For the Second Consecutive Year, "Niigata City Project to Create Supporting Population (Strategic Public Relations and Research/Analysis)" Commissioned

Mirai Works Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO Shoji Okamoto, hereinafter "the Company") is pleased to announce that, for the second consecutive year, it has been commissioned for the "Niigata City Project to Create Supporting Population (Strategic Public Relations and Research/Analysis) Commissioned Work" (hereinafter "this Project") by Niigata City (Mayor: Haichi Nakahara).

This year, in addition to visualizing the project's achievements to date, we will foster momentum among local businesses to utilize external human resources by holding events, etc., and will continuously collect data to conduct research and analysis on the creation of a "supporting population" (*1). The Company aims to create a supporting population in Niigata that is not temporary, and will promote the retention of this supporting population and regional revitalization.

Background of this Project and Previous Year's Initiatives

Currently, depopulation in productive age groups is a serious issue for regional companies in provincial cities, leading to a shortage of successors. Based on the "Niigata City Comprehensive Plan 2030" (*2), Niigata City is focusing on creating a "supporting population" through problem-solving for companies by promoting matching between urban side-hustle professionals and the challenges faced by companies and organizations within the city, in addition to promoting relocation and settlement, thereby creating new flows of people to Niigata.

In the project for Reiwa 7 (2025) (*3), we advanced the "Problem-Solving Project" where 23 highly specialized side-hustle professionals from across the country were selected through our side-hustle matching platform "Skill Shift," and worked in teams to solve regional and industrial issues faced by businesses in the city. In collaboration with regional support organizations and regional revitalization cooperation teams, we formed three project teams (strengthening the "Pia Bandai" brand, revitalizing Toyosaka shopping district, and improving recognition of the Western pear "Le Lectier") and completed everything from proposing specific measures to their execution. A post-project survey showed that 100% of the side-hustle professionals (all respondents) selected "I want to continue to be involved with Niigata City in the future," succeeding in creating a strong supporting population that is not temporary. In addition to the "Problem-Solving Project," we also promoted the development of side-hustle job openings for businesses in the city and matching with side-hustle professionals.

To further promote this project and create a continuous supporting population that goes beyond temporary involvement, this year we will visualize past achievements, foster momentum among local businesses to utilize external human resources, and conduct detailed research and analysis.

Project Details

1 Research and analysis work to form the basis for policy planning related to the supporting population 2 Strategic public relations work to foster awareness among local businesses and urban human resources 3 Holding of Niigata City Supporting Population Creation Events for individuals interested in Niigata City 4 Support for the execution of duties by regional revitalization cooperation teams

Related Information

▼ Interview article on last year's project

News site for business people thinking about "working in the regions," "GLOCAL MISSION Times": Connecting cities and people, "supporting population" as a point of connection. (Part 1) Niigata City and Regional Revitalization Cooperation Teams Depict a New "Intersection of Urban and Rural Areas" https://www.glocaltimes.jp/10340 (Part 2) Changes Brought by the Project and Niigata City's Future Vision https://www.glocaltimes.jp/10341

▼ "Side-Hustle Connection Population Project" Related Sites

Official Website: https://niigatashi-kankeijinkou.jp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niigata_kankei_pjt/

*1 A "supporting population" refers to people who are diversely involved with a region, neither "settled population" who have moved in nor "visiting population" who are tourists. *2 Niigata City Comprehensive Plan 2030: https://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/shisei/seisaku/seisaku/sogo/sogokeikaku2030/index.html *3 Commissioned for the "Niigata City Project to Create Supporting Population" in Reiwa 7 (2025): https://mirai-works.co.jp/news/news14428/

※Our press releases regarding regional issue resolution by side-hustle/concurrent employment professionals Niigata City: Side-Hustle/Concurrent Employment Professionals Decided for Regional Issue Resolution https://mirai-works.co.jp/news/news619/ Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture: "Problem-Solving Program Utilizing Side-Hustle/Concurrent Employment Professionals" https://mirai-works.co.jp/news/news11313/ Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture: "Resolution of Regional Issues and Creation of Supporting Population by Side-Hustle Professionals Through Workation" https://mirai-works.co.jp/news/news6435/

≪Overview of Mirai Works Co., Ltd.≫

Location: Tokyo Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo

Other Offices: Kansai Branch / Kyushu Branch / Tohoku Branch

Representative: Shoji Okamoto, President and CEO

Established: March 2012

Securities Code: 6563 (TSE Growth)

Capital: 94,910 thousand yen (as of March 31, 2026)

URL: https://www.mirai-works.co.jp/

Business Activities: - Professional Human Resources Business Freelance/Contract Work / Side-Hustle/Contract Work / Full-time Employees Registered Professionals: 97,500, Clients: 9,400 companies (as of May 31, 2026) - Consulting Business - Practical Reskilling Business - Open Innovation Business - Regional Revitalization Business - Sustainability Management Support Business https://mirai-works.co.jp