The world seen on the ground paved the way for the next step. - JICA Volunteers alumni talk about challenges, careers, and entrepreneurship -

➢ [Flyer] Talk event where JICA Volunteers alumni discuss challenges, careers, and entrepreneurship.

Are you interested in overseas experiences or starting a business, but unsure if you can do it?

This talk event is for those who are looking for their first step.

Two speakers who started businesses after their experiences as JICA Volunteers will share their real-life stories, discussing how they leveraged their overseas experiences for their careers and how they turned their aspirations into activities and businesses.

We encourage you to join us to find inspiration for your next step, whether it's about going abroad, starting a business, or pursuing a career path, changing jobs, lifelong learning, or community activities.

Date and Time

July 29, 2026 (Wed) 18:30 - 20:00

*Reception opens at 18:15

*Late arrivals are welcome

Location

Sakai New Business Creation Center (S-Cube) Multipurpose Conference Room

(130-42 Nagasone-cho, Kita-ku, Sakai City)

Participation Fee

Free

Capacity

30 people

*Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so please apply early.

Target Audience (Recommended for those who...)

Are interested in international cooperation or overseas experiences

Are interested in starting a business or entrepreneurship

Want to broaden their horizons or change their environment

Want to consider future options such as career paths, job changes, or lifelong learning

Are interested in other related topics

*No specialized knowledge or prior preparation is required.

Feel free to join, whether you are a working professional or a student.

What are JICA Volunteers?

JICA Volunteers are individuals dispatched by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to developing countries to contribute to nation-building.

They live alongside local people and work to solve development challenges from the same perspective.

With over 170 types of jobs, volunteers can utilize their skills and experience in areas such as work, sports, and studies.

The standard dispatch period is two years, and upon return, volunteers are expected to leverage their experiences in their careers and achieve success in their respective fields.

➢ JICA Volunteers Website

Speakers

Kana Aikawa

Kana Aikawa (Representative Director, N yura konko Co., Ltd.)

Studied international relations at universities in Japan and the United States, developing a deep interest in issues facing countries left behind in economic development and those experiencing conflict.

After graduating from university, she was dispatched to the Republic of Ghana for two years as a JICA Volunteer.

She was involved in the activities of women making shea butter and education in elementary schools in northern Ghana, where she encountered issues of employment and education in rural villages.

In November 2018, she established N yura konko Co., Ltd.

She also gives dozens of lectures annually at schools in the Kansai region to share her volunteer experiences in Ghana.

Masaaki Hanai (Co-Representative, CHEZA LLC)

After completing graduate school, he worked as an urban planning consultant. He then served as a JICA Volunteer for two years in Zambia, engaging in urban planning and technical guidance. After returning to Japan, he worked as a development consultant. As a consultant for JICA and the World Bank, he was primarily involved in urban planning and infrastructure development projects in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. He was also involved in establishing a local company in Kenya, among other activities. Returning to Japan in 2020, he founded the limited liability company CHEZA.

He is advancing projects themed around sports and education in Kansai and Africa, including the children's English x sports school "GLORTS ACADEMY" based in Kobe City and the "Rwanda Athletics Support Project."

Masaaki Hanai

Program

Opening

Introduction to JICA Volunteers

An overview of the program will be presented.

Talk Session

The two speakers, who started businesses inspired by their JICA Volunteer experiences, will discuss their careers, overseas experiences, and their journeys to entrepreneurship.

Casual Talk

This is a time to think about your next steps through Q&A with the speakers and interaction.

Closing

Application

Please apply through the application form below.

[Application Deadline] July 24, 2026 (Fri)

➢ Application Form

Organizers

JICA Kansai (JICA Center, Japan International Cooperation Agency), City of Sakai

Cooperation

Sakai New Business Creation Center (S-Cube)

Contact Information

Sakai City Industrial Promotion Bureau, Industrial Strategy Department, Regional Industry Creation Division

Phone: 072-228-7455

Email: chisan@city.sakai.lg.jp