— A Regional Revitalization Project in Shibushi Driven by Port Development, Community Engagement, and Education & Human Capital —
 

Yano Research Institute Ltd. (Head Office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Takashi Mizukoshi; hereinafter “YRI”) has entered into a three-party partnership agreement with Shibushi City, Kagoshima Prefecture (Mayor: Sumiyuki Shimohira), and IFLATs, an innovation lab operated by Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (Representative: Hisashi Sakagawa), on March 31, 2026, to promote regional revitalization.

This agreement follows the adoption of a joint proposal submitted by YRI and IFLATs under Shibushi City’s “Private Sector Proposal Program (Theme-Based Project Proposals).” Notably, this marks YRI’s first comprehensive partnership agreement with a local government in Japan.

1. Background and Objectives

Shibushi City is advancing a new phase of regional revitalization (“Regional Revitalization 2.0”), aiming to create a sustainable and attractive community where diverse values generate positive cycles and residents can continue to live with a sense of security and fulfillment.

In formulating its comprehensive plan and long-term strategy for the next decade, the city has decided to incorporate private-sector expertise to conduct in-depth analysis and develop new policy directions. In response, YRI and IFLATs jointly proposed an initiative that combines YRI’s extensive experience in research and analysis with IFLATs’ expertise in user-centered business co-creation and regional human resource development.

Through this partnership, YRI will conduct detailed research and analysis of residents’ perspectives and the city’s economic conditions, while working with IFLATs to foster local talent who can take ownership of community development and to systematically promote regional revitalization in Shibushi City.

2. Areas of Collaboration and Key Initiatives

Under this agreement, the parties will collaborate on the following:

• Research and analysis to assess the current state of Shibushi City
• Formulation of comprehensive plans and strategies, as well as project implementation and evaluation
• Development of local human resources who actively participate in community development
• Ongoing support for project promotion and cooperation in information dissemination as needed
• Other initiatives contributing to regional revitalization in line with the objectives of this agreement

3. Organizational Overview

• Shibushi City (Kagoshima Prefecture)
  Mayor: Sumiyuki Shimohira
  Address: 2-1-1 Shibushi, Shibushi-cho, Shibushi City, Kagoshima, Japan
  URL: https://www.city.shibushi.lg.jp/
  Overview: Located in the southeastern part of Kagoshima Prefecture at the eastern gateway of the Osumi Peninsula, Shibushi City has a population of approximately 28,000. Facing Shibushi Bay, the city is home to Shibushi Port, a designated international hub port of Japan, serving as a key logistics base in southern Kyushu. The region also boasts thriving agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industries supported by its warm climate and expansive Shirasu plateau.
• IFLATs (Innovation Lab, Institute of Fabrication for Life, Arts and Technologies)
  Representative: Hisashi Sakagawa
  Operated by: Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
  Address: Shinjuku Dai-ichi Seimei Building, 2-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  URL: https://iflats.org/
  Overview: IFLATs is an innovation lab that originated from a project launched in 2020 by Odakyu Electric Railway, aimed at supporting regional revitalization through human resource development and the creation of new businesses. It provides end-to-end support, from research-based policy planning and business model design to talent development and implementation.
• Yano Research Institute Ltd.
  President: Takashi Mizukoshi
  Address: Nakano-Sakaue Central Building, 2-46-2 Honcho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  URL: https://www.yano.co.jp/
  Overview: Established in 1958, YRI is an independent comprehensive marketing research firm and a member of the Kyodo News Group since 2018. YRI publishes over 250 market reports annually across a wide range of industries and provides custom research and consulting services to support corporate strategy development. Since 2020, YRI has participated in regional revitalization projects through IFLATs, supporting numerous local governments across Japan.

Contact for Inquiries

Public Relations Team, Yano Research Institute Ltd.
Email: press@yano.co.jp