Population decline due to the declining birthrate and aging population (outmigration), fewer tourists, school refusal, a decline in local specialty products… These are challenges shared by communities across Japan, and Okayama is no exception.
Kurashiki City runs the “Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Program,” which supports high school and university students working with local businesses and others to address challenges in the Takahashi River Basin.
What discoveries did the projects students had worked on for six months ultimately lead to?
The program’s culminating project-results presentation was held, and we went along to report on it.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in February 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Program “Project Results Presentation”
The Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Program is a program run by the Kurashiki City Labor and Employment Policy Division, aimed at developing the next generation of talent to shape the region’s future and promoting local employment.
It primarily supports PBL (problem-based learning) initiatives in which high schools in the seven cities and three towns of the Takahashi River Basin region, universities in Okayama Prefecture, local businesses, and trade organizations collaborate to address regional challenges. It also provides opportunities for high school and university students to think about career development through exchanges with local businesses, helping them build their careers.
In fiscal 2025, a record 17 schools took part in the program. See the image below for the projects undertaken by each school.
At the “Project Results Presentation,” held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, high school and university students presented projects they had worked on for about six months.
The students had discovered challenges and attractions in their respective communities. The highlight was seeing how they would make use of them to revitalize their communities and contribute to society.
Attending Part 2 of the Project Results Presentation
I attended Part 2. Here’s what happened that day.
Okayama Prefectural Tamashima Commercial High School: “A Project to Expand Consumption of Okayama’s Local Black Sea Bream Through Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration”
The first presenters in Part 2 were the inquiry team from Okayama Prefectural Tamashima Commercial High School (hereafter, “Tamashima Commercial”).
Their theme was expanding consumption of black sea bream, a local fish in Okayama. They worked on a product-development project in collaboration with the Okayama Prefectural Government and local businesses.
Okayama ranks fourth nationwide in black sea bream catches. However, fishery workers face ongoing challenges, including damage to oysters and seaweed caused by the fish and a decline in its market value.
With the cooperation of the Okayama Prefectural Government, Tamashima Commercial developed a menu using black sea bream and served it in the prefectural government cafeteria, but the initiative ended after a short time.
But the students’ real challenge began here. Moving beyond the idea that “all you need to do is make something delicious!,” they began seriously considering questions such as “Who will we sell it to?” and “How much will it cost to produce?” and took action to make the project a success.
As the students took the lead in moving the project forward, the Okayama Prefectural Government provided them with information and advice about black sea bream, while businesses handled the development, production, and sale of processed products.
The product they finally brought to life was a seasoning mix for rice cooked with black sea bream, making it easy to enjoy the fish. It is expected to be sold through e-commerce sites and Okayama Prefecture’s antenna shops.
Profit is also an important consideration for businesses.
As a result, some companies apparently set tough conditions. “We went to meet them in person, looked them in the eye, and shared our passion. I think the students’ enthusiasm—the power of a personal, face-to-face approach—moved the project forward,” they reflected.
It was an impressive presentation that conveyed the students’ enthusiasm loud and clear. If you come across the “black sea bream rice seasoning mix,” I’d love for you to give it a try.
Kurashiki Suisho High School: “Gather, Tamashima!”
Next up was a joint team from Kurashiki Suisho High School and Tamashima Commercial High School.
The two schools took on a community revitalization project that makes use of Tamashima’s traditional culture.
A survey of current challenges in Tamashima found that about 20% of students at the two schools said they considered Tamashima to be rural, while about 85% said that Tamashima has no tourist attractions.
The students focused on “the strengths of rural life.” They set the mission of “redefining Tamashima’s rural strengths and contributing to community revitalization” and continued their analysis of the current situation.
They discovered that Tamashima is home to many long-established businesses that have been operating for over 100 years. They also noted that traditional practices such as zazen meditation and the tea ceremony are deeply rooted in the area, and focused on the strong affinity between the mindset valued in entrepreneurship and the tea ceremony.
The result was a business study tour aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs. Along with company visits and fieldwork, it incorporates elements distinctive to Tamashima, such as zazen meditation and tea ceremony experiences.
The tour includes lunch and souvenirs, and costs 3,000 yen. It appears to be funded by a grant from the Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Program.
They said a future challenge is “to make the tour financially self-sustaining rather than relying on grants, and to hold it regularly.” But seeing how seriously the students are working to revitalize the community, I imagine many adults will step forward to support them.
Kurashiki Sakuyo University: “Promoting Hakka”
The third presentation was about promoting Hakka, by the Faculty of Food Culture at Kurashiki Sakuyo University.
With the cooperation of Kibi no Kuni Mirai Keikaku LLC, the students took on the challenge of developing products and recipes using “Shubi,” a variety of Hakka that is a specialty of Kurashiki.
Shubi has the characteristic aroma of Hakka, with a refreshing coolness and a soft, sweet fragrance.
Building on its beauty, they took on the challenge of developing sweets such as cookies, chiffon cake, and ice cream. Looking back, they say the most difficult part of production was balancing the distinctive mint flavor with ease of eating.
Some of the sweets they made were sampled by residents of a group home for people with dementia, who also completed a questionnaire about the mint flavor and how easy the sweets were to eat. The stimulating aroma may also help with dementia-prevention care, and they say, “We want to explore approaches tailored to the people who will eat them.”
More and more delicious-looking recipes were presented, and the content was so characteristic of the Faculty of Food Culture that it made me hungry.
