Kurashiki City is one of the municipalities in the Takahashi River Basin.
Many events are also held to promote the region across the entire Takahashi River Basin.
One such event is the “Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event,” hosted by Kurashiki City.
The event gives attendees the chance to hear from people active in various business fields and learn about the region’s potential and future prospects. It also aims to encourage exchange among participants and strengthen collaboration between companies, making it appealing as a place where new connections can emerge.
The word “forum” may sound a little formal, but I think the event offers valuable content for anyone who lives in the Takahashi River Basin and is interested in the region.
We spoke with the person in charge to learn more about the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event.
The information in this article was current when it was published in January 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event?
The Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event is one of the initiatives under the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Project run by Kurashiki City.
It will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
About the “Takahashi River Basin Crossing Project”
The Takahashi River Basin Crossing Project aims to achieve sustainable economic development in the Takahashi River Basin.
It provides opportunities to foster exchange between companies in the Takahashi River Basin and companies and educational institutions inside and outside the region, and supports innovation that makes use of local resources, technologies, and services emerging from that exchange.
In fiscal year 2024, the project focused on the following two initiatives:
- Exchange forum: Crossing Day
- Funding support: Connect Local Project
The information portal “Takahashi River Basin CROSSING” introduces the project’s initiatives and case studies. If you’re interested, be sure to check it out.
The Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event featured in this article is the exchange forum “Crossing Day.”
Overview of the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event
The 2025 Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event will be held at the Kurashiki Central Hospital Affiliated Preventive Medicine Plaza.
The forum consists of talk sessions and a keynote lecture.
The talk sessions are divided into four fields: healthcare, education, culture, and startups, and participants can freely attend the sessions that interest them. Speakers active in each field will take the stage to discuss regional challenges and the future of the region. The talk sessions will be held in two locations: the Kokuga Hall on the fifth floor and the training room on the first floor.
The keynote speaker is Miyata Hiroaki, who is active in fields including data science, scientific methodology, and Value Co-Creation.
The forum will conclude with a talk session on the theme “The Future of Regional Areas and Their Prospects,” featuring Miyata Hiroaki, Isozumi Koji, and Sakamoto Daisuke.
See the image below for details.
After the forum, a networking event that was very popular last time will also be held.
The networking event will be held in a standing buffet format, making it easy for participants to chat with one another. They can also enjoy delicious food while deepening their connections.
It will be held at Le Lierre, on the first floor of the same venue as the forum. Capacity is 50 people. Advance registration is required, so those wishing to attend are encouraged to sign up early.
To participate, please register using the dedicated Google Form.
The Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum offers a thorough look at the current state of business in the basin and the region’s future. We interviewed Kataoka Yusuke of the Kurashiki City Commerce and Industry Division about the thinking behind the event.
Interview with the Kurashiki City Commerce and Industry Division
What was the intention behind planning this forum?
Kataoka (name used without honorifics)
Modern Japan faces many challenges as a society, including a declining population. Many people are working hard every day to seize the business opportunities hidden in the process of solving these challenges.
We hope the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum will be a place where people rooted in the region and leading its future can find hints for solving challenges and find inspiration to start something new.
The theme of the 2025 forum is “Cross Boundaries.” We invited guests from a wide range of industries and planned an event where new connections can emerge across industry and professional boundaries.
The forum may not directly lead to solutions to challenges. However, by listening to and exchanging ideas with people from different fields, you can gain new insights and sometimes find clues to solving challenges.
We also hope that these initiatives will lead to further developments, such as new businesses emerging from connections among participants, and help energize the entire basin.
What are the highlights, and how is this different from the previous forum in 2024?
Kataoka
The biggest difference is that we will hold talk sessions on two new categories: “education” and “culture.” Both are essential to the region, but this is our first time featuring them.
Education in particular is where people who will carry the region’s future are nurtured, so I think this will be an opportunity to learn about the role the education sector will play in the region.
This time, in collaboration with our partner, the Kurashiki Central Medical Organization Institute of Clinical Medicine, we will also set up an exhibition booth introducing the initiatives and equipment of companies related to healthcare, so please come by.
What benefits do you think people will gain by participating?
Kataoka
The talk sessions bring together frontrunners in each field, so I think attendees will hear valuable stories from each industry. Personally, I’d be happy if people listened to speakers from a variety of industries and used the event as a place to find hints for new ideas and ways of thinking.
I also hope that connections among participants will lead to new business ventures getting started.
Who would you recommend it to?
Kataoka
I think it’s an opportunity to learn what motivates local business owners in their work and how they think.
I recommend the forum not only to current business owners, but also to people involved in education and those considering starting a business. In particular, those who want to start a business will hear very useful stories.
I’d also like to encourage students to attend. At past forums, we’ve had a number of university students participate, not just working adults.
More students are trying to start businesses while still at university, and we believe it’s part of our role in the Commerce and Industry Division to support people who think, “I want to do this for the region!”
If you’re a student with even a little interest, please feel free to come along.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
This is an event I’d like all kinds of people to attend.
By participating, I think you’ll gain new perspectives you haven’t had before, such as “There are initiatives this interesting” and “So this is how this person thinks.”
I believe this event can be a catalyst for change, and we look forward to seeing you there.
From the Writer
I’m not very familiar with business, but I felt that the Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum is an event anyone interested in the region can easily attend, even without knowing much about business.
Business in the Takahashi River Basin may sound like a grand topic, but when you consider themes such as healthcare and education, you realize they are also connected to everyday life.
It’s an event I’d recommend not only to people facing challenges with their businesses, but also to those seeking connections across industries and professions.
The event is limited to the first 200 people, so those interested are encouraged to register early. If the Takahashi River Basin interests you, be sure to attend.
Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event Information
| Name | Takahashi River Basin Crossing Forum/Networking Event |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, February 2, 2025 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. *The networking event starts at 6:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-11-11 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Takahashi River Basin CROSSING |
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