Tanabe City to Host 10th Anniversary Symposium for 'Tanabe Mirai Sozo Juku' Regional Business Program

Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture (Co-organized by Hatch [Alumni Association] and Tanabe City), has announced the 'Tanabe Mirai Sozo Juku 10th Anniversary Symposium' to be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Tanabe City Hall Multipurpose Hall.

Launched in fiscal year 2016, the 'Tanabe Mirai Sozo Juku' was established as a program to cultivate talent capable of solving regional issues—such as population decline, increasing vacant properties, and labor shortages—using business methodologies. Over the past decade, the program has produced 124 graduates across 10 terms, leading to numerous entrepreneurial projects both within and outside the region.

This symposium aims to reflect on the program's trajectory while bringing together local practitioners, government officials, researchers, business leaders, and youth to discuss the next ten years of regional development.

**Event Overview** - Title: Tanabe Mirai Sozo Juku 10th Anniversary Symposium - Date: May 30, 2026 (Sat) 14:00–17:00 (Reception starts at 13:30) - Venue: 1F Multipurpose Hall, Tanabe City Hall (1-5-1 Higashiyama, Tanabe City, Wakayama) - Admission: Free (Symposium) / 6,000 JPY (Networking Reception) - Organizers: Hatch (Alumni Association) / Tanabe City

**Program Contents** - 10th Anniversary Retrospective Movie: A visual journey of the program’s history. - Player Relay Talk: Graduates from terms 1 to 10 will discuss their current regional activities. - Keynote Speech: 'Expanding Mirai Sozo Juku Nationwide' by Tomoichiro Ono (CEO, Yamato Group Co., Ltd.). - Panel Discussion: 'Why has Tanabe sustained this for 10 years?' and 'Visions for the Future.' Panelists include Mayor Mitsutoshi Manago, Kumamoto University Vice President Shogo Kanaoka, and local high school representatives.

**About Tanabe Mirai Sozo Juku** Utilizing regional assets such as the Kumano Kodo World Heritage site, Tanabe City established this school in 2016 to foster CSV (Creating Shared Value) and regional economic revitalization. The program focuses on developing leadership, vision-building, and action-oriented skills to solve social challenges through project creation.