[Supported by Asahikawa City] A New Approach to Local Career Challenges | The Third Option of 'Fukugyo' (Multiple Jobs)

The challenge of careers in rural areas has traditionally been discussed as a "lack of options," but with the spread of online environments and the trend towards allowing side jobs, this premise is undergoing a significant change.

On the other hand, it is also a reality that many people are unable to fully utilize the expanded options because they "don't know how to leverage their experience and skills." A recent survey conducted in 2025 (*1) revealed that over 60% of rural residents feel "limited in career advancement within their region," indicating that career stagnation due to place of residence is a serious issue.

Against this backdrop, Color WiTh Inc., with the support of Asahikawa City, will implement a practical program on April 16, 2026, in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, to expand career possibilities through the third option of "fukugyo" (multiple jobs). This initiative is part of an effort to reframe career support in rural areas not as an "individual problem" but as a "regional issue."

*1 Source: Gakuhou Co., Ltd. "Survey on 'Place of Residence and Work Style' for People in their 20s (March 2025)"

*2 What is Fukugyo: Refers to a career style where one works by leveraging their experience and skills while holding multiple jobs or activities. It is gaining attention as a way of working that involves multiple roles centered on one's expertise and interests, rather than merely a side job for income.

Background | Expanding Options in Rural Areas and the "Wall of Inability to Utilize Them"

The challenge of careers in rural areas has long been a structural problem stemming from a lack of options. However, in recent years, these preconditions have changed significantly. With the spread of online environments, it has become possible to participate in projects in the Tokyo metropolitan area or overseas while living in a rural area, greatly alleviating geographical constraints. Furthermore, with the trend towards allowing side jobs, gaining experience externally while belonging to an organization is also becoming common.

On the other hand, despite the expanded options, many people stop short of taking on challenges because they don't know how to leverage their experience and skills externally. In many cases, individuals possess abilities that are applicable beyond their current job but cannot find opportunities to demonstrate them. As a result, individual capabilities are not being returned to the local economy and are currently being buried.

In this situation, "fukugyo" is attracting attention as a means to leverage experience and skills without being tied to a specific region, thereby expanding income and career possibilities.

Program Content | Visualizing Strengths with "Life History Work"

This initiative is designed with the theme of "work style linked to life planning," rather than merely a side job for income generation.

On the day, opportunities will be provided to think from "how to work" rather than "what to do," through:

・"Life History Work" to inventory one's own experiences and strengths ・Sharing examples of fukugyo in rural areas ・Community building through interaction among participants

Life History Work

By looking back at one's life and career, overlooked experiences and skills are organized, and one's strengths and potential are visualized. This goes beyond merely creating a chronological table, inventorying past successes and setbacks, and turning points in private life, and extracting value even from experiences that seem unrelated to business. The aim is to discover possibilities that lead to work.

This curriculum is designed not just as a one-off workshop but to lead to subsequent fukugyo practice. Utilizing Color WiTh's unique "Fukugyo Identification Sheet," participants organize their experiences, skills, and values to concretize the value they can offer and the direction of their fukugyo.

Due to time constraints, this program will only cover "Life History Work," but those who wish will have the opportunity to work on "Fukugyo Identification" and "Self-Introduction Portfolio Creation" at a later date. The goal is to develop these into practical outputs that lead to actual project acquisition and participation.

Fukugyo Identification Sheet

Utilizing Color WiTh's unique "Fukugyo Identification Sheet," based on the experiences and values organized in the life history, portable skills and job skills are combined to visualize strengths. By organizing career history, skills, and values, participants concretize the value they can offer and the direction of their fukugyo.

Color WiTh's unique "Fukugyo Identification Sheet"

Self-Introduction Portfolio

Based on the content organized in the identification sheet, a self-introduction portfolio is created that conveys one's strengths and expertise in an "understandable form" and delivers value to third parties. Areas of contribution and value that can be provided based on experience are articulated and organized into practical outputs that can be used for acquiring fukugyo projects and participating in projects.

