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 Activities Contributing 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 facility for supporting the employment of 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 have developed 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 diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through agricultural experience) and 'ICA Certification Practical Training' (learning communication for inclusive team building). Following the training, we aim to foster long-term connections between participants and the local community through our 'IX Lab' community for certification holders. Recognizing these efforts as a contribution to creating 'relational populations' that connect urban residents with rural areas and support sustainable regional development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has issued 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 gradually through the agricultural work and label making. Participants naturally learned the importance of respecting one another and considering things from the other person's perspective.'