How to Create Regions Where People, Resources, and Wisdom Circulate in an Era of Labor Shortages and Population Decline
Empublic Inc. will hold the "Regional Ecosystem Design Course - Fostering Regional Strength Through Connection and Circulation" on July 3, 2026. This course aims to teach participants how to create systems for the circulation of people, resources, and wisdom in regions facing labor shortages and population decline.
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Empublic Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Takuji Hiroishi) will launch the "Regional Ecosystem Design Course - Fostering Regional Strength Through Connection and Circulation" on Friday, July 3, 2026. This course, offered in a hybrid format of in-person and online, is designed for individuals engaged in activities such as intermediary support, industry support, entrepreneurship support, regional finance, and community development.
In an era of increasing labor shortages and population decline, simply gathering stakeholders, holding networking events, or expanding networks often fails to generate new collaborations or value creation. This course confronts the root causes of this "frustration" and offers a program to learn how to build regions by shifting the focus from the stage of merely "gathering" people, resources, and wisdom to a stage where they continuously circulate within the region.
■Resources and People Exist, Yet Why Don't Regions Move?
Amidst the complex entanglement of challenges such as population decline, labor shortages, changes in regional industries, and weakening communities, it has become difficult to transform a region with a single organization or a single policy.
What is often overlooked here is the fact that "regions are not lacking in resources."
Resources already exist: the technology and networks of local businesses, the experience and wisdom of residents, the on-the-ground capabilities of NPOs and citizen activities, the systems of local governments, the support functions of financial institutions, the knowledge of universities and specialized organizations, and the trust relationships rooted in the community.
The problem lies in the fact that these resources are not sufficiently connected and are not circulating.
In the past, regional development and support efforts have been divided by sector, with an emphasis on individual activity support, matching between organizations, and addressing specific issues within each sector.
However, simply connecting "dots" does not foster the overall strength of a region. What is now required is a perspective that assesses the relationships within the region itself and creates conditions for the circulation of people, activities, resources, information, funds, and wisdom.
This course will provide fundamental and practical learning on the concepts and methods for creating such a "fertile ground."
■What is the Difference Between "Network Building" and "Fostering an Ecosystem"?
This question lies at the core of the course.
An ecosystem is not something that someone manages and operates in its entirety. It is something that grows through the autonomous actions and interactions of diverse stakeholders, each with their own aspirations and roles.
What is required of those in intermediary support, industry support, entrepreneurship support, regional finance, and community development is not just individual support, but the role of fostering a "soil" where "connections" that allow stakeholders to mutually assist and learn from each other can autonomously emerge.
In the course, participants will learn methods to understand this difference and put it into practice.
【Program Content】
Part 1: Rethinking What an Activity Ecosystem Is
― What is the difference between "gathering," "networking," and relationships that generate mutual interaction ―
Why is it difficult to create new collaborations and value creation even when people and organizations exist?
After delving into the reasons, participants will learn five perspectives for viewing a regional ecosystem and six design points for fostering it.
Part 2: Designing a Regional Ecosystem
― Creating conditions for people, resources, and value to start moving ―
Using the "Ecosystem Canvas," participants will depict the ecosystem required for their own region and theme. They will then learn processes and practical methods for editing relationships, promoting resource circulation, generating small collaborations, and accumulating learning within the region.
■What You Will Gain from This Course
* Understand ecosystems not just as networks or gatherings, but as mechanisms for fostering regional strength.
* Visualize the people, activities, and resources in a region to identify weak connections and circulation bottlenecks.
* Rethink the role of intermediary support in regional development and industry support.
* Design points of contact that generate mutual interaction, going beyond simple matching.
This content will provide the next steps for those involved in revitalizing regional platforms, building ecosystems for entrepreneurship and activities, activating community foundations, and promoting regional transitions.
■Event Overview
Course Name: Regional Ecosystem Design Course - Fostering Regional Strength Through Connection and Circulation
Date and Time: Friday, July 3, 2026, 13:00 - 17:00
Format: Hybrid (In-person: Empublic Nezu Studio / Online: Zoom)
Navigator: Takuji Hiroishi (Representative Director, Empublic Inc.)
Target Audience: Practitioners and intermediary supporters involved in regional development, industry support, entrepreneurship support, and community development.
Participation Fee: General ¥11,000 (tax included) / empublic Studio Members ¥8,800 (tax included)
Organizer: Empublic Inc.
Application Method: Please apply through the Peatix page: https://peatix.com/event/5026270
■Navigator
Takuji Hiroishi, Representative Director of Empublic Inc. He is active in fostering practitioners and intermediary supporters for social entrepreneurship and regional development, and in supporting problem-solving for regions and organizations through dialogue and collaboration. His books include "12 Steps to Success in Social Projects" and "From Expert-Led to Resident-Led: Learning from Fieldwork in Creating Spaces for 'Community-Based Integrated Care x Regional Development'."
■Company Overview
Empublic Inc. aims to create "a society where everyone can participate in social development = empublic." The company supports problem-solving for regions and organizations through dialogue and collaboration. They are involved in fostering practitioners and intermediary supporters for social entrepreneurship and regional development, program development, facilitation, and support.