Mint may seem like something people rarely get a chance to taste, but all the recipes developed by the university students looked like dishes that could be enjoyed in everyday life. I hope this project will make mint a more familiar presence.
Kurashiki High School: “Kurashiki Outreach” Project
Next was a presentation by the Commercial Studies Department of Kurashiki High School.
Focusing on SDG 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” the Commercial Studies Department has carried on a unique initiative called “Kurashiki Stroll.” In 2025, they guided an impressive 314 high school students from outside the prefecture.
While guiding visitors around the Bikan Historical Area, they identified the large number of vacant houses as an issue. Wondering if there was something they could do, they decided to take on the challenge of creating a business plan.
They partnered with Gyoun, Inc., which operates businesses based in the Bikan Historical Area.
The students had built a close relationship with the company through a series of activities, including talks on work styles and values around daily life, internships at restaurants and sweets shops, and business-plan study sessions.
Finally, they explained that 36 students worked on creating “business plans that contribute to regional revitalization in the area around the Bikan Historical Area,” generating a range of ideas, including operating hotels and restaurants in traditional houses and holding workshops.
The plan that particularly impressed the president of Gyoun, Inc. was to handcraft Ueshima lanterns and hold a night walk.
The Commercial Studies students reflected, “We learned that understanding people and the world is important when coming up with a project.” It seemed like a valuable experience for them to think about the town where they live their everyday lives.
Okayama Prefectural Takahashi High School: “The Takahashi High School Social Issues Research Club Tried Making Aroma Candles to Help People Learn About Takahashi City!”
Next was a presentation by the Social Issues Research Club of Okayama Prefectural Takahashi High School.
To revitalize Takahashi City, which is struggling with a declining population, they worked to promote the city’s appeal by making products using bengara, a local specialty.
The Social Issues Research Club’s project was to make candles colored with bengara. They received training at a candle shop and a company that works with bengara dyeing, and made prototypes over and over.
They also made cushions from leftover fabric provided by Kihou Hina Dolls, a division of their partner company, Japan Trade Industry Co., Ltd. The candles and cushions are charming and delightful to look at.
The prototypes did not go well at first: the bengara would settle, or the flame would become too small. But after making improvements, they finally completed candles they were satisfied with.
They said that going forward, they hope to take part in local events and distribute aroma candles, actively sharing what makes Takahashi City special.
They also reported on their exchange with members of the Miryoku Yubin Kyoku club at Hiroshima Prefectural Osakikaisei High School. It seems this gave them a chance to reaffirm, “We, too, want to value our ties with the local community.”
Their presentation was exceptionally thorough and easy to understand, covering questions such as “What kind of city is Takahashi City?”, “What is it famous for?” and “What is bengara?” I have only been to Takahashi City once, but after hearing their explanation, I wanted to visit again.
International Pacific University: “Dream Project—Connecting Through Support for Students Who Refuse to Attend School”
The final presentation was about a project to address challenges in supporting students who refuse to attend school, by International Pacific University.
International Pacific University has a student group called Our Universe, made up mainly of soccer team members and students aspiring to become teachers. The group works on supporting students who refuse to attend school and revitalizing the local community.
Our Universe partnered with HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC., which manufactures synthetic resin products such as tarpaulins, and took on the challenge of making original bags featuring designs based on children’s dreams and feelings.
They collected artwork from children attending places such as free schools, used HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.’s printing-sheet manufacturing technology, and had university students sew the bags on sewing machines.
Along with the words, “These handmade bags are filled with the children’s feelings, HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.’s technology, and the university students’ youth,” the finished bags were handed out. The fabric is sturdy, the stitching is durable, and the colors are exceptionally vivid.
They reportedly struggled greatly to gather works and submissions for turning the original bag into a product, but they have continued reaching out and making visits without giving up, acting persistently and expanding their network.
Through this project, the university students say, “Companies’ technologies have great potential to connect people and society.”
I hope they will continue working with companies and take on activities that connect children with society.
The networking event
After the presentations ended, the high school and university students from Part 2 gathered in another room for a networking event.
Students from different schools shared their thoughts on one another’s projects, and time passed in a very relaxed atmosphere. It was a smile-filled networking event that seemed to bring together more people who could think about the region’s future together.
Sticky notes with audience members’ comments and questions were displayed in the room, grouped by school. After the networking event, students carefully read the feedback they had received before heading home.
The sticky notes included many words of encouragement.
How will the boundless energy of high school and university students, along with the knowledge and experience gained through the Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Project, shape what comes next? I look forward to continuing to support everyone’s activities.
From the Writer
I looked back on my own high school days, and I didn’t even know the term SWOT analysis (a framework for understanding the current state of a company or business and making strategic decisions), let alone have the opportunity to put it into practice. Perhaps for that reason, I was amazed by the high level of their work.
On-the-ground research that takes real effort, multifaceted analysis, and ideas born from free thinking should all become valuable skills in the working world.
No team has ever succeeded in a project without encountering obstacles. I have come to realize that succeeding in a project depends on repeatedly facing challenges and working through the process of finding solutions.
This reporting experience made me want to reconsider the challenges facing the region—not only as a high school or university student, but also as an individual.
Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Project: Project Results Presentation Information
| Name | Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Project: Project Results Presentation |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, January 24, 2026 From 10:00 a.m. to around 5:00 p.m. |
| Location | 2-6-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Takahashi River Basin Future Talent Development Project website |
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