[New Series] "HELP YOU" - Work Anywhere in Japan, Launches Local Pride Project by Teleworkers Who Moved to Rural Areas

Knit Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Takao Akizawa; hereinafter "Knit"), which operates the online outsourcing service "HELP YOU," was founded on the premise of full remote work. Currently, over 600 members perform their duties online from all over Japan and 35 countries worldwide. Now, on its media platform "Kurashi to Shigoto," the company has started a new series titled "My Local Pride: Living with Telework in Rural Areas." In this series, HELP YOU members who live in rural areas and work online will share the appeal of their new homes, their real-life experiences, and the specifics of a location-independent work style. The first installment features Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, and the second features Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. The series aims to present telework as a second option for those who want to move to their dream location but cannot due to work, and to provide an opportunity to think about an "ideal way of life" through real-life examples of relocation. [New Series] "HELP YOU" - Work Anywhere in Japan, Teleworkers in Rural Areas Launch Project to Share Local Charm Overview of the New Series "My Local Pride: Living with Telework in Rural Areas" ▼ Purpose To present the possibility of choosing an "ideal way of life" to people who wish to relocate to rural areas but are hesitant due to job availability. ▼ Series Content HELP YOU members who practice telework while living in rural areas will share the appeal of their local areas, the reality of their lives, and a concrete picture of a location-independent work style. ▼ Publication Media "Kurashi to Shigoto," a media platform operated by HELP YOU https://kurashigoto.me/ ▼ Series Articles Part 1: Hida City, Gifu Prefecture My Local Pride: Living with Telework in Rural Areas [Hida Edition] ~ A Major Life Turning Point in My 20s ~ https://kurashigoto.me/column/post-26364/ Part 2: Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture My Local Pride: Living with Telework in Rural Areas [Amami Oshima Edition] ~ Learning to Connect with Nature and People through Island Life ~ https://kurashigoto.me/column/post-26850/ Social Background for Starting the New Series: Lack of Jobs is a Major Hurdle for Relocation Along with the declining birthrate and aging population, the shortage of workers in rural areas is becoming more serious, while the concentration in the Tokyo metropolitan area continues. This situation is a social issue and also creates a reality where it is difficult for individuals to move from the Tokyo area to rural areas. According to a 2020 survey by the Cabinet Secretariat on the awareness of Tokyo area residents, the most common factor hindering relocation to rural areas for both men and women who moved to Tokyo for employment, job change, or job hunting was "not being able to find a job in the desired industry or occupation." The second most common barrier was "wages becoming lower than current" (Source 1). On the other hand, another survey of Tokyo area residents shows that the percentage of people interested in relocating to rural areas has been increasing year by year, from 30.2% in 2020 to 35.1% in 2023 (Source 2). These results highlight the reality that "while there is interest in relocating to rural areas, people cannot make the move due to job availability." Sources: Source 1: Cabinet Secretariat, Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan, "Survey on Awareness of Life in Tokyo Area, Rural Areas, Relocation, and Interest in Rural Areas," p. 11, accessed June 2026. Source 2: Cabinet Office, Director-General for Policy Planning, "6th Survey on Changes in Life Awareness and Behavior under the Influence of COVID-19," p. 23, accessed June 2026. To Make Rural Life a "Choosable Future" Since its founding in 2015, we have held the vision of "creating a society where people can choose their own future," and we have chosen company-wide full remote work as a means to achieve this. In other words, there was a reality in a society based on traditional work styles where people "could not choose their own future." "I want to move to my dream location, but I can't because there are no jobs." "I move frequently due to my partner's job transfer, making it difficult to build a career." "I want to work while being close to my children, but I have to give up my career." A career path that assumes commuting to an office has sometimes hindered the "future" that individuals envision. Rural relocation is a symbolic example of this. It is a lifestyle that should be a choice, but people are forced to give it up due to the constraint of job availability. Therefore, this project aims to re-examine that premise and present the possibilities of "life in rural areas" realized by expanding work style options, through the real-life examples of teleworkers. About "Kurashi to Shigoto" "Kurashi to Shigoto" is a web media platform operated by Knit Inc. that supports "people who choose their own future." It shares real voices and experiences of people who practice telework, rural relocation, balancing childcare and career, side jobs, and diverse work styles. In an era of expanding work style options, it provides opportunities to think about "a way of living and working that suits you." URL: https://kurashigoto.me/ About the Online Outsourcing Service "HELP YOU" HELP YOU is an outsourcing service where skilled assistants with diverse backgrounds handle back-office tasks such as HR, accounting, sales administration, and document creation online. It supports companies in building a system to focus on their core business. The service offers two plans: a "Team Plan" where a team of multiple assistants handles a wide range of tasks, and a "Dedicated Assistant Plan" where one dedicated assistant provides continuous support. Furthermore, by utilizing AI and RPA with "+Tech," it enables task execution that maximizes the strengths of both people and technology. Currently, approximately 600 assistants are registered in 35 countries worldwide and various locations in Japan, providing flexible and specialized support tailored to corporate needs, with skills in accounting, HR, marketing, design, and more. HELP YOU Service Site: https://help-you.me/ HELP YOU Recruitment Site: https://va.help-you.me/ Company Name: Knit Inc. Representative: Takao Akizawa, President and Representative Director Headquarters: Room 407, Green Fantasia Building, 1-11-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Established: August 2017 *HELP YOU service started in 2015 Business: Operation of the online outsourcing service "HELP YOU." Also develops learning services for workers and media businesses that support workers. Knit Inc. Public Relations: Ozawa Phone: 050-5212-5574 Email: pr@knit-inc.com