[Total Prize ¥830,000 + 'Chiiki Okoshi Kyoryokutai' Spots] Yame City, Fukuoka Launches 'Yame Local Venture School Business Contest' Applications Starting June 10th (Wed)!

Yame City (Organizer) and Yame-Ryu Co., Ltd. (Planning & Operation) have launched the 'Yame Local Venture School' to create and nurture new businesses that leverage the rich regional resources and traditional culture of Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. This project, consisting of a business contest and a lecture series, is calling for enthusiastic entrepreneurs and business plans from all over Japan between June 10th (Wed) and August 23rd (Sun), 2026.

This business contest is more than just an idea competition; it is a practical, school-integrated contest that supports early-stage commercialization through 12 lectures by leading experts and local practitioners, four months of mentoring, and support for 'Chiiki Okoshi Kyoryokutai' (Community-Reactivating Cooperator) slots (up to 3 people) and grant applications for projects such as the 'Local 10000 Project'.

[Background and Concept]
Yame City, located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, is a land blessed with wonderful local culture and resources, including Yame tea—known nationwide—traditional townhouses, lush forests, and diverse traditional crafts such as Yame lanterns, Yame Fukushima altars, and stone lanterns, as well as local cuisine.
However, there is a reality where this charm is not sufficiently functioning or being communicated within society and the economy. The purpose of this contest and school is to edit and circulate these resources not as volunteerism, but as sustainable businesses to address challenges like regional revitalization and population decline, and to increase the number of practitioners who realize both personal fulfillment and the solution to regional challenges.

[Application Requirements]
1. Prize Money and Early Commercialization Support
High-performing plans will receive backing from both financial and environmental perspectives.
- Grand Prix (1 winner): ¥500,000 prize + 4 mentoring sessions + Early commercialization support
- Semi-Grand Prix (1 winner): ¥150,000 prize + 4 mentoring sessions + Early commercialization support
- Selected Entries (6 winners): ¥30,000 prize + 4 mentoring sessions + Early commercialization support

[Early Commercialization Support Details]
- 'Chiiki Okoshi Kyoryokutai' (Community-Reactivating Cooperator) appointment slots (up to 3)
- Grant application support for projects such as the 'Local 10000 Project'
- Rental discounts for the former Kawasaki Elementary School share office
- Relationship building with key local figures

2. Application Period and Schedule
- Application Period: June 10, 2026 (Wed) – August 23, 2026 (Sun)
- First screening (document) results: September 2026
- Second screening (online presentation): September 2026
- Kickoff: October 2026 (followed by 4 months of monthly mentoring)
- Interim presentation: December 2026
- Final judging and award ceremony: February 2027

[Briefings and Tours]
- Online briefing: June 29 (Mon)
- Tokyo briefing: July 5 (Sun) at the Furusato Kaiki Shien Center (Yurakucho)
- Local Asset Exploration Tour: July 31 (Fri) and August 1 (Sat) in Yame

3. Participation Conditions
- Individuals outside Yame City with the intent to start a business in Yame, individuals based in Yame, or companies intending to expand businesses into Yame.
- Willingness to participate in person in the kickoff, interim presentation, and final judging.