Maniwa City, Okayama and 11 Public-Private Organizations Establish Agricultural Support Venture 'KANAMS Inc.'

Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, and Pasona Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Hirotaka Wakamoto), along with ten other private enterprises, financial institutions, and agricultural cooperatives, have jointly established a new company, KANAMS Inc. (pronounced 'Kanamusu'), on Friday, July 10, 2026. The company will focus on solving regional challenges centered on agriculture.

This initiative is the realization of the 'Maniwa-Style Agricultural Support Service Entity Establishment' project launched in May of the previous year, aiming to build a new model for regional revitalization through public-private partnership.

▲ Photo: Ceremony commemorating the company's establishment held today

Located in northern Okayama Prefecture, Maniwa City has a population of approximately 40,000 and is the largest municipality in the prefecture by area. Leveraging diverse climatic conditions due to elevation differences, the region produces a wide range of agricultural and livestock products, including fruits, vegetables, and dairy. However, like many mountainous and rural areas, it faces challenges such as depopulation and aging, particularly in maintaining a sustainable agricultural production base. To address these issues, public and private sectors have joined forces, pooling human, financial, and technical resources to establish KANAMS Inc. as a dedicated entity for regional revitalization.

KANAMS Inc. aims to become the 'keystone' (kaname) in solving regional challenges, especially in agriculture, and to 'connect' stakeholders to co-create regional value. The company will provide support related to subsidy and grant programs (including activity support under the Direct Payment Scheme for Mountainous Areas), facilitate matching and consultation for outsourced farming tasks, and expand sales channels for agricultural and livestock products and other local goods. As a partner to local communities and farm operators, KANAMS will work toward achieving sustainable agriculture.

As a hub for solving regional issues, KANAMS will promote the food and regional resources of northern Okayama, centered on Maniwa City, both domestically and internationally, contributing to the development of regional industries through agricultural support.

Overview of KANAMS Inc.

Company Name

KANAMS Inc.

Headquarters

2511-13 Kuse, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Establishment Date

July 10, 2026 (Friday)

Representative Directors

Atsuya Ito (Deputy Mayor of Maniwa City)

Masaki Nakagawa (President and CEO, Tango Kingdom Brewery Co., Ltd.※) ※A subsidiary of Pasona Group

Business Activities

- Support for subsidy and grant programs (e.g., activity support under the Direct Payment Scheme for Mountainous Areas)

- Matching and consultation services for outsourced agricultural work

- Regional trading company operations (wholesale of agricultural and processed goods, hometown tax donation programs)

List of Investing Organizations

Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture; Pasona Group Co., Ltd.; Chugoku Bank, Ltd.; Chodai Co., Ltd.; Tokyo University of Science Investment Management Co., Ltd.; Development Bank of Japan Inc.; Agri Global Design Co., Ltd.; Bizen-Okayama Agricultural Cooperative; Maniwa Environmental Health Management Co., Ltd.; Hirisuma Dairy Agricultural Cooperative; Fermento Co., Ltd.

Total of 11 organizations

【Role of Pasona Group in this Initiative】 Pasona Group's regional revitalization efforts began in 2003 with the 'Agricultural Internship Project,' aimed at creating employment and developing talent in the agricultural sector. Today, the group operates various projects across Japan, including Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, in collaboration with local governments, businesses, and communities.

Pasona Group's collaboration with Maniwa City began in 2016 with a training program for new farmers. In 2022, the partnership deepened with the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement as the third phase of the 'Regional Co-Creation Project,' aiming to increase relational population and support local businesses. Since October 2025, through the 'Maniwa-Style Agricultural Support Service Entity Establishment' preparation office, Pasona has dispatched personnel utilizing the 'Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs Program,' advancing regional revitalization efforts for nearly a decade.

Through this investment, Pasona Group will leverage its accumulated expertise in regional revitalization solutions to support the development of KANAMS Inc.'s business operations. The group will also collaborate on expanding sales channels for agricultural and processed products, contributing to the growth of regional industries.

Furthermore, this initiative is positioned as a new model for regional revitalization—establishing a locally incorporated entity through public-private collaboration. Looking ahead, Pasona Group aims to replicate this model across municipalities nationwide, promoting regional revitalization tailored to local characteristics.