Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to Hold Online Lecture on Innovation as Part of "Rural Producer Training Course"

Shugo Yanaka, Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association INSPIRE (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), the operator of "INSPIRE," one of Japan's largest regional revitalization innovator platforms, and an MBA Professor at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Business Breakthrough University, will give an online lecture on innovation on July 8, 2026 (Wed) as part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Rural Producer Training Course."

The lecture will explain the collective intelligence of "Chouzetsu Machizukuri®" (Superb Town Development), systematized based on a community of 10,000 innovators active in regional revitalization and town development across Japan, and share practical know-how for rural innovation. It will also cover the interdisciplinary fields of business administration and urban engineering, drawing on the essence of his long-selling book, "The Strongest Jomon-Type Business."

As an open lecture for the introductory course, anyone interested in the theme is welcome to participate.

▼ Event Overview

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Rural Producer Training Course"

Introductory Course: Innovation Field

[Organizer] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

[Date] July 8, 2026 (Wed) 19:00 - 20:30

[Lecturer] Shugo Yanaka | MBA Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Business Breakthrough University / Representative Director, General Incorporated Association INSPIRE

[Online Tool] Zoom Webinar

[Target Audience] Anyone interested in regional development is widely welcome

[Participation Fee] Free

[Official Page] https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/course/

[Application Form] https://agri.mynavi.jp/agri-nousonpro/beginner-course/

▼ Lecture Overview

Superb Town Development in Rural Areas: Rural Innovation Through a Jomon-Type Approach

For rural innovation, it is important not only to identify social issues in the region and logically derive solutions (problem-solving approach) but also to combine this with a value-creation approach that starts from groundbreaking ideas and connects them to social issues in rural areas.

How do innovators who create something from nothing generate new businesses in rural areas?

The lecture will teach the "Chouzetsu Machizukuri Business Design Techniques," a systematization of the collective intelligence of innovators engaged in regional revitalization through a value-creation approach, on the "INSPIRE" platform, one of Japan's largest regional revitalization innovator platforms.

In fiscal year 2026, the lecture will also cover the essence of the long-selling book "The Strongest Jomon-Type Business," making it enjoyable for those interested in the Jomon period.

<Main Agendas to be Covered in the Lecture>

・Chouzetsu Machizukuri by Innovators Who Create Something from Nothing

・Value-Creation Business Design Practiced by Innovators - Dissecting the "Mutants" of Regional Revitalization

・Oogiri Innovation for Generating Groundbreaking Ideas

・Producers Must Be Wary of "Related Population"! - What is the true nature of the "related population" that leads to general agreement but vague specifics?

・Jomon-Type Business Accelerating Rural Innovation - Unleash its "Mutant" Nature

▼ Lecturer Profile

Shugo Yanaka

MBA Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Business Breakthrough University / Representative Director, General Incorporated Association INSPIRE

Business Producer. Born in Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Graduated from the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Urban Engineering. After working at the foreign-affiliated strategic consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, providing strategy planning and execution support for government agencies and private companies, he took his current position. He launched "INSPIRE," one of Japan's largest regional revitalization innovator platforms, and is engaged in sharing the collective intelligence of Chouzetsu Machizukuri with society. He was the No. 1 rated lecturer at the Cabinet Office's "Regional Revitalization College." He serves as an expert for central government ministries and local governments in the field of regional revitalization. He has served as a committee member for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Study Group on the Future of New Rural Policies" and an expert committee member for the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Rural Innovation Expert Meeting. He has traveled to 30 countries and possesses expertise in regional revitalization both domestically and internationally. With offices in Japan and Australia, he engages in Chouzetsu Machizukuri through a multi-local lifestyle across the globe. His book "The Strongest Jomon-Type Business" (Nikkei Publishing Inc.) won the "TOPPOINT Award" for best business book selected by 10,000 business leaders.

[Official Site] https://www.shugo-yanaka.com

[Facebook] https://www.facebook.com/shugo.yanaka

▼ How to Participate

Please check the official page of the "Rural Producer Training Course" by the organizer, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and apply through the form.

[Official Page] https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/course/

[Application Form] https://agri.mynavi.jp/agri-nousonpro/beginner-course/

▼ Reference Book

The Strongest Jomon-Type Business: Four Principles for Generating Innovation (Nikkei Publishing Inc.) By Shugo Yanaka

A business book that elevates the wisdom of the Jomon period, spanning over 10,000 years, into business theory and systematizes the thought process of innovators. It explains the practical application of Jomon-type business, characterized by intuition, cooperation, creativity, and gratitude. Based on the Jomon-Yayoi dichotomy framework, it proposes four principles for creating new businesses.

In fiscal year 2019, it won the "TOPPOINT Award" for best business book selected by 10,000 business leaders. It reached No. 1 on weekly bestseller lists at major bookstores such as Maruzen, Book First, and Kinokuniya. It was No. 1 in the "Business Lessons from History" category on Amazon. It received acclaim from various media outlets including NTV, J-WAVE, and Discover Japan.

Book Information (Amazon) https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/453232288X

▼ Inquiries

General Incorporated Association INSPIRE

26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Cerulean Tower 15F

[email protected]

https://www.inspire-jpn.com