Local Business Creation Project "100DIVE" to Hold 13th Term in Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture and Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture from September 2026. Applications Open for Participants Tackling Regional Issues.

100DIVE Inc. will hold the 13th term of its "100DIVE" local business creation project, focused on solving regional issues, from September 26, 2026, to February 20, 2027, in Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture, and Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Applications will open on June 30, 2026, for participants (capacity: 15 people) who will work together to envision the future of these two regions facing challenges such as population decline, and to revitalize shopping streets and create new businesses utilizing regional resources.

The previous 12th term (held in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture) was fully booked due to popular demand!

More and more like-minded individuals are joining us to energize local communities.

Let's dive into local communities with 100DIVE!

About 100DIVE

"100DIVE" is a cross-border, hands-on startup project designed to confront real regional challenges and pave the way for solutions through new businesses.

Amidst a widespread shortage of human resources for creating and nurturing businesses in various regions,

1 Discover and develop individuals with passion and vision, both within and outside the region,

2 Have these individuals form teams, create plans, and raise funds,

3 Launch and operate businesses rooted in the region.

This project began as a means to realize a "people-centric" local business creation process and is implemented in intensive, three-month programs in collaboration with local communities.

Since 2021, it has been held in 12 terms across 26 regions, with 397 participants. Over 40 teams continue to operate, and 9 businesses have been incorporated.

An example of incorporation is "KASEGI Inc.," born from the 3rd term in Shinonsen Town, Hyogo Prefecture (the Shinonsen Town project began in July 2022). Centered around members of the "Community Revitalization Cooperation" program, they opened a processing facility in April 2025 to specialize in venison from deer, aiming to promote regional revitalization and the consumption of delicious deer meat, while receiving grants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Local 10000" initiative and Hyogo Prefecture.

13th Term Project to be Held in Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture, and Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

The stage for the 13th term of 100DIVE will be "Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture, and Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture."

【Locations】

▼Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture

© Niihama Town Tourism Association

Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture, is an intermediate mountainous region surrounded by the "Niyodo Blue" clear stream, boasting one of Japan's highest levels of transparency, and lush mountains.

The region retains many charms, including agriculture and traditional culture cultivated over long periods, historic old houses, and festivals and kagura dances passed down through generations. Above all, there are warm-hearted people who continue to challenge themselves with the future of this town in mind.

On the other hand, the population has halved in the past 20 years, leading to advancing depopulation. The region faces numerous challenges, including a decline in the vitality of shopping streets and a lack of inter-regional cooperation.

▼Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a vibrant city where many tourists flock to its long-loved hot springs, and its tourism resources support the regional economy.

In recent years, new shops and projects by new residents and young entrepreneurs have been emerging one after another, leading to the revitalization of the city, particularly among younger generations.

However, considering a sustainable future 100 years from now, the high dependence on the tourism industry presents a challenge.

【Themes】

Both Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture, and Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, face unique regional challenges.

This time, we have set specific regional issues as themes, and participants will be asked to conceive new businesses that utilize the respective regional resources and attractions to solve these challenges.

▼Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture

~Connecting the charm of Niihama Town's mountains, rivers, agriculture, culture, and people's aspirations to the next 100 years~

Create businesses with added value of over 10 million yen to bring hope to the shopping streets of this depopulated town.

▼Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture

~The more bustling it gets, the harder it is to see the region's problems. That's why it's worth tackling them~

Create businesses with added value of over 10 million yen in new business formats that Atami currently lacks.

【Application Overview】

Implementation Regions

Niihama Town, Kochi Prefecture / Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Implementation Period

September 19, 2026 (Sat) - December 19, 2026 (Sat) (5 sessions + α)

Number of Participants

Niihama Town: Approximately 15 people maximum

Atami City: Approximately 15 people maximum

*Applications will close once capacity is reached.

Application Period

Until September 5, 2026 (Sat) 23:59

Participation Fee

Super Early Bird: ¥39,000 (tax included) *Application Deadline: July 19, 2026 (Sun) 23:59

Early Bird: ¥44,500 (tax included) *Application Deadline: August 18, 2026 (Tue) 23:59

Standard Price: ¥50,000 (tax included) *Application Deadline: September 5, 2026 (Sat) 23:59

Recruitment Page

Recruitment page here

【Online Information Session】

Online information sessions will be held via Peatix.

Please feel free to join if you would like to hear more or have any questions.

Schedule:

1 July 9, 2026 (Thu) 19:00-20:30

Details and application URL: https://100dive-0709.peatix.com

2 July 18, 2026 (Sat) 19:00-20:30

Details and application URL: https://100dive-0718.peatix.com

*Both dates will cover the same content.

*Participation is free. Archive available.

Project Flow

Starting with a three-month startup program, we will promote the project with the aim of launching and operating businesses that solve challenges. We at 100DIVE, along with participants and participating municipalities, will work together to create these solutions.

〇Teams that Foster Innovation Instead of facing challenges individually, people with diverse backgrounds gather, form teams, and engage in discussions to address the core of the issues. Furthermore, both internal and external members of the community participate in the teams.

〇Practice, Not Just Proposals Proposals generated during the three-month startup program will be pursued for commercialization with the support of Satoyume Inc. We will relentlessly pursue business development beyond mere proposals.

〇DIVE into Your Potential Through dialogue with the team and engagement with the community, participants rediscover their strengths, explore challenges in entrepreneurship or side businesses, and seek new lifestyles, thereby exploring new possibilities for themselves.

◼︎"100DIVE's Past"

Since 2021, 100DIVE has been implemented in 26 regions across 12 terms, with 397 participants. 40 teams continue their activities, and 9 businesses have been incorporated. The image below summarizes "100DIVE's Past," including the details of initiatives by region and team, and the progress of business commercialization.

Corporate Information

Company Name: 100DIVE Inc.

Established: October 1, 2021

Representative Director: Yasuhiko Shoji

Head Office Location: Minami-Otsuka T&T Building 6F, 3-36-7 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

HP: https://100dive.co.jp/

Business Activities:

- Planning and operation of co-creation regional issue-solving projects by related populations (people who engage with regions in diverse ways)

- Provision of management resources to local governments, non-profit organizations, human resource development organizations, etc.

- Investment in and support for local governments, non-profit organizations, human resource development organizations, etc.

- Planning, design, management, operation, and consulting related to regional issue-solving

- Planning, design, management, operation, and consulting related to human resource development

- Provision of opportunities and operation of facilities related to workation (working while staying in a region)

- Businesses aimed at the sound development of local communities

Inquiries from Companies, Municipalities, and Media

Contact: 100DIVE Secretariat

Email: info@100dive.co.jp