Karuizawa Community Revitalization Project 3rd Season Launches! – Students and Professionals Collaborate to Tackle Regional Challenges –

The kickoff event (Day 1) of the Karuizawa Community Revitalization Project 3rd Season was held at Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. headquarters on February 8, 2025. We have developed an enhanced program in the 3rd season building upon the experiences of the 1st and 2nd seasons. We have welcomed a diverse and unique group of members. This project fosters collaboration between students and professionals to drive practical initiatives aimed at solving regional challenges.

About the Karuizawa Community Revitalization Project 3rd Season

This hands-on program is organized by GifTs (Glocal Innovator & Future Talent Society), where students and professionals collaborate to solve regional issues. In the 3rd season, 51 participants have been divided into seven teams across four themes (inbound tourism, healthcare, agriculture, and a new theme) to propose solutions for challenges Karuizawa is facing. Detailed information about the program is available on the official GifTs website. For information about the previous (2nd) season, please refer to the press release.

Participants

The 3rd season consists of a total of 51 participants who are deepening their practical learning while maintaining the fair and flat relationships that GifTs values. Among them are 35 university students, including 26 diverse students who passed a competitive selection process with a selection ratio of approximately 2:1 (from universities such as the University of Tokyo, Chuo University, Yokohama National University, Institute of Science Tokyo, Keio University, University of Massachusetts, etc.) and 9 returning students responsible for operations. The group also includes 16 professionals from various industries (railway, finance, IT, pharmaceuticals, etc.), with 6 MBA holders and 5 first-time participants.

Day 1

Following the opening, there was a company introduction of Chugai Pharmaceutical, who provided the venue. After that, Mr. Kitada from Chuo University Career Center, who has been supporting this project since the 1st season, greeted the participants. The event featured insightful lectures and interactive workshops, including "Building Teams Utilizing Will and Can," "Key Factors for Regional Revitalization: Lessons from Arita," and a hands-on workshop titled "Be Identity Workshop" for the students participating for the first time. These sessions provided valuable learning experiences and deep insights into team building and career design.

Mr. Kitada (Chuo University Career Center)

Keynote Speech

"Building Collaborative Teams with Will and Can" by Keitaro Iwai (Representative of Share Style BBQ)

Mr. Iwai's lecture provided a valuable opportunity to explore the importance of "Will" (what you want to do) and "Can" (what you can do).

Drawing from his experience organizing BBQ events, Mr. Iwai provided easy-to-understand explanations and specific workshop activities that helped participants reexamine their own Will and Can, while experiencing practical methods for deepening mutual understanding.

Participants noted that “clearly expressing one's Will makes it easier to gain support from others, and that combining Will and Can contributes to the overall growth of a team.” Many also expressed their enthusiasm about applying these insights to team building in their activities in Karuizawa and in their main professions, demonstrating a positive attitude toward putting their learning into practice.

"Key Factors for Regional Revitalization: Learning from Arita Town" by Shintaro Kumazawa (Showa Women’s University: Institute of Current Business Studies)

Mr. Kumazawa delivered a lecture on the key factors behind successful regional revitalization, using the case of Arita Town in Saga Prefecture, renowned for its Arita ware. Drawing from his own experiences, he shared insights on engaging with local governments and building relationships within the community.

Participants found “the process of earning trust from local people as an outsider and understanding regional issues through hands-on experience” particularly impactful. Many also noted that “the concrete case studies and practical approaches provided valuable takeaways applicable to the revitalization efforts in Karuizawa.” The lecture successfully heightened participants' motivation for their future initiatives.

Group Work

Participants formed seven teams to discuss ideas for regional revitalization. Through lively discussions, each team clarified its direction for the upcoming activities in Karuizawa (Day 2–4). Additionally, students from the 2nd season shared their experiences, providing concrete project examples and highlighting ongoing initiatives that have continued beyond the program’s completion. The day concluded with a networking session, fostering cross-team interactions and deeper connections among participants.

Introduction of LinkedIn

Nanaha Ito, the student leader of the GifTs External Relations and Recruiting Team, introduced the utilization of LinkedIn. GifTs actively promotes LinkedIn use among student members. Some management members 3rd season participants are also involved as LinkedIn Student Club Japan 3rd-term members.

LinkedIn, a business-focused social network with over 1.1 billion users worldwide, helps build professional networks and career development by leveraging one’s work experience and skills. While it is widely used globally, it is still in a developmental phase in Japan. In response to this, GifTs plans to enhance its outreach through its official LinkedIn account, aiming to support students’ career growth and expand their networks.

For more details on GifTs' LinkedIn initiatives, please refer to this press release.

Participant Feedback

In the post-event survey, over 90% of participants rated their motivation for the project at 8 or higher out of 10. Some participants mentioned that the program design benefits not only students but also provides valuable learning opportunities for professionals. Professionals from various industries are able to leverage their experience while gaining new perspectives and skills.

Through collaboration with students in a flat relationship, they refine their leadership and communication skills, making the program a valuable opportunity for personal growth.

Future Plans

In Days 2–4 (March 14-16, 2025), participants will stay at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel, conduct interviews with regional stakeholders, and carry out on-site investigations on Karuizawa’s attractions and challenges. On the final day, they will present their proposed solutions. Following the Day 1 kickoff and leading up to their visit to Karuizawa, teams are engaging in both offline and online preparation sessions, referred to as "Day 1.5." With members from diverse backgrounds beginning their activities in earnest, practical and executable solutions are expected.

For more details on GifTs activities and this project, please visit the official GifTs website. If you are interested in this program or wish to provide support or collaborate as a company or university representative, please contact us at the email address below.

karuizawa.internship@gmail.com

Editor: Satoshi Yamaguchi (Lead Editor), Amy Crawley (Support Editor), Mirai Sakaki (Japanese Editor)