Kojima, one of Japan's leading textile towns.
Kojima has continued to produce various textile products such as Sanada cords, tatami edges, tabi, school uniforms, and jeans, adapting to the times. I believe that its flexible adaptability and spirit of challenge are unique strengths of Kojima.
Although Kojima has prospered around the textile industry for a long time, it is now facing a serious labor shortage due to declining birth rates, an aging population, and outflow of people. How will Kojima confront this issue that many regions in Japan are facing?
We spoke with the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is working on industrial promotion and community development.
About the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry
A Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a regional comprehensive economic organization that works on promoting local industries in collaboration with businesses and commercial organizations in each area. There are over 500 such organizations established across municipalities nationwide.
It is composed of "members," who are local business operators, and members belong to industry-specific committees. The Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry has subdivided committees related to textiles, such as the "Textile Committee," "Sewing Committee," and "Dyeing Committee," reflecting the characteristics of Kojima's industry.
The Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1947 through the merger of the Kotoura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was founded in 1946, and the Minami-Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As of January 2026, it has approximately 1,300 member companies.
Initiatives Supporting Kojima's Local Industries
The main projects of the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry are community development through industrial promotion and business support for operators.
1. Community Development Projects
As a community development project to promote the region and local industries, the following initiatives are being carried out.
- Management of the Kojima Industrial Promotion Center in Kurashiki City
- Concept and support for Kojima Jeans Street
- Promotion of the Kojima Salt Tying Project
- Operation and designated management of the Kojima Citizen Exchange Center
- Promotion of store openings in the Kojima district shopping street
- Planning and management of local events such as "Sanpaku Market" and "Kojima Festival #Textile"
- Planning and management of the "Textile Kojima Jeans Tour Project"
- Support for other local events, etc.
I would like to highlight three initiatives that particularly caught my attention.
The first is about the management of the Kojima Industrial Promotion Center in Kurashiki City.
The building housing the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry is two stories tall, with the Kojima Industrial Promotion Center located on the first floor. It is a startup support facility operated under a commission from Kurashiki City.
The rental office "Designers Incubation" supports startups in the textile, apparel, or creative sectors.
For new businesses that find it difficult to secure a workspace, Designers Incubation is a reassuring place to rent a room for about 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month.
There are a total of seven rooms available for rent, but they are reportedly in high demand, often remaining fully booked. Additionally, there are workshops equipped with industrial sewing machines and irons, a local introduction corner, and meeting rooms.
The second is about the concept and support for Kojima Jeans Street.
Kojima Jeans Street was established by the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry in response to tourists' voices saying, "There is no place to buy Kojima jeans." It has become a tourist spot where many people from both Japan and abroad visit to buy local jeans.
Kojima Jeans Street is a vibrant area where numerous photo spots have been created through the ideas of local businesses. With jeans hung high, vending machines wrapped in denim, and roads dyed blue, it has become a place full of creative attractions for visitors to enjoy.
The Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry is focusing on creating vibrancy while providing support for attracting businesses.
Finally, regarding the planning and management of the Kojima Festival #Senisai.
This event, held every spring and autumn, is said to attract a large number of visitors within Okayama Prefecture due to the affordable prices of Kojima's textile products.
This event is not just about discounts; it is held under the slogan "Zero Apparel Waste! Get High Quality at Great Prices!" to eliminate apparel waste from an environmental perspective.
Manufacturers are implementing measures to increase the number of exhibitors, such as allowing trial exhibitions.
2. Business Support Initiatives
Another initiative by the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry is business support that is close to local companies. They are mainly engaged in the following activities.
- Loan consultations and the implementation of "Any Questions Consultation" with experts
- Handling of mutual aid systems that financially support small and medium-sized enterprises
- Labor insurance administrative agency services
- Hosting seminars and training sessions
- Bookkeeping guidance and final settlement guidance
- Establishment of the Kurashiki Startup Support Center where aspiring entrepreneurs can consult easily
During the tax return season, it is said that even those who handle tasks like button sewing and cutting alone come for final settlement guidance. The presence of many artisans who have long supported the textile industry is something unique to Kojima.
Challenges Facing the Textile Industry in Kojima
As one of Japan's leading "textile towns," Kojima is home to specialized textile companies involved in fabric, sewing, processing, and dyeing. With a system that allows for integrated manufacturing and sales, it is possible to produce high-quality textile products quickly.
It is said that there are few regions in the world where textile companies are as concentrated as in Kojima.
When I asked Kohei Hosoba, Secretary General of the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about the characteristics of Kojima, he mentioned, "Kojima is one of the regions experiencing population decline, but because it specializes in the textile industry, many people aim to start businesses in Kojima. I believe this is because they can create value-added products."
However, even with such strengths, Kojima is facing a serious labor shortage.
The Biggest Challenge is Labor Shortage
The serious issue that the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry feels is the labor shortage. It is not uncommon for job postings to receive no applications at all.
There is a sense of crisis that not only are good talents flowing away, but that there are simply no workers left in rural areas.
Especially in the textile industry, there are many small companies and manufacturers, so even if they post job openings, they may not reach young people. The lack of innovative information dissemination and connections with young people is also cited as one of the challenges.
Making Local Employment a Viable Option
As a solution to the labor shortage, the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry is collaborating with Kurashiki City Junior College to hold the "Kuratan Joint Company Information Session" targeted at students in the Fashion Design Department.
In 2025, 15 companies centered around the textile industry gathered in Kojima, conducting PR activities for students at each booth.
I also visited the event and observed students gathering at the booth of a company in the accommodation business, which taught me that many students want to work for local companies regardless of industry or job type.
Mr. Hosoba from the Kojima Chamber of Commerce stated, "Kojima has many businesses not only in the textile industry but also in construction, accommodation, and service industries. To provide options for working in Kojima, we want to focus on bridging local companies and students."
Kojima's Commitment to Town Development
The Kojima Chamber of Commerce is working on industrial promotion from various angles, but it places great importance not only on maintaining industry but also on whether the town is attractive as a place to live.
Town development is essential for people to continue living here.
Improving tourist attractions to attract many visitors and holding events to support businesses are also part of town development.
In town development, which has no clear answers, what kind of initiatives are necessary to remain an attractive place to live?
I spoke with Mr. Takada Naoshi, President of Takada Textile Co., Ltd. and Vice President of the Kojima Chamber of Commerce.
Data of Kojima Chamber of Commerce
| Name | Kojima Chamber of Commerce |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-37 Kojima Station Front, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 2nd floor of Kurashiki City Kojima Industrial Promotion Center |
| Contact | 086-472-4450 |
| Website | Kojima Chamber of Commerce |
