Establishment of 'Team HARE' to Design the Region's Future Through Kinko Bay Restoration

On April 1, 2026, 'Team HARE,' a volunteer organization committed to sustainable community development centered on the sea, was established with its base in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

Team HARE began as a project team in October 2025 as a joint collaboration between the Kagoshima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Kinko Branch Women's Division (Kirishima City) and Urara Shima Jima Lab (Tokyo). Under the concept of 'designing the region's future through the restoration of Kinko Bay,' the team has implemented various initiatives aimed at simultaneously resolving issues in marine environmental conservation, regional revitalization, and fisheries promotion.

To expand these efforts across the entire Kinko Bay and establish sustainable initiatives that contribute to the development of coastal areas, the group organized itself into a formal volunteer organization and began operations as a joint entity on April 1, 2026.

Mission of Team HARE Creating a future where the sea shines, industries thrive, life is vibrant, and people's smiles overlap. It is Team HARE's mission to jointly create everyone's 'Hare Day' (day of celebration) that will last for the next 100 years.

In recent years, issues surrounding the sea and daily life, such as changes in the marine environment, labor shortages in the fishing industry, and children losing touch with nature, have accumulated and become increasingly complex. Similar trends are observed around Kagoshima Bay (commonly known as Kinko Bay), located in the central part of mainland Kagoshima Prefecture.

So far, Team HARE has connected different fields through activities such as the 'Sea Adult Conference/Children's Conference,' where adults and children consider the restoration of the sea on the same level; study sessions on the connection between mountains and the sea through making salt from submarine groundwater; and fisheries cooperative concerts based on the history of exchange with the Ryukyu Islands. Moving forward, the team will continue to 'co-create' with diverse entities—including fishers, NPOs/NGOs, local governments, companies, experts, children, and residents—to pass on the rich nature and culture of Kinko Bay to the next generation.

Objectives of the Organization This organization aims to realize a sustainable society, contribute to social welfare, and create 'Hare Days' that give vitality and color to local society through the following activities: - Inheritance of rich regional nature and culture, and regional revitalization starting from the seaside - Conservation/restoration of the marine environment and promotion of the fisheries industry - Environmental education and awareness raising regarding waterside and regional resources - Promotion of network construction through inter-industry collaboration

Organization Overview Name: Team HARE Location: 2F, 708-2 Hayato-cho Masataka, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture Main Business Areas: Regional revitalization projects, sustainable business (product/service development), awareness/education, and network/co-creation business

Official Website: https://www.teamhare.jp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamhare_/

Scheduled 12 times a year! 'Kodomo Umi Hogoku' Program The Kagoshima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Kinko Branch, with operational support from Urara Shima Jima Lab, launched a year-long program in the 2026 fiscal year called 'Kodomo Umi Hogoku,' where children and fishers learn together and collaborate with local experts and universities to solve marine issues.

'Kodomo Umi Hogoku' is a practical program where children learn about the natural environment and local fisheries through hands-on activities in the sea and rivers. With various themes every month, such as traditional Ayu fishing, clam growth surveys, marine debris surveys, and creature observation, the program aims to make children 'stakeholders who think about the future of the sea' themselves.

This is a unique initiative of Kinko Bay that aims to increase residents' interest in the sea while balancing marine ecosystem conservation and restoration with fisheries promotion. Field: Waterside areas such as the sea and rivers in Kirishima City Duration: 12 months from April 2026 to March 2027, held once a month (scheduled) Support: Kagoshima Prefecture, Kirishima City This program is implemented with a grant from The Nippon Foundation to the Kagoshima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Kinko Branch.