Image of portfolio

Speakers

Koudai Wakashiki, Representative Director, Color WiTh Inc.

Koudai Wakashiki, Representative Director, Color WiTh Inc.

After gaining experience in sales and launching new business departments at Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. and Pasona Inc., he founded Color WiTh in 2022. He develops the "Fukugyo Shokunin" (Fukugyo Craftsman) business, which supports teams with highly skilled contract workers, and the "Fukugyo Academy" business, which leverages experience and know-how from over 100 contract companies.

<Comment> In rural areas, it is often difficult to see options other than straightforward転職 (job change) or 独立 (independence), and many people work while limiting their own potential. However, there should inherently be ways to engage with society by leveraging one's experience and strengths, not limited to a single company or title. This program aims to help individuals move from a state of "not knowing what they can do" to re-evaluating their experiences and strengths as "value." Through "fukugyo support," we will contribute to creating an environment where career options can be expanded even while remaining in the region.

Yuki Otawara, Representative Director, Iroenpitsu Inc.

Yuki Otawara, Representative Director, Iroenpitsu Inc.

Born in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido. Advanced to Toyo University's Faculty of International Regional Studies with the aspiration of regional revitalization. After approximately 10 years of corporate sales and public relations career in Tokyo, she established Iroenpitsu Inc. in March 2025. She works closely with her hometown, Asahikawa City, and is dedicated to supporting women's careers and corporate attraction projects. From 2026, she will also be involved in events to encourage young people to settle in the region.

Key Interview Points

・The initiative, supported by Asahikawa City, treats local career challenges as a "regional issue."

・It presents "fukugyo" as a third option, not just a choice between changing jobs or continuing the current one.

・It is a practical program that transforms experience into value for people facing work constraints due to childcare, nursing care, or regional characteristics.

▼Contact Information

Color WiTh Inc. Public Relations

・Phone: 070-1186-4342

・Email: info@color-with.co.jp

Event Overview

Event Name Designing Work Styles: Fukugyo in Asahikawa

Date and Time Thursday, April 16, 2026, 18:30-21:30

<Day's Schedule> 18:15~: Reception opens

18:30~: Opening & Talk Session by Speakers (We will also discuss fukugyo and examples in Hokkaido)

19:00~: Life History Work (Session on how to create a schedule and a life history (to realize one's latent skills))

20:00~: Networking Session (Time for speakers and participants to freely interact)

21:30: End

Venue Hokkaido Asahikawa City Citizen Activity Exchange Center CoCoDe Meeting/Training Room

Participation Fee Free

Capacity 25 people

Organizer Color WiTh Inc. (Fukugyo Academy)

Support Asahikawa City, Hokkaido

Application https://colorwith20260416.peatix.com/

Company Profile

<Color WiTh Inc.>

Color WiTh Inc. is a company that is committed to creating new ways of working centered on "fukugyo." It operates "Fukugyo Academy," a school that supports individuals in their fukugyo challenges, and "Fukugyo Shokunin," a service that helps companies solve problems with highly skilled fukugyo personnel.

Fukugyo refers to a career style where one works by leveraging their experience and skills while holding multiple jobs or activities. It is gaining attention in recent years as a way of working that involves multiple roles centered on one's expertise and interests, rather than merely a side job for income.

With the motto "Options beyond employment for everyone," we discover individual strengths and uniqueness and create fulfilling work styles. We founded "Color WiTh" with the desire to color the growth of the companies and people we are involved with, and to move forward together in step.

・Location: Ginza Sinrokusyu Building 2F, 7-13-21 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo ・Representative: Koudai Wakashiki, Representative Director ・Business Activities: [Corporate Business] "Fukugyo Shokunin": A business that fulfills requests with carefully selected, immediately effective contract personnel. [Individual Business] "Fukugyo Academy": A school where you can learn everything about fukugyo. ・Official Website: https://color-with.com