[Kakogawa Junior Chamber] High School Students Consider the Future of the Region: "Simulation 2040 ~Thinking about the Future of the Region with a Card Game~" to be Held
The Kakogawa Junior Chamber will hold "Simulation 2040" on May 16, 2026, an event for high school students to experience policy-making through a card game and deepen their interest in local society. The aim is to encourage proactive social participation, addressing the decline in young people's sense of political efficacy.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 17:00
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The Kakogawa Junior Chamber (Chairman: Wataru Shibamoto, Location: 5th Floor, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building, 800 Mizonoguchi, Kakogawa-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture) will implement "Simulation 2040 ~Thinking about the Future of the Region with a Card Game~", a project aimed at improving civic awareness among high school students who will bear the future of the region.
In recent years, the decline in interest among young people in politics and local society has been identified as an issue, with a noted decrease in the sense of political efficacy, or the feeling that one's actions can influence society. Therefore, this project aims to create an opportunity for high school students to simulate the policy-making process through a card game, proactively engage with society, and foster the feeling that "my will can change the future of the region."
By considering the future of the region in a game format, we aim to make politics and policy feel more accessible, providing an opportunity for students to realize the importance of thinking for themselves, making choices, and taking action.
Furthermore, this project is positioned as an introductory initiative to further deepen interest in local issues, using this experience as a catalyst. "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa," to be held at a later date, will provide an opportunity for high school students to set their own local issues, formulate policies, and present them. Participants of "Simulation 2040" will also be guided to this as their next challenge. On the other hand, "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa" is open to high school students from Kakogawa City, Inami Town, and Harima Town, regardless of their participation in "Simulation 2040."
Through this project, we aim to increase interest in local issues and serve as a first step for young people to view the region and society as their own concern.
●Project Background
Japanese youth tend to experience a decline in political efficacy as they get older, making it difficult for them to feel that "one vote can change society."
This project aims to foster a sense of proactive engagement with the region and society among young people, not merely through the acquisition of knowledge, but through the experience of connecting with society via a card game.
Moreover, to ensure this experience is not a one-off learning event, we will also guide participants to "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa," which will be held later as an opportunity for the next step in policy proposal. However, "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa" is a project broadly open to high school students in the target region, not limited to participants of "Simulation 2040." It is positioned as one of the options for high school students who wish to deepen their learning step-by-step from experience to practice.
■Project Overview
Simulation 2040 ~Thinking about the Future of the Region with a Card Game~
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 14:00-16:10 (Reception 13:40~)
Venue: Kakogawa City General Welfare Hall (177-12 Jike-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Content: Policy-making experience using a card game and mock voting.
■Contact for this matter
Kakogawa Junior Chamber
Next Generation Development Committee Chairman: Saki Yonezawa
TEL: 090-3486-3920
MAIL: master@kakogawa-jc.org
■What is the Junior Chamber (Kinki District Council)?
We, the Junior Chamber (abbreviation "JC"), were founded in 1949 (Showa 24) by young people who shared the aspiration that "the reconstruction of a new Japan is the work of youth," amidst the deep scars of war remaining in both cities and people's hearts.
Since then, the Junior Chamber has upheld the philosophy of "realizing a bright and prosperous society" and has engaged in various activities and movements. It is composed of members who freely joined regardless of race, nationality, gender, occupation, or religion. The Junior Chamber in Japan bases its activities on "individual training," "service to society," and "friendship with the world," promoting mutual enlightenment and exchange among members, fostering public spirit, and contributing to social development through collaboration with local communities, actively addressing social issues. The fields of activity experienced through various practical trainings in the Junior Chamber are wide-ranging, and graduates, including those who have turned 40 and graduated, are not only active as local leaders but also produce many talents for the political and business worlds.
The Kinki District Council of the Junior Chamber Japan is an organization that operates in the 2 prefectures and 4 prefectures within the Kinki region, functioning as a liaison and coordination body to ensure the smooth operation of local Junior Chambers, while also developing various movements within the Kinki region.
◆Kinki District Council Official Instagram Account
https://www.instagram.com/kinkidc.jci/?hl=ja
In recent years, the decline in interest among young people in politics and local society has been identified as an issue, with a noted decrease in the sense of political efficacy, or the feeling that one's actions can influence society. Therefore, this project aims to create an opportunity for high school students to simulate the policy-making process through a card game, proactively engage with society, and foster the feeling that "my will can change the future of the region."
By considering the future of the region in a game format, we aim to make politics and policy feel more accessible, providing an opportunity for students to realize the importance of thinking for themselves, making choices, and taking action.
Furthermore, this project is positioned as an introductory initiative to further deepen interest in local issues, using this experience as a catalyst. "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa," to be held at a later date, will provide an opportunity for high school students to set their own local issues, formulate policies, and present them. Participants of "Simulation 2040" will also be guided to this as their next challenge. On the other hand, "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa" is open to high school students from Kakogawa City, Inami Town, and Harima Town, regardless of their participation in "Simulation 2040."
Through this project, we aim to increase interest in local issues and serve as a first step for young people to view the region and society as their own concern.
●Project Background
Japanese youth tend to experience a decline in political efficacy as they get older, making it difficult for them to feel that "one vote can change society."
This project aims to foster a sense of proactive engagement with the region and society among young people, not merely through the acquisition of knowledge, but through the experience of connecting with society via a card game.
Moreover, to ensure this experience is not a one-off learning event, we will also guide participants to "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa," which will be held later as an opportunity for the next step in policy proposal. However, "Policy Koshien in Kakogawa" is a project broadly open to high school students in the target region, not limited to participants of "Simulation 2040." It is positioned as one of the options for high school students who wish to deepen their learning step-by-step from experience to practice.
■Project Overview
Simulation 2040 ~Thinking about the Future of the Region with a Card Game~
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 14:00-16:10 (Reception 13:40~)
Venue: Kakogawa City General Welfare Hall (177-12 Jike-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Content: Policy-making experience using a card game and mock voting.
■Contact for this matter
Kakogawa Junior Chamber
Next Generation Development Committee Chairman: Saki Yonezawa
TEL: 090-3486-3920
MAIL: master@kakogawa-jc.org
■What is the Junior Chamber (Kinki District Council)?
We, the Junior Chamber (abbreviation "JC"), were founded in 1949 (Showa 24) by young people who shared the aspiration that "the reconstruction of a new Japan is the work of youth," amidst the deep scars of war remaining in both cities and people's hearts.
Since then, the Junior Chamber has upheld the philosophy of "realizing a bright and prosperous society" and has engaged in various activities and movements. It is composed of members who freely joined regardless of race, nationality, gender, occupation, or religion. The Junior Chamber in Japan bases its activities on "individual training," "service to society," and "friendship with the world," promoting mutual enlightenment and exchange among members, fostering public spirit, and contributing to social development through collaboration with local communities, actively addressing social issues. The fields of activity experienced through various practical trainings in the Junior Chamber are wide-ranging, and graduates, including those who have turned 40 and graduated, are not only active as local leaders but also produce many talents for the political and business worlds.
The Kinki District Council of the Junior Chamber Japan is an organization that operates in the 2 prefectures and 4 prefectures within the Kinki region, functioning as a liaison and coordination body to ensure the smooth operation of local Junior Chambers, while also developing various movements within the Kinki region.
◆Kinki District Council Official Instagram Account
https://www.instagram.com/kinkidc.jci/?hl=ja