence on creative qualities.

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In recent years, the rise in agricultural product prices has failed to keep pace with the soaring costs of agricultural production materials, resulting in a severe decline in profitability for Japanese farmers. Among the several factors contributing to the stagnation of agricultural product prices, one significant issue is the inability to adequately reflect product quality in pricing. This study elucidated sales mechanisms that theoretically maximize the value of agricultural products by conducting a comparative analysis of agricultural management entity that have achieved business success and typical farmers. By analyzing data related to quality and yield of agricultural products, this research offers a framework to lead to the optimal decision making in sales strategy. Furthermore, it provides concrete guidelines to systematically support the creation of high value-added agricultural products.

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[in Japanese]

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the “community empowerment” generated by community-based participatory research (CBPR) on the health of elderly people affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Using triangulation, this study conducted a qualitative analysis of the process in which disaster-affected residents, nursing students, and the researcher collaborated to build health support activities. In addition, this study quantitatively analyzed data concerning the life functions of elderly people who participated in health support activities. These health support activities were initiated by nursing students with the support of the researcher, but thanks to their success, they were gradually led by the residents. The data revealed that by participating in health support activities, elderly people maintained their skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and walking speed of 10 m. This study suggests that the construction of “community empowerment” through CBPR plays an important role in maintaining the health of residents, including the elderly.

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This study aims to clarify how regionally based companies located in depopulated rural areas address locational constraints and sustain their businesses by adapting their location strategy in various ways, despite not always being situated in optimal locations. Using two companies based in Omori Town, Oda City, Shimane Prefecture as case studies, we analyzed their management actions based on publicly available data. Our analysis focused specifically on locational constraints related to “market access” and “securing human resources.” The findings indicate that these companies have adapted to external markets and managed to recruit talent by redefining the “value of place” and differentiating their technology. The study suggests that regional companies' adaptations to their locations not only support business continuity but may also contribute to regional revitalization and economic development.

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This study examines local media with third-place characteristics, prioritising interactive, bidirectional engagement instead of the traditional one-way communication seen in conventional local media. It explores how regional editorial functions use local resources to generate new value and examines their impact on communities. Findings indicate that these types of media foster this function, supporting local problem-solving and highlighting regional assets by generating and sharing unique, community-specific content. Additionally, local media with third-place characteristics contribute to promoting economic revitalisation and sustainable development through tourism-focused urban planning and industry enhancement, offering a fresh perspective on third-place theory in the context of local media.

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There are various SME in rural area ecosystem. This study analyzes characteristics and management strategy of a company which keeps growing. Firstly, VSO model which bases on interorganizational relations is used in order to analyze how to build the relations between local ecosystem and a company. SME which keep growing have its original variable and management variable, and they take management strategy and exchange management resource with organizations in local ecosystem in order to change disadvantage variable to advantage variable for their growth. This study shows the process and mechanism how company can grow with local ecosystem. Logical model which is needed for generalization of the mechanism of SME growth is organized. This model will be applied for various type of SME for their growth.

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The purpose of this report is to clarify the efforts being made to promote the sustainable development of the “manufacturing industry” through public-private partnerships in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture. In Higashiosaka City, the “manufacturing industry” holds open factories and participates in events held by the city. Higashiosaka City has established an “Industrial Conservation District” as a special use district in urban planning. As part of industrial promotion measures, the Higashiosaka Brand Promotion Organization was established in 2002 to promote the appeal of products produced in the city as a city brand. It is expected that the public and private sectors will work together to further expand their efforts toward the sustainable development of the “manufacturing industry”.

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The purpose of this research is to improve and construct a “robot-friendly environment” in which robots can demonstrate appropriate operational methods and robot performance, including ensuring robot operations and flow lines. This paper summarizes the results of a preliminary survey targeting hotel employees. As a result of the investigation, we were able to obtain knowledge from the following three perspectives. ① Efficient operation and management is required ② There is a need to improve the working environment for employees due to a labor shortage ③There is great potential for the use of robots in hotels

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Accepting the training trip to write an article about the efforts of the “Odawara City Digital Garden City Nation Comprehensive Strategy” became a “trigger” to organically develop local activities toward achieving the local vision. The requirements for implementing a training trip that produces results are: 1) to accompany the local government until it draws up an implementation plan and finds a vision, in accordance with the design thinking process; 2) to have the training trip participants be “university students who intend to write articles introducing the companies they interviewed as evidence proving their practical business management skills, and to use the results in their job hunting activities.” 3) to establish the training trip as a promotional and accelerator measure to organically develop local activities.

