[Event Report] "Noto Revitalization Forum Starting from Vacant Houses in Shika Town" Held in Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture – Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, ANA, Experts from Various Fields, and Surrounding Local Governments Gather to Discuss Effective Measures for Wide-Area Revitalization of Noto

On Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Shika Town, Hakui District, Ishikawa Prefecture, an event was organized with the aim of revitalizing the Noto Peninsula and creating sustainable communities.

Asian Bridge Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroyasu Konishi; hereinafter "Asian Bridge"), which provides local recruitment and relocation support, served as the secretariat for the "Noto Revitalization Forum Starting from Vacant Houses in Shika Town" organized by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Kawada; hereinafter "AlbaLink").

On the day, professionals from the forefront of various fields, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), ANA Holdings, architecture, real estate, regional economy, and relationship population creation, gathered.

Furthermore, local government officials not only from Shika Town but also from surrounding municipalities such as Nakanoto Town, Hakui City, and Himi City participated, and concrete measure verification and workshops were implemented under the theme of "What can we do as actual actions?" rather than just dreams and ideals.

Background of the Forum: A Wide-Area Model for Noto Revitalization Starting from Shika Town

In the recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the flexible and bold use of increasing vacant houses is an extremely important issue.

This project started as a revitalization project starting from a 181-year-old traditional house (kominka), triggered by Asian Bridge, which received consultations from vacant house owners in Shika Town, seeking cooperation from AlbaLink, an expert in vacant house revitalization.

Shika Town has a geographical advantage of being accessible within one to one and a half hours to the entire Noto area, including Nanao City, Wajima City, and Suzu City, and has high potential as a "relay point for reconstruction support and wide-area hub" where volunteers and experts can continuously engage.

This forum was held as a kickoff to promptly expand the successful model in Shika Town to surrounding municipalities and lead to the wide-area revitalization of the entire Noto region.

Event Highlights and Program

① [Perspectives from National Government and Private Sector] Input from Leading Government and Private Sector Figures

At the beginning, Mr. Masayoshi Kuroda, Director-General of the Minister's Secretariat of MLIT, spoke about the issues of dual-residence and vacant houses and the efforts of MLIT.

Next, Mr. Yoshiaki Tsuda, Senior Executive Officer of ANA Holdings (Co-Representative of the National Public-Private Partnership Platform for Promoting Dual-Residence etc.), shared advanced insights on the aims of promoting dual-residence and ANA Group's regional creation initiative "ANA BLUE SKYLIFE."

MLIT Director-General Kuroda

ANA Holdings Senior Executive Officer Tsuda

▼ About the "National Public-Private Partnership Platform for Promoting Dual-Residence etc."
https://www.2chiiki.org/

▼ About "BLUE SKYLIFE"
https://2chiiki.ana.co.jp/

② [On-site Inspiration] Site Visit to the 181-Year-Old Kominka Planned for Revitalization by AlbaLink

Participants gathered and visited the 181-year-old kominka in Shika Town, which is the starting point of this project.

Beyond mere renovation of a vacant house, they experienced the actual space and felt the site-based challenges and possibilities of how it should be transformed as a "wide-area hub" to accelerate the recovery of the entire Noto region.

All participants visiting the 181-year-old kominka

③ [Guiding Future Actions] "Future Press Release" Workshop

In the latter session, group work was conducted among participants (Theme: "Revitalization of Noto Considered from Vacant House Utilization").

Adopting a format of creating a hypothetical "Future Press Release (results to be achieved in a few years' time)," players with different specialties—such as construction companies, vacant house revitalization firms, architectural design offices, roadside station revitalization experts, regional trading companies—and local government officials worked together, presenting next actions from their respective professional perspectives.

First, a proposal to make accommodation possible before exploring usage methods, and a proposal to revitalize as a relay point to Noto, creating an environment where more people can be active.

*This image was generated using AI technology and does not represent actual people or places.

At the end, a greeting was given by Governor Yamano of Ishikawa Prefecture.

Excerpt from Governor Yamano's Greeting:

"Today, I had the opportunity to see the traditional 181-year-old 'Kuroda family' house. The main building, built in the Edo period, suffered almost no damage in the recent earthquake, playing the role of what is now called a 'seismic isolation structure.'

Furthermore, the deeply rooted trees on the mountain behind have acted as a natural embankment, preventing landslides and snow damage. On the other hand, the newly added parts were damaged.

This fact teaches us an important lesson for future 'community development': that incorporating the latest things is not everything.

I once asked the 'legend of community development' who revitalized Yufuin, 'What is the most important thing in shaping community development?'

At that time, I received the simple words, 'It is to continue such steady study sessions.' I was deeply impressed. The continuation of citizens' steady activities and places to share awareness of issues itself leads to community development.

Hearing everyone's presentations today, I am once again convinced that having such places and moving into action is the driving force of town revitalization.

It is regrettable that I could not join from the beginning, but I would be grateful if you could reach out to me again.

Thank you very much."

Ishikawa Prefecture Governor Yamano

Mr. Ogawa, representative of Ikoi no Mura Noto Hanto as a local business in Shika Town, spoke about the impact of the disaster and current efforts after the earthquake.

Ikoi no Mura Noto Hanto President Ogawa

▼ About Ikoi no Mura Noto Hanto
https://www.noto-ikoinomura.com/

Next, Mr. Bando, representative of Iein Corporation, spoke about vacant house revitalization efforts in Asahi Town and initiatives of the Housing Design School.

Iein Corporation Representative Bando

▼ About the Housing Design School
https://careetern.com/column/detail/jutaku5report

Future Outlook: Accelerating Revitalization Actions in the Wider Noto Region, Not Limited to Shika Town

This forum aims to not end as a single effort in Shika Town, but to expand to the wider Noto area.

At the venue, many officials from Shika Town, Nakanoto Town, Hakui City, Himi City, and other surrounding municipalities participated, sharing common challenges toward dual-residence and relationship population creation.

Organizational Structure and List of Participants (in no particular order)

[Government Agencies] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hokuriku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ishikawa Prefecture, Shika Town, Nakanoto Town, Hakui City, Himi City

[Shika Town Businesses] Ikoi no Mura Noto Hanto Co., Ltd.

[Aviation] ANA Holdings Inc.

[Logistics] Being Holdings Co., Ltd.

[Business Support] National Enterprise Promotion Center Cooperative Association

[Architecture] Iein Corporation, Rusuka Design Architectural Design Office

[Vacant House Revitalization] General Incorporated Association Kominka Revitalization Association Ishikawa First Branch

[Roadside Station Revitalization] Shikake Co., Ltd.

[Hometown Tax] Bventure Co., Ltd.

[Housing Revitalization Support] Chuo Care Support Co., Ltd.

[Travel