In 'Oita Prefecture', where the number of immigrants has increased for 5 consecutive years, high school students take on regional revitalization with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.
Hanagata Inc., Ritsumeikan APU, and DIC Gakuen will co-host the 'Inou Camp 2026', an overnight inquiry program in Beppu for high school students, aiming to foster independent thinking through regional fieldwork.
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- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 15:30
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Hanagata Inc. (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Representative Director: Tadashi Ozawa) and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, President: Hiroshi Yoneyama, APU), jointly with DIC Gakuen Inc. (DIC), will implement the "Inou Camp 2026 @ Beppu/APU", an overnight inquiry-based learning program for high school students set in Oita Prefecture.
Regional issues in Japan, such as population decline and the shrinking of regional economies, are becoming more complex, and regional revitalization is being questioned as an "inquiry with no right answer." Particularly in Oita Prefecture, while the number of immigrants has broken the record for five consecutive years, the promotion of retention and return of young people within the prefecture is considered an important theme in the "Safety, Vitality, and Future Creation Vision 2024" set forth by the prefecture. This situation, where the inflow and outflow of people intersect, clearly highlights an important issue in regional revitalization.
Against this background, under the theme "Behind the scenes of the tourist city of Beppu - A lifestyle that accepts the town that accepts you," high school students will stay in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, walk around the region, meet people, formulate questions based on primary information, and create outputs with their own interpretations in this program. Through the experience of facing "inquiries with no right answers" using the local community as teaching material, we aim to develop human resources who can think and act on their own, which is necessary for the future society.
*1: Oita Prefecture Planning Promotion Department, Oita Creation Promotion Division "Reiwa 6 Oita Prefecture Immigration Achievement Report" announced in May 2025
■ Event Overview
- Dates: May 2 (Sat) - May 5 (Tue), 2026
- Location: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Beppu City
- Target audience: 1st to 3rd-year high school students, high school graduates preparing for university exams, and students considering taking the comprehensive selection exam
- Capacity: Limited to 48 people
- Participation fee: ¥48,000 (tax included) (Participation for 1st and 2nd-year high school students ¥40,000 (tax included))
*Includes program fee and facility usage fee.
*Transportation and food expenses are not included.
- Application deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2026
■ Why the ability to face "inquiries with no right answers" is required
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Future Human Resources Vision" indicates a shift towards human resources who can discover issues, think, and act on their own. With the spread of generative AI, the ability to think based on primary information and create new value in collaboration with others will become the foundation supporting the future society.
Regional issues in Japan, such as population decline and the shrinking of regional economies, are becoming more complex, and regional revitalization is being questioned as an "inquiry with no right answer." Particularly in Oita Prefecture, while the number of immigrants has broken the record for five consecutive years, the promotion of retention and return of young people within the prefecture is considered an important theme in the "Safety, Vitality, and Future Creation Vision 2024" set forth by the prefecture. This situation, where the inflow and outflow of people intersect, clearly highlights an important issue in regional revitalization.
Against this background, under the theme "Behind the scenes of the tourist city of Beppu - A lifestyle that accepts the town that accepts you," high school students will stay in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, walk around the region, meet people, formulate questions based on primary information, and create outputs with their own interpretations in this program. Through the experience of facing "inquiries with no right answers" using the local community as teaching material, we aim to develop human resources who can think and act on their own, which is necessary for the future society.
*1: Oita Prefecture Planning Promotion Department, Oita Creation Promotion Division "Reiwa 6 Oita Prefecture Immigration Achievement Report" announced in May 2025
■ Event Overview
- Dates: May 2 (Sat) - May 5 (Tue), 2026
- Location: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Beppu City
- Target audience: 1st to 3rd-year high school students, high school graduates preparing for university exams, and students considering taking the comprehensive selection exam
- Capacity: Limited to 48 people
- Participation fee: ¥48,000 (tax included) (Participation for 1st and 2nd-year high school students ¥40,000 (tax included))
*Includes program fee and facility usage fee.
*Transportation and food expenses are not included.
- Application deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2026
■ Why the ability to face "inquiries with no right answers" is required
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Future Human Resources Vision" indicates a shift towards human resources who can discover issues, think, and act on their own. With the spread of generative AI, the ability to think based on primary information and create new value in collaboration with others will become the foundation supporting the future society.