Japan Care-Fit Education Organization Receives Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Certification for Contributions to Rural Development

The Japan Care-Fit Education Organization (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Minoru Hatanaka) is pleased to announce that its 'Workation Program for Creating Relational Populations,' conducted in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, has received the 'FY2025 Certification for Contributions to the Promotion of Agriculture, Mountain, and Fishing Villages' from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Background of the Initiative Our organization operates the 'Care-Fit Farm,' a vocational support facility for people with disabilities, in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Through the 'sixth-sector industrialization'—integrating grape cultivation, wine production, and the sale of processed goods—we have created a space where diverse individuals, including those with disabilities, can work and learn together. Meanwhile, Koshu City faces challenges with a declining population and the need for regional revitalization. To address this, we launched a 'Workation Program for Creating Relational Populations' using Care-Fit Farm as a practical training site for our 'Inclusive Communicator' certification. The program, which ran five times between October 2024 and October 2025, focuses on 'DEIB Training' (learning about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging through agricultural experience) and 'ICA Certification Practical Training' (learning practical communication for inclusive team building). Following the training, we foster long-term connections between participants and the local community through our 'IX Lab' community for certification holders. Recognizing that these efforts contribute to creating a 'relational population' that connects urban residents with rural areas and supports sustainable regional development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has awarded us this certification. DEIB Training: JR East Sakuragicho, Yokohama, and Machida Control Centers Joint New Employee Training (August 2025) We conducted DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) training at Care-Fit Farm for new employees from three JR East control centers. In the morning, participants worked alongside farm members with disabilities to perform umbrella-covering tasks for Koshu wine grapes. In the afternoon, they moved to a disaster prevention center for group work on wine label design, reflecting on their morning experiences. The training coordinator noted, 'Members who initially struggled to communicate began to interact naturally through the agricultural experience and label-making. Participants learned the importance of respecting one another and considering things from the other person's perspective.'