[First Municipal Partnership in Mie Prefecture!] Shima City Signs Partnership Agreement with Human Resource Matching Service "Otetsutabi"

Shima City, Mie Prefecture (Mayor: Masayoshi Hashizume) has signed a partnership agreement with Otetsutabi Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Rina Nagaoka), which operates a human resource matching service that combines "helping out" and "travel." The agreement aims to resolve labor shortages within the city, create and expand a "related population" (people with connections to the area), and promote future relocation and settlement to achieve sustainable development of the local economy. This partnership between a municipality and "Otetsutabi" is the first of its kind in Mie Prefecture.

The signing ceremony for this agreement was held at Shima City Hall on June 29, 2026 (Mon.), followed by an "Otetsutabi Utilization Seminar" for local businesses in the afternoon.

<Scenes from the Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony>

Rina Nagaoka (left), CEO of Otetsutabi Inc., and Masayoshi Hashizume (right), Mayor of Shima City, holding the agreement.

1. Background and Objectives of the Partnership Agreement: Creating "Fans of the Region" Beyond Temporary Recruitment

Shima City is blessed with wonderful tourist resources and seafood. However, labor shortages and a lack of future successors are significant regional challenges, not only in accommodations and primary industries but in all sectors supporting the community. These issues are difficult to resolve with temporary job postings alone, making the presence of a "related population" that continuously engages with the region from outside indispensable. This agreement will leverage Otetsutabi's network, which has over 97,000 registered users nationwide, to attract motivated workers from across the country by using "travel" as a hook, thereby alleviating the region's labor shortage.

Furthermore, we aim to build a self-sustaining virtuous cycle model where participants who become fans of Shima City (related population) through their stay will lead to continued visits and future relocation and settlement.

Comment from Masayoshi Hashizume, Mayor of Shima City

"I am extremely pleased and encouraged to have signed this municipal partnership agreement with 'Otetsutabi,' which is the first of its kind in Mie Prefecture.

This partnership is not merely intended to fill temporary staffing gaps. It is an innovative initiative to have people who visit from all over the country, prompted by 'travel,' actually enter the field and work alongside local residents. Through this, they can experience firsthand the true appeal of working and living in Shima, rather than just being external visitors. Through this initiative, we want to increase the number of 'regional fans and companions (related population)' across the country who love Shima City as if it were their second home.

We aim to build a self-sustaining virtuous cycle model where these connections lead to continued visits and future relocation and settlement, ensuring that Shima City's precious industries are passed on to the future for the next 10 to 20 years."

Comment from Rina Nagaoka, CEO of Otetsutabi Inc.

"I am very happy and encouraged to be able to start this first municipal partnership in Mie Prefecture, my home prefecture, with Shima City, which is filled with rich food, beautiful nature, and wonderful tourist resources including Ise-Shima National Park.

We view the 'labor shortage' challenge faced by regions not as a pessimistic crisis, but as an 'excellent opportunity' for travelers nationwide to meet and deeply engage with local communities. Through Otetsutabi, participants will enter Shima City with the role of 'helping out,' working alongside local residents, and engaging deeply with them. Through these rich experiences, which cannot be obtained through tourism alone, we want to create many fans nationwide who feel Shima City is a 'special region they can wholeheartedly love.'

We will work with all our might alongside the people of our beloved hometown to create a 'new model case' where people inside and outside the region cooperate, even in a declining population society, ensuring that Shima City's wonderful industries and culture are richly passed down to the next generation."

2. "Otetsutabi Utilization Seminar" Held for Businesses in Shima City

In the afternoon of the same day as the agreement signing ceremony, an information session was held for businesses in the city (such as accommodations and primary industries) and organizations involved in tourism and regional development who are struggling with labor shortages. The seminar introduced the mechanism of Otetsutabi and real-life case studies of its use in the accommodation, agriculture, forestry, and fishery industries nationwide. Hyakugo Bank also presented on the day, sharing the benefits of introducing Otetsutabi from a financial institution's perspective, such as "reduction in recruitment costs and labor" and "flexible response to busy periods," as well as the real challenges faced by local companies, attracting significant interest from many participants. [Reference]: Information on the briefing session on the city's website

Scenes from the briefing session

[Reference] About the services provided by Otetsutabi Inc.

This is a service that matches businesses in various industries, such as hotels, inns, and farms, who are struggling with labor shortages during peak seasons, with travelers (over 97,000 nationwide) who are interested in the region and wish to visit.

[Contact Information]

Shima City Tourism and Economy Department, Economic Division, Attn: Higashi, Harijo

TEL: 0599-44-0010 FAX: 0599-44-5262

e-mail: keizai@city.shima.lg.jp