[Kyoto University of Foreign Studies] Exhibited at 'Yomiuri Market'! SDGs Workshop and Local Product Sales Promoting Mihama Town, Wakayama Prefecture

The 'Umineru' team from the Kawakami Seminar at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (President: Juro Kita, Location: Ukyo-ku, Kyoto) exhibited at the 'Yomiuri Market' held in front of the Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Headquarters on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. In this exhibition, focusing on their connection with Mihama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, the students introduced activities themed on marine environmental conservation (SDGs) and sold local specialties, sharing the charm of the region from a student's perspective with office workers and local residents visiting the business district.

Background and Purpose of the Exhibition The 'Umineru' team at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies researches regional revitalization through tourism. This exhibition was realized following a connection made at the 'Guri Guri Marche' in April, hosted by the Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Headquarters. To put their academic knowledge of 'tourism and regional revitalization' into practice, the students planned and operated activities to promote Mihama Town and conduct SDGs initiatives using sea glass and plastic waste washed up on beaches.

Activities on the Day: Workshops and Product Sales The booth featured the following initiatives: ● SDGs Exhibition: Displayed and explained ballpoint pens and accessories made from recycled plastic waste, shells, and sea glass collected from beaches to raise awareness for marine environment improvement. ● Sales of 'Umineko Glass' and 'Sea Glass Ballpoint Pens': Distributed samples and sold 'Umineko Glass,' a specialty of Mihama Town. They also shared the stories behind the products through the sale of handmade sea glass pens. ● Promoting Mihama Town: Distributed clear files and displayed panels to promote the deep connection between the university and the town.

Student Insights and Future Prospects The event attracted approximately 450-550 visitors per day, providing students with valuable learning opportunities through dialogue. [Student Comments] 'While many were interested, I realized the difficulty of converting interest into purchases. By explaining carefully with panels and materials, I felt that understanding of our activities deepened, and people enjoyed the samples.' 'As it was an indoor booth, I felt that more ingenuity was needed to get people to stop. Many empathize with our activities, so the challenge is how to lead that to sales.' 'Although many people visited the booth, I learned the difficulty of conveying product appeal in a short time.' [Future Challenges and Improvements] Based on this experience, students are considering new measures to connect 'interest in activities' to 'purchasing.' Next time, they aim to enhance POP displays that visually convey the backstory and taste of the products, and provide detailed materials on the production process to turn more people into fans of Mihama Town.

Event Overview Event Name: Yomiuri Market Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 11:00 (Market held on the 12th, 19th, and 26th) Venue: In front of Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Headquarters (5-9 Nozaki-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka) Organizer: Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Headquarters Exhibitor: Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Kawakami Seminar, Umineru Team