[First in Japan] "Oshi-ka" (Fan Support Division) has launched!!

　Kitakyushu City has established a new organization, the "Oshi-ka" (Fan Support Division), ahead of other municipalities nationwide, to transform people's passions into an engine for urban management.

　Anime, sports, food, history. The pure energy of wanting to wholeheartedly support someone or something. Our mission is to "transform this 'Oshi' passion into urban vitality," and together with citizens, fans, and businesses, we will create a new form of urban development unlike anything seen before.

Why We Focus on "Oshi" (Fan Activities)

　"Oshi-katsu (fan activities) is an altruistic endeavor based on autonomous choice."

　It is said that one in four Japanese people now engage in "Oshi-katsu," and its economic scale exceeds 4 trillion yen. However, what we focused on more than these figures is the quality of the warm energy that "Oshi-katsu" possesses: "wishing for someone's success and supporting them."

　By valuing one's "likes," individuals discover their true selves, and fueled by this emotional fulfillment, they purely wish for the happiness and success of others. Our challenge, starting here in Kitakyushu City, is to create a "mechanism" that connects this positive chain not just to individual enjoyment, but to the vibrancy of the city, local businesses, and new industries. This is the challenge of "transforming 'Oshi' passion into urban vitality."

The Exciting Vision of the "Oshi-ka"

　We will update Kitakyushu City to be "the most passion-friendly city in the world."

A Cityscape Filled with Warm "Support"

　The moment you step off the train on an event day, the entire city is dyed in the colors of your "Oshi," and in local restaurants, owners and fans happily share "Oshi stories." We want to provide a respectful stay experience where people can be proud of their "likes," not just a place for tourist consumption.

From a "Manufacturing City" to a "Story-Creating City (Creative Sanctuary)"

　New content that shakes the world will be born one after another from back alleys and studios overlooking the Kanmon Straits. Kitakyushu City, which once supported Japan with "iron," will now move the world with "stories." We will create a future where creators gather from all over the country and new employment is generated.

Roadmap: 3 Steps to Turn Passion into Power

STEP 1: Creating Mechanisms for Interaction and Stay (~1 year)

　We will first deliver a "world-class friendly" experience to fans, such as an "Oshi Digital Map" and official "After Meetings" to support fan gatherings.

STEP 2: Expanding Public-Private Partnerships (~3 years)

　We will build an ecosystem where fans' passion directly energizes the region, such as developing "Oshi products" in collaboration with local businesses and setting up photo spots utilizing vacant houses.

STEP 3: Creating an "Oshi-katsu Economy" (~5 years)

　We will fully launch the attraction of content industries and the nurturing of creators, realizing a "Creative Sanctuary" that attracts global attention.

Future Outlook: Transforming Oshi Passion into Urban Vitality, Leading to a Richer Life Beyond

　The mission of the "Oshi-ka" is not to let people's excitement end as a fleeting boom, but to establish it in the city as a tangible reality. Without being confined by administrative frameworks, we will work hand-in-hand with private companies and fans nationwide to disseminate a new "norm" from Kitakyushu City.

　In a city where people value what they love and respect each other, children should be able to proudly say, "This city, which values what I love, is the most interesting!" Generating vibrancy, stimulating the economy, and protecting employment. The driving force behind all of this lies in each individual's "passion."

　Transforming Oshi passion into urban vitality. Through this challenge, we will enrich the lives of our citizens and create a "passion-friendly Kitakyushu City" that attracts attention from all over the world. Please look forward to future developments.