[Group photo of participants at Chugai Pharmaceutical]

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the Karuizawa Regional Revitalization Project 3rd season, hosted by GifTs (Glocal Innovator & Future Talent Society). In this hands-on program, students and professionals were assigned into seven teams to collaboratively tackle social issues and create new value leveraging the rich regional assets of Karuizawa. This 3rd season of the project ran for approximately three months through a hybrid of online and offline activities, providing an opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and deeply explore the region's opportunities.

[Overview of the Full Program: Karuizawa Regional Revitalization Project 3rd Season]

Final Day (Day 5): Team Reflections and Follow-up Presentations

On the final day, a “Reflection Session” was held where each team shared their learnings and discoveries from the three days spent in Karuizawa. It was a valuable time for participants to articulate their personal growth and their evolving relationship with the region. Notably, some teams have already begun planning the implementation and potential commercialization of their ideas, indicating the potential for expanding social impact from this project.

[A scene from team presentation]

Career Sharing Session by “GifTs Alumni” from 1st and 2nd Seasons

Five alumni from previous Karuizawa project cohorts shared their job search experiences in a special session, discussing how their regional project involvement in Karuizawa influenced their career decisions. Alongside practical advice, they candidly shared how their project experiences positively impacted their job search. One participant commented, “I was encouraged by the message that it’s important to pursue what you love.” The diverse career path presentations from senior students who secured positions in public institutions and private companies provided 3rd season participants with valuable insights and inspiration for their future career planning.

Keynote Talks by GifTs Representative Directors

[Takehiro Ishida, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GifTs]

Takehiro Ishida (Visiting Researcher, Teikyo University, Doctor of Public Health; MBA, University of Massachusetts; Registered Pharmacist in Japan), CEO of GifTs, delivered a keynote titled "What Matters Most in a Global Society: Mindset is more important than English Proficiency."

Drawing from his extensive international experience, Dr. Ishida emphasized the importance of both passionate attitudes for conveying messages and resilient attitudes for understanding others. After his presentation, an English Q&A session followed, leading to active engagement and an exchange of ideas between students and Dr. Ishida.

[Tomoya Ookado, Co-CEO of GifTs]

Tomoya Ookado, Co-CEO of GifTs, shared a talk titled "Is Career Building About Strategy or Serendipity?"

Drawing from his rich experiences, Ookado discussed the balance between strategic career planning and the flexibility to embrace serendipitous encounters and opportunities. His empowering message—“Life is long; you can always recover from failures”—inspired participants. One of the participants said, “It gave me the courage to take on new challenges without fear of failure.” The talk provided participants with a sense of reassurance and a positive perspective, garnering widespread positive response.

Program Closing

[Hidetoshi Tsujioka, program management lead of GifTs]

In the closing session that wrapped up the entire program, Hidetoshi Tsujioka from the GifTs Program Management Team delivered a heartfelt closing message: “I hope this experience becomes the opportunity that brings positive changes to your life.”

Participants shared their gratitude with one another, exchanging sincere thoughts and words of appreciation among team members who had shared both joys and challenges over the three months. The room was filled with warmth and smiles. Compared to the expressions seen on Day 1, students appeared more open, relaxed, and connected—testament to the trust and bonds built through their practical challenges and joint efforts in Karuizawa.

Survey Results: High NPS Score of 69.4

A post-program survey conducted among all 51 participants (35 students and 16 professionals) revealed a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 69.4, indicating high satisfaction. Students shared comments such as: “I was deeply inspired and learned the importance of continued personal growth.” “I’ve met so many people who I truly respect.”

While this project has been completed, we sincerely hope that this experience will serve as a catalyst for each participant’s next step. The Karuizawa Regional Revitalization Project will continue to be a platform for diverse individuals to co-create value with regional communities—and preparations for the 4th season are ongoing.

Future Outlook

GifTs is also exploring future initiatives such as presenting research at international conferences and publishing an e-book, aiming to create broader value for society.

You can view highlights from the 3-day Karuizawa on-site program here:

▶︎ Karuizawa Regional Revitalization Project 3rd Season - On-site Practical Learning Towards Solving Social Issues Through Student-Professional Collaboration in Karuizawa -

Information about the kickoff of the 3rd Season can be found here:

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

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), Kokona Yonekawa (Japanese Editor)