Shimizu Town, Hokkaido and Gurunavi, Inc. Sign Agreement on Personnel Dispatch under the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System

Gurunavi, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Akira Sugihara; hereinafter "Gurunavi") and Shimizu Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Yasuhiro Tsuji) signed an "Agreement on Personnel Dispatch under the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System" on March 27, 2026. Based on this agreement, one Gurunavi employee will be dispatched to Shimizu Town utilizing the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System." The dispatched employee will work on discovering the culinary appeal of Shimizu Town, analyzing challenges, creating tourism content, and fostering new town appeal in collaboration with producers, restaurants, and local businesses. By promoting the town's charm from a culinary perspective, the initiative aims to boost tourism and increase visitor numbers. Furthermore, by comprehensively providing Gurunavi's business infrastructure and know-how, the partnership aims to revitalize the local economy. Gurunavi operates its business under the purpose of "Connecting through food, satisfying people." The company will continue to promote regional revitalization through food and tourism in cooperation with municipalities across Japan. ■ Agreement on Personnel Dispatch under the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System (1) Analysis of local products, culinary appeal, and related challenges. (2) Support for creating tourism content centered on the synergy between specialty promotion and tourism promotion. (3) Sales support for local products and goods produced or manufactured in Shimizu Town. (4) Collaboration with producers, restaurants, and businesses within Shimizu Town. (5) Promotion of creating and expanding exchange and relationship populations through food. (6) Information dissemination. ■ Dispatch Period for the "Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur" From April 1, 2026 (up to 3 years) ■ Overview of Shimizu Town, Hokkaido https://www.town.shimizu.hokkaido.jp/town/overview.html "Noticing the town, building the town: Tokachi Shimizu - A town that connects thoughts to the future" The history of Shimizu Town began in 1898 when the Tokachi Reclamation Company, founded by Eiichi Shibusawa, known as the father of modern Japanese capitalism, established the Kumaushi Farm. Located in the western part of the Tokachi Plain, the town is a gateway to eastern Hokkaido, where two national highways (Route 38 and Route 274) intersect and an interchange for the Doto Expressway is located. It is a town with a thriving agricultural and dairy industry nurtured by its rich land. In line with the future vision set forth in the 6th Shimizu Town Comprehensive Plan, "Noticing the town, building the town: Tokachi Shimizu - A town that connects thoughts to the future," the town is working on development that fosters local pride while respecting its history and regional characteristics, and aims to form a community that values human bonds and emotional connections. [Shimizu Town Population and Households] (As of the end of February 2026) Population: 8,570; Households: 4,622 Connecting through food, satisfying people.