Location: 3F, 2-12-3 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takuji Hiroishi, Representative Director
URL: https://www.empublic.jp/
■Inquiries Regarding This Matter
Empublic Inc.: Nakamura, Yabe
Email: info@empublic.jp
In an era of increasing labor shortages and population decline, simply gathering stakeholders, holding networking events, or expanding networks often fails to generate new collaborations or value creation. This course confronts the root causes of this "frustration" and offers a program to learn how to build regions by shifting the focus from the stage of merely "gathering" people, resources, and wisdom to a stage where they continuously circulate within the region.
■Resources and People Exist, Yet Why Don't Regions Move?
Amidst the complex entanglement of challenges such as population decline, labor shortages, changes in regional industries, and weakening communities, it has become difficult to transform a region with a single organization or a single policy.
What is often overlooked here is the fact that "regions are not lacking in resources."
Resources already exist: the technology and networks of local businesses, the experience and wisdom of residents, the on-the-ground capabilities of NPOs and citizen activities, the systems of local governments, the support functions of financial institutions, the knowledge of universities and specialized organizations, and the trust relationships rooted in the community.
The problem lies in the fact that these resources are not sufficiently connected and are not circulating.
In the past, regional development and support efforts have been divided by sector, with an emphasis on individual activity support, matching between organizations, and addressing specific issues within each sector.
However, simply connecting "dots" does not foster the overall strength of a region. What is now required is a perspective that assesses the relationships within the region itself and creates conditions for the circulation of people, activities, resources, information, funds, and wisdom.
This course will provide fundamental and practical learning on the concepts and methods for creating such a "fertile ground."
■What is the Difference Between "Network Building" and "Fostering an Ecosystem"?
This question lies at the core of the course.
An ecosystem is not something that someone manages and operates in its entirety. It is something that grows through the autonomous actions and interactions of diverse stakeholders, each with their own aspirations and roles.
What is required of those in intermediary support, industry support, entrepreneurship support, regional finance, and community development is not just individual support, but the role of fostering a "soil" where "connections" that allow stakeholders to mutually assist and learn from each other can autonomously emerge.
In the course, participants will learn methods to understand this difference and put it into practice.
【Program Content】
Part 1: Rethinking What an Activity Ecosystem Is
― What is the difference between "gathering," "networking," and relationships that generate mutual interaction ―
Why is it difficult to create new collaborations and value creation even when people and organizations exist?
After delving into the reasons, participants will learn five perspectives for viewing a regional ecosystem and six design points for fostering it.
Part 2: Designing a Regional Ecosystem
― Creating conditions for people, resources, and value to start moving ―
Using the "Ecosystem Canvas," participants will depict the ecosystem required for their own region and theme. They will then learn processes and practical methods for editing relationships, promoting resource circulation, generating small collaborations, and accumulating learning within the region.
■What You Will Gain from This Course
* Understand ecosystems not just as networks or gatherings, but as mechanisms for fostering regional strength.
* Visualize the people, activities, and resources in a region to identify weak connections and circulation bottlenecks.
* Rethink the role of intermediary support in regional development and industry support.
* Design points of contact that generate mutual interaction, going beyond simple matching.
This content will provide the next steps for those involved in revitalizing regional platforms, building ecosystems for entrepreneurship and activities, activating community foundations, and promoting regional transitions.
■Event Overview
Course Name: Regional Ecosystem Design Course - Fostering Regional Strength Through Connection and Circulation
Date and Time: Friday, July 3, 2026, 13:00 - 17:00
Format: Hybrid (In-person: Empublic Nezu Studio / Online: Zoom)
Navigator: Takuji Hiroishi (Representative Director, Empublic Inc.)
Target Audience: Practitioners and intermediary supporters involved in regional development, industry support, entrepreneurship support, and community development.
Participation Fee: General ¥11,000 (tax included) / empublic Studio Members ¥8,800 (tax included)
Organizer: Empublic Inc.
Application Method: Please apply through the Peatix page: https://peatix.com/event/5026270
■Navigator
Takuji Hiroishi, Representative Director of Empublic Inc. He is active in fostering practitioners and intermediary supporters for social entrepreneurship and regional development, and in supporting problem-solving for regions and organizations through dialogue and collaboration. His books include "12 Steps to Success in Social Projects" and "From Expert-Led to Resident-Led: Learning from Fieldwork in Creating Spaces for 'Community-Based Integrated Care x Regional Development'."
■Company Overview
Empublic Inc. aims to create "a society where everyone can participate in social development = empublic." The company supports problem-solving for regions and organizations through dialogue and collaboration. They are involved in fostering practitioners and intermediary supporters for social entrepreneurship and regional development, program development, facilitation, and support.
Location: 3F, 2-12-3 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takuji Hiroishi, Representative Director
URL: https://www.empublic.jp/
■Inquiries Regarding This Matter
Empublic Inc.: Nakamura, Yabe
Email: info@empublic.jp
FAQ
What kind of regional issues can this course help solve?
It teaches practical methods for building systems where people, resources, and wisdom circulate in regions facing population decline and labor shortages, fostering new collaborations and value creation.
What specifically does 'ecosystem' refer to in this context?
It refers to a network of relationships where diverse stakeholders within a region (companies, residents, NPOs, government, etc.) autonomously interact, mutually support each other, and facilitate the circulation of people, resources, information, funds, and wisdom.
What skills will participants gain from this course?
Participants will acquire practical skills such as the perspective to design regional ecosystems, methods for editing relationships, ways to promote resource circulation, and techniques for generating small collaborations.