A networking event for working adults seeking new encounters and exchanges.
One day, I was informed by someone I met at a networking event about an event called ASTORO Cafe held at the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory.
ASTORO Cafe is a networking event for those under 29 years old (Under29: U-29), held with a different concept from typical networking events.
The event is organized by Kunimoto Ryota (国本涼太), a student at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Seiryo High School. Despite being a high school student, I heard he is involved in various activities such as organizing events in collaboration with companies and participating in business contests, which piqued my interest.
I interviewed Kunimoto about the behind-the-scenes of the event "ASTORO Cafe," which is organized by a current high school student.
What is ASTORO Cafe
ASTORO Cafe is a networking event for those under 29 years old held at the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory. The first event was held in March 2024, and it has been held once a month since then.
- A place for people engaged in various activities to seek advice
- A venue to provide new encounters and hints for activities to those who want to take the first step but cannot
It has these two aspects.
Previous participants have included middle school students struggling to decide on themes for inquiry-based learning and high school students seeking feedback on their business plans. There were also people who provided advice and listened to their concerns.
Since people of similar ages gather, the atmosphere in the venue is always friendly, and conversations among participants flow easily.
Since the organizer, Kunimoto, is a student preparing for entrance exams, the date of the next event is undecided, but if it is held, it will be announced on Instagram, so please check it out.
About the organizer of ASTORO Cafe, Kunimoto Ryota
Kunimoto Ryota, who operates ASTORO Cafe, is a third-year student at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Seiryo High School (as of August 2024).
In addition to ASTORO Cafe, Kunimoto has taken on various extracurricular activities.
In his second year of high school, he attended the Okayama Innovation School and participated in a business plan contest in the prefecture. After that, he organized employment-related events with friends he met at the school, focusing on activities centered around employment and career.
Kunimoto's interest in career-related business stemmed from his past goal of finding employment after high school.
He felt that high school graduates have limited job options compared to new graduates from university. Feeling that he couldn't pursue the job he wanted, Kunimoto thought, "I want to create a society where high school graduates can work with confidence."
In the Okayama Gas Business Plan Contest 2023 organized by Okayama Gas, he proposed a service to match high school graduates with local small and medium-sized enterprises, winning an award in the high school category.
After that, he also worked on organizing seminar events in collaboration with Okayama University’s corporate department and held company information sessions with the Ichijiku Group, which operates a local education program. Both events were born from the network Kunimoto expanded through extracurricular activities.
While actively engaging in these activities, the thought arose that "it would be nice to have a community where people can casually consult with each other," and ASTORO Cafe began as a place to fulfill that role.
ASTORO Cafe has been held repeatedly through trial and error without the help of adults. I spoke with Kunimoto about the fulfillment and growth he has experienced through event management.
Interview with Kunimoto Ryota
How was ASTORO Cafe planned?
Kunimoto (no honorifics)
Originally, the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory held an event called ASTORO Bar, which was similar to a networking event.
When I participated in that, the organizer suggested, "Why not create a youth version of the networking event?" which sparked the idea for ASTORO Cafe.
There was no community for young people to connect in Kurashiki, so I wanted to create a place where they could casually drop by and consult with each other while planning the event.
Initially, I thought of a networking event where young people could gather to consult and share information.
I wanted to create a space where middle and high school students engaged in inquiry activities and those with a sense of social issues could connect with people who could provide advice and feedback.
Since people of similar ages can talk more openly, I planned an event targeting those under 29 years old, ensuring there wouldn't be a significant age gap with students.
How was it to actually run the event?
Kunimoto
I personally think the first ASTORO Cafe was a success. Not only middle and high school students attended, but also people working in local companies and school teachers, so the balance in numbers was just right.
At that time, it wasn't just a networking event; I presented content similar to what I discussed at the Okayama Gas Innovation Contest in front of everyone. Participants provided feedback, saying things like, "It would be better if you did this." I believe it ended in a form close to my initial vision.
However, from the second event onward, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the concept...
You struggled with the direction of the event after the second one, didn't you?
Kunimoto
Since I established the format of "someone presenting" in the first event, it became challenging to find members willing to present in the subsequent events.
I struggled to continue operating in the same format, and I think that's a significant point of reflection. Eventually, the flow of presenting and receiving feedback fell apart, leading to some events where it was just casual conversation.
