【Akashi Junior Chamber】High School Students Seriously Tackle Regional Issues at 'AKASHI LINK FES｜U-18 INNOVATION' to be Held in Akashi on August 5

The Akashi Junior Chamber (President: Kenta Nagai, Address: 2F Akashi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1-2-1 Ooakashi-cho, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture) will hold 'AKASHI LINK FES｜U-18 INNOVATION' on August 5, 2026 (Wed) at Akashi Citizen Plaza (2nd Floor, Papios Akashi). This initiative aims to encourage young people to proactively tackle challenges through interactions with local businesses, fostering new value in the region. The purpose is to inspire young people in Akashi to engage with and continue their involvement in the community.

On the day, the event will feature a stage program 'AKASHI U-18 INNOVATION' and corporate booths. The stage will host a cross-talk session titled 'Youth Challenges Shape the Future,' along with presentations by students from Akashi Commercial High School and Seifu High School, who will propose solutions to regional business challenges. This event aims to showcase the value of young people thinking, acting, and communicating independently, providing new inspiration to high school, university, and vocational school students.

Additionally, corporate booths will be set up, allowing students to directly engage with the main products, unique technologies, and work ethos of participating companies. High school students' job hunting activities often rely on information filtered through career counselors, while university and vocational school students tend to focus on urban companies. By providing a direct interaction opportunity with local businesses, the event aims to deepen students' understanding of these companies and help them envision working in the region. Participating companies include Nikko Corporation, Akashi Kisen Fukushi-kai Social Welfare Corporation, Ikeuchi Construction Co., Ltd., Maruo Calcium Corporation, Kanemitsu Co., Ltd., Chushi Daifuku-do Co., Ltd., Akashi Mechanical Industry Co., Ltd., and Employment Continuation Support Type B Orizuru, among others.

Furthermore, a stamp rally around the corporate booths will be held, allowing participants who visit all booths to enter a lottery. Winners will receive prizes such as Akashi octopus and senbei assortments, retort curry, Yakult 400, and free burger set coupons, all sourced from local businesses. The event is designed for young people to enjoy learning about regional businesses and establishing connections with the community.

Through this initiative, the event aims to create opportunities for young people to find appeal in regional businesses and challenges, considering working or starting a business in Akashi as a positive future option. Simultaneously, it provides businesses with an opportunity to recognize the importance of continuous engagement with young people, contributing to the development of a fertile ground for talented individuals rooted in Akashi.

● Project Background

Currently, in Akashi, there are limited opportunities for young people to engage with local businesses and challenge themselves in the region, leading to a lack of mechanisms for cultivating human resources who can create new value and maintain continuous relationships. Particularly, high school students' job hunting activities are primarily conducted through career counselors, limiting direct interactions with companies. University and vocational school students also tend to focus on urban companies, resulting in fewer opportunities to learn about the appeal of local small and medium-sized enterprises, making it difficult to match them with regional businesses.

Furthermore, Akashi City is a bedroom community with easy access to Kobe, Osaka, and Himeji. Young people's living areas tend to expand outside the city due to education and employment opportunities, leading to career choices made without direct contact with local businesses, potentially resulting in the outflow of human resources from the region. Therefore, this symposium aims to create opportunities for young people and regional businesses to meet, communicate their challenges, and engage in direct dialogue, conveying the appeal of challenging oneself in Akashi and the value of continuous engagement with the community.

Event Overview

【Event Name】AKASHI LINK FES｜U-18 INNOVATION

【Date and Time】August 5, 2026 (Wed) 13:00～16:00

【Venue】1-6-1 Ooakashi-cho, Akashi City Akashi Citizen Plaza (2nd Floor, Papios Akashi)

【Target Audience】Young people centered around high school, university, and vocational school students, those interested in regional businesses, and those who want to support young people's challenges

【Organizer】Akashi Junior Chamber

【Co-sponsor】Akashi City

Inquiries

Akashi Junior Chamber Future Creation Committee Chairperson Sasaki TEL: 070-8355-3335

About Junior Chamber (Kinki District Council)

We, the Junior Chamber (abbreviated as 'JC'), were established in 1949 (Showa 24) by young people who shared the aspiration that 'the reconstruction of Japan is the work of the youth' amidst the deep scars of war left in the streets and people's hearts.

Since then, the Junior Chamber has conducted various activities and movements under the philosophy of 'realizing a bright and affluent society.' It consists of members who have joined freely, regardless of race, nationality, gender, occupation, or religion. The Japanese Junior Chamber bases its activities on 'personal cultivation,' 'service to society,' and 'friendship with the world,' promoting mutual enlightenment and exchange among members, fostering a public spirit, and contributing to social development through collaboration with the community while actively addressing social issues. The fields of activity experienced through various practical training at the Junior Chamber are wide-ranging. In addition to graduates who have turned 40 and graduated, many human resources are sent not only to local leaders but also to the political and business worlds.

The public interest corporation Kinki District Council of the Japan Junior Chamber operates in two prefectures and four cities within the Kinki region, serving as a coordination body to ensure smooth operation of various Junior Chambers, while also promoting various movements within the Kinki region.

◆ Kinki District Council Official Instagram Account

https://www.instagram.com/kinkidc.jci/?hl=ja