Chiba University Holds First 'Future Prime Minister Workshop' in Nepal

First 'Future Workshop' Held Overseas

The Opossum Research Group at Chiba University (led by Professor Hidefumi Kurasaka of the Graduate School of Social Sciences) held a 'Future Prime Minister Workshop' at the Geetanjali School in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sunday, March 8, 2026, as part of a research and development project on sustainable urban development. This workshop is an initiative that the research group has been conducting in municipalities and schools across Japan, and this marks its first implementation overseas.

Participatory Program Using 'Future Charts'

This workshop is a participatory program based on the 'Future Chart' developed by the research group. Participants are tasked with acting as the Prime Minister in the year 2050. From this perspective, they consider the future state and challenges of their country—such as changes in industrial structure due to declining birthrates and aging populations—and provide policy recommendations to the current Prime Minister from the viewpoint of future generations.

The program has frequently been used in policy deliberation processes, such as the formulation of municipal comprehensive plans, and as part of integrated studies in schools. Since 2015, it has been held in various locations across Japan, including Ichihara, Yachiyo, Tateyama, Shiroi, and Otaki (Chiba Prefecture); Nishinoomote and Nakatane (Kagoshima Prefecture); and Sado (Niigata Prefecture).

Educational Materials Developed Based on Nepalese Statistical Data

For this 'Future Prime Minister Workshop' in Nepal, the research group created educational materials that present national statistical data in an easy-to-understand format. In creating these materials, Dr. Kamal Poudel (Under Secretary, Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Government of Nepal) provided various statistics, including data on population, industry, education, healthcare, energy, food, disasters, and global warming.