Amidst population decline and the concentration of people in urban areas, particularly young people, many municipalities are working to disseminate information about their regional attractions to attract tourists and promote relocation.

However, is the information about a region's appeal solely what the government communicates?

Nishio City believes that "people who live in and visit a region know its attractions best."

Therefore, Nishio City is challenging itself to create a new system called "Regional Media," where citizens and students themselves create articles that speak of the region's charm. This system aims to foster empathy with the experiences of people who have similar feelings, ages, and interests, and for that empathy to create new "Nishio Oshi" (Nishio's recommended spots/attractions) for others. We have set a date for the media to cover the "university students interviewing" aspect of this initiative.

The stage for creating this new system will be the relocation and settlement portal site "Nishi Oshi Kurashi" (Living in Nishio).

Relocation and Settlement Portal Site "Nishi Oshi Kurashi"

"Nishi Oshi Kurashi" introduces various areas within the city, support systems, and the charm of the region and its lifestyle through the experiences of residents, returnees, and young people. "The residents' 'oshi'" gained from real experiences becomes "someone else's 'oshi'," expanding the circle of "Nishi Oshi Kurashi."

We aim to foster such a cycle of empathy.

Collaboration with Aichi University: Students Become the Region's "Editorial Department"

This time, in collaboration with Aichi University, which shares this philosophy, we are launching a project where students will serialize articles about Nishio's "oshi."

Four teams of Aichi University students will participate. The students will visit the region themselves, meet people, listen to their stories, and experience things firsthand to cover Nishio's "oshi" from their unique perspectives.

A total of 13 articles are planned for production.

The completed articles will be published on "Nishi Oshi Kurashi" and sequentially released to citizens and those interested in relocating to the city.

This project is not just about students learning about the region.

The students themselves will become "regional reporters" and play a role in the regional media that disseminates Nishio's charm.

Covering the Charm of Nishio's "Matcha"

For this coverage, we will focus on "matcha," Nishio's representative specialty product.

Currently, Nishio City has finished its tea picking, and tea factories are in the midst of matcha production.

The students will visit Aoi Seicha Co., Ltd. to:

- Observe the matcha production process

- Interview employees

- Tour the factory-attached cafe and direct sales store, and experience matcha sweets and drinks

They will then publish articles on "Nishio's charm that can only be discovered by students."

Regional Charm is Something We All Nurture Together

Through this project, Nishio City aims to not only disseminate the city's charm from a young perspective but also to increase opportunities for young people to engage with the region.

Instead of the government unilaterally promoting its attractions, we want young people and all citizens to find Nishio's charm from their own perspectives and spread it widely as if nurturing it. By doing so, we aim to increase the number of people who want to live in or continue living in Nishio City, which is the vision of "Nishi Oshi Kurashi."

Comment from Nishio Mayor

"A region's charm is not something that only the government disseminates.

I believe that when people who live, study, and work in the region express their feelings of 'I like it here' or 'I want people to know about this person,' it leads to the improvement of the regional brand.

In this initiative, students will become regional reporters, walking around themselves, meeting people, and discovering Nishio's charm.

I expect that the fresh perspectives of the students will lead to new discoveries and serve as an opportunity to re-recognize Nishio's appeal."

Student Comment

"Relocation and settlement are major life decisions. At this turning point in life, we want to deliver information that resonates with readers from a realistic perspective unique to university students.

There must be many "Nishi Oshi" points in Nishio City that are still unknown. Through our interviews, by engaging in conversations with local people, and learning ourselves, we want to convey the charm and warmth of life in Nishio City in our own words."

Project Overview

[Project Name]

"Nishi Oshi Kurashi" Serial Project

[Participants]

Four teams of Aichi University students

[Number of Articles to be Produced]

13 articles (planned)

[Publication Medium]

Relocation and Settlement Portal Site "Nishi Oshi Kurashi"

*What is "Nishi Oshi Kurashi"?

A portal site established with the aim of widely disseminating the charm and strengths of life in Nishio City, allowing those who live in Nishio or are considering moving to Nishio to find their "own oshi."

https://nishioshi.jp/

[Future Development]

In addition to "matcha," the theme of this project, students will cover various attractions throughout Nishio City, such as "food," "nature," "people," and "experiences," and articles will be published sequentially.

Media Invitation

[Date and Time]

July 13, 2026 (Monday) 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (planned)

[Location]

Aoi Seicha Co., Ltd. - Sabo AOI - Tea Factory

7 Kamiya-shiki, Kamimachi, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture

https://www.aoiseicha.co.jp/

[Interview Content]

- Matcha manufacturing process and factory tour

- Experiential interviews on matcha sweets, etc.

- Student interviews

- Interviews with the company and Nishio City

[Interview Highlights]

- The scene where regional media articles are born

- How university students discover regional charm from their unique perspectives

- New regional revitalization initiatives in collaboration with government, universities, and companies

We sincerely look forward to your coverage.

Additionally, we can arrange interviews during other times for student reporting and article creation, so please feel free to contact us.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 地方創生