From the second event onward, participation from working adults decreased, and I faced considerable challenges in attracting attendees.
What have you gained from running ASTORO Cafe?
Kunimoto
I have two points of reflection.
The first is realizing that if I don't think carefully about how to attract attendees, I won't be able to sustain it for long.
The second is understanding the importance of having a strong concept of "what kind of event I want to create."
In the future, if I have the opportunity to run an event myself, I want to make sure to apply these two reflections.
However, beyond just reflections, the connections I made through ASTORO Cafe have become a significant asset for me. I am not naturally good at communication, so I was pleased to expand my network through ASTORO Cafe.
I believe that experiences like this interview arose because of ASTORO Cafe. I was able to realize the significance of holding the event, as new activities can emerge from it.
I want to ensure that it’s not just about holding the event and ending it, but rather about fostering a flow where activities expand through that event.
What are your future goals for ASTORO Cafe?
Kunimoto
I want to create a place where not only casual exchanges happen but also where people can share their concerns and consult with each other.
Additionally, I want ASTORO Cafe to be a place where new activities are born through exchanges, so I aim to create many new encounters for participants.
For example, I am currently considering "Participants Plus One." By encouraging attendees to bring a friend when they come next time, I aim to increase new encounters.
From an operational perspective, I want to solidify the content and concept so that I can properly hand over responsibilities while looking for successors. I want to work hard to create a better ASTORO Cafe.
Do you have personal goals as well?
Kunimoto
What I am currently aiming for is a society where everyone can shine in their workplace.
I believe there are various means to achieve that society, but I am focusing on employment after high school.
This is because I was originally not aiming for further education and was interested in a job in manufacturing, wanting to attend a technical high school. In the end, I went to Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Seiryo High School, but looking back, I think I might not have been able to do the job I wanted even if I had graduated high school.
The common flow is to go to university and then get a job, and if you deviate from that flow, you tend to be viewed negatively. Therefore, I believe it is important to create a society where high school graduates can work with confidence in their own choices.
You have also thought of specific projects, right?
Kunimoto
Yes. What I presented at the Okayama Gas Business Plan Contest was a matching service for high school graduates and local small and medium-sized enterprises.
Currently, many companies that hire high school graduates are well-known large companies. Although small and medium-sized enterprises are also looking for people, they struggle to find good talent, so I think it would be great to convey more of the charm and information about small and medium-sized enterprises.
I want to create a service that provides accurate information about small and medium-sized enterprises to high school students, schools, and parents, aiming to minimize the gaps after joining the company.
I want to increase the job options for high school graduates and start a matching service that can support them in pursuing the jobs they want.
Do you think the activities of ASTORO Cafe will be beneficial in the future?
Kunimoto
Yes. While there were many points of reflection in running ASTORO Cafe, I feel that having "experience in organizing an event" has contributed to my confidence.
The matching service for high school graduates and companies I mentioned earlier will primarily use a website, but I believe there are people who want to meet and talk directly with companies. Therefore, I am considering creating a venue for exchanges with companies, like a joint company information session, someday.
I would be happy if I could utilize the experience of running ASTORO Cafe when creating such "real-life venues."
Please send a message to the readers.
Kunimoto
All of us in the management team will do our best to make ASTORO Cafe better than ever, so if anyone is interested, please join us at least once.
We are also looking for members to help run ASTORO Cafe. If you want to be involved in event management or resonate with our feelings as the management team, let's work together.
I would be happy to talk with anyone who is even slightly interested in the event.
Conclusion
I have participated in the 3rd ASTORO Cafe.
Thanks to the age limit of under 29, it was a place where it was easy to talk with people of similar ages, and all participants could easily express their opinions.
Having such a place for interaction allowed me to learn about the recent concerns and trends of junior high and high school students, as well as educational issues, which was very educational for me. Additionally, meeting passionate teenagers gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I was doing when I was a teenager.
Whether you want to share your concerns, expand your network, or support those who are working hard, participating in ASTORO Cafe may lead to new discoveries.
ASTORO Cafe is evolving through trial and error. I look forward to Mr. Kunimoto's future activities.
ASTORO Cafe Data
| Name | ASTORO Cafe |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-19-10 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Participation fee 1000 yen |
| Website | ASTORO Cafe Instagram |
