Participated in the "Noto Region High School Entrepreneurship Education Business Plan Presentation"
Astena Holdings Co., Ltd. participated in the Noto Region High School Entrepreneurship Education Business Plan Presentation, an initiative supported by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education. The program aims to foster problem-solving skills and civic pride among local high school students by encouraging them to develop business plans that address regional challenges.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 22:32
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (23 min after Published)
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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 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 developing problem-solving skills and civic pride by challenging them to create business plans that address regional issues. Ultimately, it seeks to empower them to create their own future workplaces and proactively choose to continue living in the Noto region. At this presentation, high school students from seven schools in the Noto region presented their business plans for solving local issues.
■ Overview of Fiscal Year 2025 Initiatives
Continuing from the previous year, seven schools in the Noto region (Iida High School, Noto High School, Anamizu High School, Wajima High School, Monzen High School, Shika High School, and Rokusei High School) participated in fiscal year 2025, with representative teams selected from each school working on the creation of business plans.
While the program had been conducted as a one-week intensive in-person session until last year, the format was changed in fiscal year 2025 to a year-round program centered on online activities. Despite the communication challenges inherent in an online format, the long-term nature of the program allowed for multiple fieldworks, which resulted in some students producing more persuasive business plans.
At the presentation, the representative teams from each school showcased the results of their six months of activities. The audience showed great interest in the numerous business ideas, which were refined through the unique perspectives and free-thinking approach of high school students as they delved deeply into regional issues.
■ Event Highlights
《Judges》 (Titles omitted, in alphabetical order)
Keitaro Iwaki (Director, Astena Holdings Co., Ltd.)
Susumu Kawaba (General Manager, Investment Division, QR Investment Co., Ltd.)
Mikiko Nagai (Representative Director, Hokuriku Mirai Fund)
Akio 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》
[Table]
Award | Presentation Theme | School Name (Team Name)
Grand Prize | Solving food loss issues by turning wasted ingredients into curry | Shika High School (Sun Place)
Excellence Award | Creating a space where students can easily drop by and spend their own time | Iida High School (Yorimichi Cafe)
Excellence Award | Health through sports | Wajima High School (Orgene Sports)
Judges' Special Award | Creating a karaoke cafe in Anamizu Town | Anamizu High School (Noto Next)
Judges' Special Award | Restoration and revitalization of the Monzen-machi Sojiji-dori shopping street through "Emo-Kara" and "Gora-Dora" | Monzen High School (Emo-Kara/Gora-Dora Team)
Fighting Spirit Award | "Totonou" (Organizing/Refining) the future of Noto | Noto High School (Notonou)
Fighting Spirit Award | Creating a tour plan to help people learn more about Noto | Rokusei High School (K! MASSH!)
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 developing problem-solving skills and civic pride by challenging them to create business plans that address regional issues. Ultimately, it seeks to empower them to create their own future workplaces and proactively choose to continue living in the Noto region. At this presentation, high school students from seven schools in the Noto region presented their business plans for solving local issues.
■ Overview of Fiscal Year 2025 Initiatives
Continuing from the previous year, seven schools in the Noto region (Iida High School, Noto High School, Anamizu High School, Wajima High School, Monzen High School, Shika High School, and Rokusei High School) participated in fiscal year 2025, with representative teams selected from each school working on the creation of business plans.
While the program had been conducted as a one-week intensive in-person session until last year, the format was changed in fiscal year 2025 to a year-round program centered on online activities. Despite the communication challenges inherent in an online format, the long-term nature of the program allowed for multiple fieldworks, which resulted in some students producing more persuasive business plans.
At the presentation, the representative teams from each school showcased the results of their six months of activities. The audience showed great interest in the numerous business ideas, which were refined through the unique perspectives and free-thinking approach of high school students as they delved deeply into regional issues.
■ Event Highlights
《Judges》 (Titles omitted, in alphabetical order)
Keitaro Iwaki (Director, Astena Holdings Co., Ltd.)
Susumu Kawaba (General Manager, Investment Division, QR Investment Co., Ltd.)
Mikiko Nagai (Representative Director, Hokuriku Mirai Fund)
Akio 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》
[Table]
Award | Presentation Theme | School Name (Team Name)
Grand Prize | Solving food loss issues by turning wasted ingredients into curry | Shika High School (Sun Place)
Excellence Award | Creating a space where students can easily drop by and spend their own time | Iida High School (Yorimichi Cafe)
Excellence Award | Health through sports | Wajima High School (Orgene Sports)
Judges' Special Award | Creating a karaoke cafe in Anamizu Town | Anamizu High School (Noto Next)
Judges' Special Award | Restoration and revitalization of the Monzen-machi Sojiji-dori shopping street through "Emo-Kara" and "Gora-Dora" | Monzen High School (Emo-Kara/Gora-Dora Team)
Fighting Spirit Award | "Totonou" (Organizing/Refining) the future of Noto | Noto High School (Notonou)
Fighting Spirit Award | Creating a tour plan to help people learn more about Noto | Rokusei High School (K! MASSH!)