Recruiting individuals to engage with Ibaraki Prefecture through side jobs, concurrent employment, and internships. "iBARAKICK!" fosters collaboration between Ibaraki business owners and external talent to tackle regional challenges.

NPO Corporation ETIC. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), commissioned by Ibaraki Prefecture, has been operating the "iBARA KICK!" program since fiscal year 2022. This program is part of the "FY2025 Connecting Ibaraki Challenge Field Project Operations" organized by the prefecture, aiming to create a "related population" through collaboration between urban talent and companies within the prefecture. To date, we have matched 71 individuals from outside the prefecture with 59 companies within the prefecture, promoting projects that contribute to regional revitalization.

We are now recruiting for the fiscal year 2026 project. We plan to recruit approximately 20 individuals. The application deadline is August 31 (Monday) at 23:59.

iBARAKICK! Official Website

https://ibarakick.etic.or.jp/

iBARAKICK!: Deeply connecting with the region through collaboration with companies

Ibaraki Prefecture has been implementing the "Connecting Ibaraki Challenge Field Project" since fiscal year 2019 to foster a "related population" with deep affection and commitment to the region. While various initiatives have been undertaken to reach out to individuals outside the prefecture, primarily from the Tokyo metropolitan area, who have a local orientation, such as holding markets to easily experience Ibaraki's regional resources and disseminating information about local players like entrepreneurs, iBARAKICK! specifically aims to "deeply connect with business owners and regional resources through collaboration with companies."

Specifically, business owners with a strong desire to revitalize the region propose projects they wish to undertake. Individuals who resonate with the project's content and the business owner's commitment to the region then participate as project members, working hand-in-hand to promote business growth and regional revitalization.

Since fiscal year 2025, we have also been recruiting for practical internship projects that are open to university students as well as working professionals.

Click here for the FY2026 project list

https://ibarakick.etic.or.jp/projects/

Discover your own way of connecting with the region through this program

Since its inception in 1997 with long-term practical internships matching students with regions and business owners, and through promoting regional projects via side jobs and concurrent employment since 2018, NPO Corporation ETIC. has facilitated connections for over 20,000 students and working professionals in various ways, co-creating new regional value.

Why do we create such opportunities? Because we believe that side jobs and internships in regional areas can be a catalyst for life-changing challenges. By shedding the titles of their usual organizations and experiencing the richness of nature and human connections, participants in iBARAKICK! can practically advance businesses alongside passionate key individuals, leading to encounters with respected business owners and stimulating peers, and gaining intense experiences distinct from their daily lives.

Among past iBARAKICK! participants, some have continued to be involved with the projects of the companies they joined, while others have relocated to Ibaraki as a result of the program. Many individuals have found connections that enrich their lives. Therefore, we focus on matching and supporting individuals through side jobs and internships as a first step for more people to take on challenges in regional areas.

Three Features of iBARA KICK!

1 Projects that contribute to corporate growth and the resolution of regional issues

Participants in iBARAKICK! will engage in projects aimed at solving regional issues by business owners who are passionate about the region, not just those focused solely on their company's growth.

Past projects have included a wide range of initiatives, such as SNS marketing for a seafood processing and retail company, business analysis and management strategy development for a long-established tea wholesaler, and planning and executing events to address the anxieties and concerns of families with children.

2 Exchange missions to build connections with Ibaraki's resources and people

In parallel with corporate collaboration, participants can optionally engage in missions to experience recommended regional resources. Beyond efforts to solve regional issues, participants can connect more deeply with Ibaraki's charm through encounters with attractive regional resources and people introduced by host companies and accompanying coordinators.

3 Opportunities for interaction and relationship building with participating companies and regional players

During the program, opportunities such as a joint kickoff meeting in Mito City and idea brainstorming sessions to generate business ideas will be held. Additionally, tours for interacting with and sightseeing with various players and business owners within the prefecture will be organized, providing opportunities to connect with companies and players outside of the host companies.

Recruitment Overview

◎ Recruitment Period for Talent

Monday, July 6, FY2026 – Monday, August 31, FY2026

◎ Program Implementation Period (Talent Activity Period)

September FY2026 – End of February FY2027 (Start date may vary depending on matching status)

◎ Number of Participating Companies/Projects

Up to 13 companies / 13 projects

◎ Number of Participating Talent

Approximately 20 individuals (1-2 individuals hired per project)

◎ Participation Requirements

・Attend an iBARAKICK! information session.

・Reside outside of Ibaraki Prefecture (have a resident registration).

・Be able to visit Ibaraki Prefecture approximately once a month for host company visits and mission execution.

・Be able to participate in overall content such as the kickoff meeting and company visit tours.

・Have not participated in iBARAKICK! in FY2022-2025.

◎ Program Participation Fee

Free (some transportation and accommodation costs will be borne by the participant)

*1 Travel and transportation expenses for on-site visits related to projects are generally covered by the company.

*2 Travel and transportation expenses for on-site visits related to mission execution, as well as for secretariat-organized events such as company visit tours and kickoff ceremonies, will be borne by the participant.

◎ Project-related commission fees, etc.:

Varies by company (a guideline of approximately 30,000-50,000 yen per month is expected)

Please check the details on each recruitment information page.

iBARAKICK! Official Website

https://ibarakick.etic.or.jp/

* Please check this page for program details, including information session dates/application methods and past case study videos.

* This project is being implemented as a "related population" creation project as part of the "FY2026 Connecting Ibaraki Challenge Field Project Operations" organized by Ibaraki Prefecture.

About NPO Corporation ETIC.

Move Forward. ETIC. We support individuals who take action, connect them, and together create a "new society."

Founded in 1993, became an NPO in 2000, and certified as an NPO in 2017. We are involved in entrepreneurship education, co-creation coordination between different sectors such as companies and local governments, and coordinator training. Approximately 19,000 people have participated in the practical internship and entrepreneur support programs we have handled, and approximately 2,200 have started their own businesses.

In 2021, aiming to be "an organization where each individual's entrepreneurial spirit is exercised and co-creation is born," we transitioned from a pyramid structure to a self-organizing, decentralized organizational system (Teal organization). For this reason, we do not have a representative in the conventional sense.