[Talk Event Held] Towards the Realization of a Sustainable Society ~The Challenge of Startups~
The Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association is holding a talk event in collaboration with the Kyoto Chie Sangyo Sozo no Mori to promote a sustainable society. The event will feature startups and academia working on solutions to global warming, food loss, waste, and resource circulation, aiming to expand the base of participants and deepen understanding of their activities. It will include guest speakers and a cross-talk session, along with a pop-up event featuring tastings and sales of products made from imperfect agricultural produce.
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- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 21:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 12:30
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The Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association (Location: 13 Fukakusa Ikenouchi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City; Chairman: Tatsuro Shinkawa) aims to create a community that prioritizes environmental considerations through the voluntary actions of its citizens. This is achieved by strengthening cooperation with citizens, businesses, government, and educational institutions, and by broadly promoting environmental preservation activities to realize a sustainable society.
As part of the designated management operations of the Kyoto Ecology Center, a talk event will be held in co-sponsorship with the General Incorporated Association Kyoto Chie Sangyo Sozo no Mori. Participants from the "Kyoto Creation Platform," where citizens, businesses, and government collaborate to achieve a carbon-neutral and prosperous society, will also be invited to speak.
Towards the Realization of a Sustainable Society ~The Challenge of Startups~
To address issues that need to be resolved for the realization of a sustainable society, such as global warming, food loss, waste problems, and resource circulation, the participation of all stakeholders, including not only government but also non-profit organizations, companies, and academia, is indispensable. Against this backdrop, so-called startups have rapidly increased their presence as key players in finding solutions in recent years.
This event will share the activities of startups challenging to solve social issues with innovative business models, and academia working to foster startups. It aims to expand the base of stakeholders responsible for realizing a sustainable society and promote understanding of their activities.
[Event Outline]
●Date: Sunday, May 10, Reiwa 8 (2026), 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
●Venue: Kyoto Ecology Center Theater & Entrance Lobby
●Target Audience: Anyone (Elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a guardian)
●Method: On-site and online distribution (archive video planned for later distribution)
●Capacity: 60 people for on-site (first-come, first-served, pre-registration required), unlimited for online
●Participation Fee: Free
●Event Content: Talk event (Introduction of initiatives by 3 guest speakers & cross-talk)
●Event Details and Application:
https://www.miyako-eco.jp/event/event-35932/
[Program]
■Part 1: Introduction of Initiatives by Guest Speakers (1:30 PM - 2:30 PM)
・Guest Speaker ①: Ms. Rina Hong, Representative Director, Kukulcan Inc.
・Guest Speaker ②: Mr. Sumito Sekine, Representative Director & CEO, Earth hacks Inc.
・Guest Speaker ③: Mr. Masanori Nakatani, Head of Entrepreneurship Program, Kyoto Sangyo University
■Part 2: Cross-talk by Guest Speakers with Moderator (2:30 PM - 3:00 PM)
・Guest Speakers: Ms. Rina Hong, Mr. Sumito Sekine, Mr. Masanori Nakatani
・Moderator: Mr. Tatsuro Shinkawa, Director, Kyoto Ecology Center
[Guest Speakers]
Ms. Rina Hong
Representative Director, Kukulcan Inc.
After graduating from Ritsumeikan University, she was involved in international cooperation and solving social issues at an NGO, then gained practical experience at Accenture and LITALICO. In the doctoral program at Doshisha University Graduate School, she researched immigration and refugees. In February 2024, she founded Kukulcan Inc. and is developing an AI-powered agricultural product procurement platform, working to reduce off-spec products and food loss, and realize sustainable agriculture.
Mr. Sumito Sekine
Representative Director & CEO, Earth hacks Inc.
Joined Hakuhodo in 2009, where he was responsible for branding and marketing for various companies. After serving as the central executive committee chairman of the Hakuhodo Employees' Union, he was seconded to Mitsui & Co. for three years starting in 2020. In 2023, he established Earth hacks Inc. and has been in his current position since May of the same year. He gives numerous lectures on the theme of consumers x decarbonization both domestically and internationally, and as an MC on J-WAVE's "Off no Hi, Docchitchi," he delivers easy and enjoyable daily information on decarbonization.
Mr. Masanori Nakatani
Head of Entrepreneurship Program, Kyoto Sangyo University
Professor at the Faculty of Law, Kyoto Sangyo University. Specializes in political science and public policy. Based on civil society theory and globalization research, he develops theories and practices that bridge local and global issues. He is also dedicated to regional collaboration and human resource development, leading the establishment of the NPO Glocal Human Resource Development Center. He is involved in entrepreneurship education and industry-government-academia collaboration, promoting practical educational research that contributes to solving social issues. In April 2026, he will assume the position of Head of the Entrepreneurship Program, which will be established as a new faculty equivalent at Kyoto Sangyo University.
[Moderator]
Mr. Tatsuro Shinkawa
Director, Kyoto Ecology Center
Chairman of the Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation). Emeritus Professor at Doshisha University. Specializes in public policy and local autonomy. For many years, he has been engaged in research and practice related to local government administration, citizen collaboration, and environmental policy. Utilizing his academic expertise, he leads the promotion of environmental preservation activities in Kyoto City, the enhancement of environmental education, and the strengthening of cooperation among citizens, businesses, and government. He is leading initiatives for sustainable community development, such as realizing a decarbonized society and promoting resource circulation.
[Concurrent Event]
Pop-up Event
Tastings and sales (first-come, first-served) of purees made from off-spec agricultural products (strawberries, persimmons) and dishes made from crops (cassava) grown on abandoned farmland will be held.
■May 9 (Sat) 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tasting and sales of purees made from off-spec agricultural products (strawberries, persimmons) (Kukulcan)
■May 10 (Sun) 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tasting and sales of purees made from off-spec agricultural products (strawberries, persimmons) (Kukulcan)
Tasting and sales of dishes made from crops (cassava) grown on abandoned farmland
Kyoto Ecology Center event page:
About the Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
The Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) was established with the aim of contributing to the creation of a local community through the voluntary actions of environmentally conscious citizens. This is achieved by strengthening cooperation with citizens, businesses, government, and educational institutions, and by broadly promoting environmental preservation activities to realize a sustainable society (decarbonized society, circular society, nature-harmonious society).
[Company Overview]
Company Name: Kyoto City Environmental Preservation Activity Promotion Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Location: 13 Fukakusa Ikenouchi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City
Chairman: Tatsuro Shinkawa
Business Activities: Dissemination and enlightenment of environmental awareness, transmission of environmental information, research and studies on environmental preservation, environmental education and human resource development, cooperation and support with citizens and businesses for environmental preservation, international cooperation and support for improving environmental awareness, management and operation of facilities related to environmental preservation activities, etc.
Established: 2001
