Participating in the 'Noto Region High School Entrepreneurship Education Business Plan Presentation'

Astena Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Satoshi Setoguchi) participated in the 'Noto Region High School Entrepreneurship Education Business Plan Presentation,' held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Rapia Kashima (Nakanoto-cho, Kashima-gun, Ishikawa Prefecture), as part of the 'Entrepreneurship Education Promotion Project in Collaboration with Companies' promoted by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Since fiscal year 2021, our company has been engaged in entrepreneurship education for high school students in the Noto region. This project aims to support students in fostering problem-solving skills and civic pride by challenging them to create business plans that address local issues, ultimately empowering them to proactively choose to create their own workplaces and continue living in the Noto region in the future. At this presentation, students from seven high schools in the Noto region presented their business plans aimed at solving local issues.

■ Overview of FY2025 Initiatives

Continuing from the previous year, seven high schools in the Noto region (Iida, Noto, Anamizu, Wajima, Monzen, Shika, and Rokusei High Schools) participated in FY2025, with representative teams selected from each school working on their business plans.

While the program was previously held as a one-week intensive in-person session, the format for FY2025 was shifted to a year-round program centered on online activities. Despite the communication challenges inherent in an online format, the extended duration allowed for multiple fieldworks, resulting in more persuasive business plans from some of the schools.

At the presentation, the representative teams from each school showcased the results of their six months of activity. The audience showed great interest in the various business ideas, which were refined through deep exploration of local issues and the unique, free-thinking perspectives of the high school students.

■ Event Highlights

《Judges》 (Titles omitted, in Japanese alphabetical order)

Keitaro Iwaki (Director, Astena Holdings Co., Ltd.)

Toru Kawaba (General Manager, Investment Division, QR Investment Co., Ltd.)

Mikiko Nagai (Representative Director, Hokuriku Mirai Fund)

Akihiro Nomura (Professor, Faculty of Frontier Engineering / Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital)

Tadateru Mitani (President and Representative Director, Mitani Sangyo Co., Ltd.)

《Award Results》