Visualizing Local Youth Challenges: 200 Gather in Hida for 'Rookie of the Year in LOCAL'

ROIL Co., Ltd. (HQ: Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture; CEO: Mao Uchida) held 'Rookie of the Year in LOCAL,' an event to visualize and evaluate the efforts of young talent working in regional areas, at the Hida City Cultural Exchange Center.

Approximately 200 people attended, with about 80% visiting from outside the Hida region. The initiative is gaining attention from both inside and outside the local community as a method to address the challenge of 'post-recruitment retention' for young talent in regional areas through recognition and dialogue.

## Why this is necessary now
While recruitment support for regional areas is advancing, support for young employees to settle into their workplaces and communities after recruitment is nationally insufficient. Many small and medium-sized enterprises in regional areas lack cohorts of peers, creating environments where young employees easily feel isolated and lack a sense of growth, factors often cited as contributing to turnover and career changes.

## Event Overview
'Rookie of the Year in LOCAL' is not merely an awards ceremony; it is structured so that young professionals articulate their work and initiatives, receiving multi-faceted evaluation from supervisors, management, regional stakeholders, and external participants. Opportunities for supervisors to provide recommendations and for young professionals to present function as venues for 'organizing the meaning of work' and 'gaining recognition beyond corporate boundaries.' In fiscal 2025, the 'Rookie of the Year in LOCAL Regional Competitions' were held in eight regions, bringing together local winners and other entrants. The event featured supporters of the rookies, students from Hida-Takayama, and other stakeholders.

## List of Award Winners
- Grand Prize: Ryoka Wada (Sawamura Co., Ltd., Shiga Prefecture)
- Regional Problem Solving Award: Mai Mitsui (NPO Miyazaki Bunka Hompo, Miyazaki Prefecture)
- Role Model Award: Haruka Ikemoto (LTS Inc., Shizuoka Prefecture)
- Empathy Award: Sho Omata (Nagaoka Chuo Seika Co., Ltd., Niigata Prefecture)
- Punctual (Title Sponsor) Award: Ryoka Wada (Sawamura Co., Ltd., Shiga Prefecture)

## ROIL's Mission
ROIL adheres to the mission of 'Shining a light on local careers,' aiming to realize a society where working in regional areas is a source of pride by creating new role models for young employees challenging themselves in those regions. Through initiatives like 'Rookie of the Year in LOCAL,' they connect young professionals, companies, and local communities, building an ecosystem that supports such endeavors.