FoundingBase, Collaborating with Municipalities Nationwide on Regional Co-creation, Releases New Content "Mayoral Interviews"

FoundingBase Inc. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Yamamoto; hereinafter "FoundingBase"), which co-creates town development projects with 25 municipalities nationwide, released "Mayoral Interviews," an interview content series that conveys the aspirations and future visions of regional leaders, on July 1.

Mayors face the challenges and futures of their towns more than anyone else. By verbalizing these aspirations and disseminating them both within and outside the region, we aim to increase stakeholders such as other mayors, businesses, and residents who empathize with the town development efforts of these mayors, and to build a network of partners who co-create town development.

The first installment features the mayors of Takagi Village, Nagano Prefecture, and Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture.

What is "Mayoral Interviews"?

Conceptions and decisions that shape the future of a region begin with the awareness of issues by a single leader, the mayor. However, the background leading to these aspirations, the connections between town projects and policies, and the future they are heading towards. While these conceptions exist as organized information like comprehensive plans or proposals, there are few opportunities for them to be circulated in the words of the mayor's heartfelt aspirations.

Information on town development that circulates often focuses only on a few "success stories." What mayors who have stepped up as leaders and people involved in town development want to know are the determined voices of mayors, such as "What is the mayor of that town aiming for, what future are they looking at, what are they struggling with, and what are they trying to do now?"

"Mayoral Interviews" is a content series where mayors with diverse career paths talk about the challenges they are currently facing and the future of their towns they envision. Their words will resonate with others, leading to concrete actions such as "in my town too" or "I want to be involved with this town." Through this chain reaction, we aim to foster a "Town Development Network" that increases the number of entities involved in town development.

What FoundingBase Can Do

We at FoundingBase are a "town development company" that co-creates and collaborates on a wide range of projects, including city promotion, facility operation, education, tourism, and roadside station management, with 25 municipalities nationwide.

Because we ourselves have bases in these towns and are "stakeholders in the town" working alongside mayors and administrative staff, we believe we can draw out and communicate the candid awareness of issues that tend to remain within the mayor, and even conceptions that have not yet taken shape, as words that move people.

About the First Released Articles

In the first installment, mayors from two towns of different scales and histories appear.

Fumihiko Sato, Mayor of Takagi Village, Nagano Prefecture

"[Takagi Village Mayor Interview] Turning a 'Small Village' into a Strength. Mayor Sato's Challenge for 'Prosperous Village Development'"

Takagi Village, a village with over 150 years of history without mergers, has a population of approximately 5,800. While many towns speak of population decline as a "weakness," Mayor Sato reinterprets its small size as a "strength" and depicts a "rich life unique to a small village."

We asked about the potential of a town where every resident's voice can be heard, the official brand "Let's Connect with Emotion," promoted across generations, and the vision of expanding from co-creation hubs to the entire village.

Read Article

Hideki Toshima, Mayor of Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture

"[Mihama Town Mayor Interview] Town Development is People Development. The Future of Mayor Toshima's 'Synapse Project' Challenge"

Mihama Town, with a population of approximately 8,500, is embraced by the nature of Mikata Five Lakes and Krystal Beach.

With "town development is people development" as its starting point, Mayor Toshima is promoting the "Mihama Synapse Project," where people, spaces, and content intersect to generate new inspiration.

We asked about his vision for expanding the town's vibrancy, from people development to the revitalization of communities and the utilization of related populations.

Read Article

We plan to update with approximately 2 to 3 articles per month going forward.

We aim to create a platform where the aspirations of mayors circulate and new steps are taken in each town.

Inquiries Regarding This Release

FoundingBase Inc. Public Relations Department Phone: 050-5482-3333 Email: pr@foundingbase.jp

FoundingBase Inc. Company Overview

At FoundingBase, with the vision of "Co-creating regional value and providing regional options," we are a company that establishes bases in regions, immerses ourselves in the local community, and engages in town development together with the local residents.

We not only draw up business plans and proposals but also co-create unique regional values and solve local challenges through operations.

Head Office Location: Shimokitazawa Hills 1, 2-25-7 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0032 Representative: Kenji Yamamoto, Representative Director Established: February 2014

HP: https://foundingbase.jp Business Activities:

Planning and operation of city promotion

Planning and operation of co-working spaces and telework facilities

Planning and operation of high school revitalization and public cram schools

Planning and operation of tourism and accommodation facilities

Operation of roadside stations and support for primary industries

Local government consulting

Support for recruitment of local government staff

Other activities related to "regional co-creation"