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In order to prevent the decline of local communities, it is required to revitalize the local industries by approaching both elder generation and the younger generation. This paper takes up the case of Nototsugu, Co., Ltd. working on the issues of business succession in the Noto area, Japan, where the local economy is going into a decline and was severely devastated by the 2024 natural disasters. By the case analysis of how Nototsugu drives its business forward and brings about impacts on the area, this paper suggests the key factors, such as the significance of building strong ties between the organizations and of sharing the vision and mission sufficiently between the organizations, and also the importance of forming sustainable cash-flow of the project.

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The J.League and J.Clubs are promoting the J.League Sharen! (social collaboration activities) initiative. This study aims to clarify trends in the content of Sharen by analyzing the actual activities of all 60 J.League clubs. We focus on citizen collaboration efforts in which fans and supporters are proactively involved in Sharen, and use the Sharen “TOKYO SOCIAL COLLABORATION,” which FC Tokyo began in 2024, as an example. By examining the organization's objectives, strategies, positions, goals, organizational structure, community, management, and actual activities, this study shed light on the potential for new citizen collaboration initiatives that transcend traditional Sharen and aim to contribute to society in an autonomous, self-sustaining, and sustainable manner by fans and supporters.

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At Shimane University, the Technology Community Lab integrates small-group interactive research presentations and Lightning Talks (LT) to facilitate collaboration between regional companies and the university. This program has been conducted in both in-person and online formats. This study aims to elucidate the differences in effectiveness between these two formats in fostering regional collaboration by comparing key indicators, including participant numbers, follow-up meetings, and joint research funding. The results indicate no significant difference in participant numbers or follow-up meetings for small-group interactive research presentations between in-person and online sessions. However, in LT sessions, participant numbers were higher in the in-person format. Regarding joint research funding, the average amount received from small-group interactive research presentations was approximately 860 thousand yen, while the total funding from the first in-person LT session reached 2.6 million yen. In contrast, no joint research funding was generated from any of the online sessions. These findings highlight the potential advantages of in-person formats in fostering university-industry collaboration, particularly in terms of securing joint research funding.

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This study examines efforts to revitalize the weakened Goten-machi Neighborhood Association in Ogaki City, located in a central urban area, amidst the challenges of an aging population. Through communal dining events, natural interactions between residents and non-residents were facilitated, fostering intergenerational collaboration and the formation of weak ties. The flexible activities of a voluntary executive committee lowered psychological barriers to participation in community activities while contributing to trust-building and mutual support among residents. Furthermore, residents’ proactive problem-solving and collaboration with diverse stakeholders from outside the community highlighted the potential for enhancing local vitality. This study proposes a new approach to regional connections with applicability to other communities and demonstrates how flexible exchanges through communal dining can reshape the role of neighborhood associations and cultivate a collaborative spirit across the community.

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In contents tourism research on virtual idol works, “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, many studies are using this as a case study. However, other virtual idol works are also promoting initiatives that may lead to regional development and the creation of a related population. This study focused on two works to identify tourism, consumption, and interaction as practiced in virtual idol works, and conducted a questionnaire survey and participant observation. The results revealed that fans of virtual idol works are seeking experiences that utilize music at anime sacred places, that many fans take life-size cutout photos at collaborative events, and that business cards are used as a tool for interaction among fans.

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In Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, we decided to establish an industry-academia-government-finance-private platform to develop a new regional co-creation type recurrent program to promote the Town&Gown concept. 23 members joined, including those in the process of joining. In conjunction with this, a pilot program was developed and implemented for candidates for management positions or NPO directors, and 20 regular participants were obtained from Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures and beyond.

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In Otoineppu Village, the municipality with the smallest population in Hokkaido, a collaborative town planning project with university students from urban areas has been implemented for three years since 2021. From 2022, as a derivative project, an attempt at collaborative town planning involving university students and young government officials utilizing the “Regional Revitalization Cooperation Volunteer Internship” program has been conducted. The impact of young people visiting, staying, and engaging in activities in the region goes beyond generating new residents and fostering connections. This demonstration project also aimed to enhance the competencies of the government officials responsible for the internship program. By having university students interested in the region and local government officials working together from the same perspective, we are beginning to see the effects of this continuous accumulation of project planning, trials, and demonstrations. It has also become clear that there are various possibilities for interactions both within and outside the region, even in small municipalities.

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