[3rd Event Report] 50 Municipalities from 31 Prefectures Participate! 'Future Forum for Small Towns'
Key facts
- [3rd Event Report] 50 Municipalities from 31 Prefectures Participate! 'Future Forum for Small Towns'
- The 3rd event of the 'Future Forum for Small Towns,' organized by Mindshare Inc., was held on May 15, 2026, in a hybrid format, with 53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures. Practical examples of digital transformation (DX) and regional collaboration for small municipalities were shared.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 4, 2026
Direct answer
The 3rd event of the 'Future Forum for Small Towns,' organized by Mindshare Inc., was held on May 15, 2026, in a hybrid format, with 53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures. Practical examples of digital transformation (DX) and regional collaboration for small municipalities were shared.
- Citation
- [3rd Event Report] 50 Municipalities from 31 Prefectures Participate! 'Future Forum for Small Towns' (June 4, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 4, 2026
The 3rd event of the 'Future Forum for Small Towns,' organized by Mindshare Inc., was held on May 15, 2026, in a hybrid format, with 53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures. Practical examples of digital transformation (DX) and regional collaboration for small municipalities were shared.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 00:56
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 16:05
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 7, 2026 at 00:32 (80h 26m after Collected)
Mindshare Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yoshimasa Imai) held the 3rd event of the 'Future Forum for Small Towns,' a mutual learning community for staff of small municipalities with populations up to 50,000, on Friday, May 15, 2026, in a hybrid format combining a Tokyo venue and online participation.
A total of 53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures attended, sharing practical examples of in-house DX and regional collaboration using Tokyo bases under the common theme of 'Taking the First Step.'
Background of the 3rd Event
The theme of the 3rd event, 'Taking the First Step,' was based on the common challenge faced by small municipalities: difficulty in taking the 'first step' toward DX and external collaboration due to a lack of budget, personnel, and know-how.
Focusing on the practices of municipalities that are cultivating small beginnings into major movements despite limited resources, the forum invited two pioneering municipalities and the Cabinet Office to share their on-the-ground efforts from both the perspectives of internal administrative reform and regional collaboration.
Event Name
Future Forum for Small Towns 3rd Event
Date and Time
Friday, May 15, 2026, 14:00-17:30
Format
Hybrid (in-person at Tokyo venue and online)
Number of Participants
53 total (31 prefectures / 50 municipalities)
Organizer
Future Forum for Small Towns Secretariat (Mindshare Inc.)
Speaker Presentations
'In-House DX Starting from Zero Budget: Administrative Reform Led by Staff'
Mr. Masayuki Kobayashi, Manager, DX Promotion Division, Mayor's Office, Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Shimotsuma City, with a population of approximately 41,000, appointed young staff as DX promotion leaders and introduced no-code applications with zero initial cost. Currently, 95% of staff use them daily.
'Community Development Changed by Connections: Expanding Circles of People and Companies from a Tokyo Office'
Mr. Masahiro Ochiai, Director, Tokyo Satellite Office, Mibu Town, Tochigi Prefecture
Mibu Town, with a population of approximately 38,000, opened a Tokyo Satellite Office in Toranomon Hills. Their promotion of the local specialty 'dried gourd strips (kanpyo)' led to exhibiting at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where they sold 2,000 thin rolls over three days.
'Data-Driven Community Development: RESAS and the Latest RAIDA-AI Released in March'
Mr. Ryoichi Imanishi, Senior Policy Researcher, Big Data Team, Local Revitalization Promotion Office, Cabinet Office
He introduced the latest usage information for the Regional Economy Society Analyzing System 'RESAS' and 'RAIDA.' The generative AI function released in March this year enables analysis of the causes of population decline and presentation of policy directions.
Next Event
The 4th event is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2026. The theme is currently being adjusted and will be announced on the official website once decided. Municipal staff wishing to participate can register for the forum on the official website.
・Official website: https://chiisana-machi.jp/
・Official note: https://note.com/chiisana_machi
Contact Information
Future Forum for Small Towns Secretariat (within Mindshare Inc.)
Contact: Nakazawa / Shimada
TEL: 03-5232-6866
Email: chiisana-machi@mindshare.co.jp
A total of 53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures attended, sharing practical examples of in-house DX and regional collaboration using Tokyo bases under the common theme of 'Taking the First Step.'
Background of the 3rd Event
The theme of the 3rd event, 'Taking the First Step,' was based on the common challenge faced by small municipalities: difficulty in taking the 'first step' toward DX and external collaboration due to a lack of budget, personnel, and know-how.
Focusing on the practices of municipalities that are cultivating small beginnings into major movements despite limited resources, the forum invited two pioneering municipalities and the Cabinet Office to share their on-the-ground efforts from both the perspectives of internal administrative reform and regional collaboration.
Event Name
Future Forum for Small Towns 3rd Event
Date and Time
Friday, May 15, 2026, 14:00-17:30
Format
Hybrid (in-person at Tokyo venue and online)
Number of Participants
53 total (31 prefectures / 50 municipalities)
Organizer
Future Forum for Small Towns Secretariat (Mindshare Inc.)
Speaker Presentations
'In-House DX Starting from Zero Budget: Administrative Reform Led by Staff'
Mr. Masayuki Kobayashi, Manager, DX Promotion Division, Mayor's Office, Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Shimotsuma City, with a population of approximately 41,000, appointed young staff as DX promotion leaders and introduced no-code applications with zero initial cost. Currently, 95% of staff use them daily.
'Community Development Changed by Connections: Expanding Circles of People and Companies from a Tokyo Office'
Mr. Masahiro Ochiai, Director, Tokyo Satellite Office, Mibu Town, Tochigi Prefecture
Mibu Town, with a population of approximately 38,000, opened a Tokyo Satellite Office in Toranomon Hills. Their promotion of the local specialty 'dried gourd strips (kanpyo)' led to exhibiting at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where they sold 2,000 thin rolls over three days.
'Data-Driven Community Development: RESAS and the Latest RAIDA-AI Released in March'
Mr. Ryoichi Imanishi, Senior Policy Researcher, Big Data Team, Local Revitalization Promotion Office, Cabinet Office
He introduced the latest usage information for the Regional Economy Society Analyzing System 'RESAS' and 'RAIDA.' The generative AI function released in March this year enables analysis of the causes of population decline and presentation of policy directions.
Next Event
The 4th event is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2026. The theme is currently being adjusted and will be announced on the official website once decided. Municipal staff wishing to participate can register for the forum on the official website.
・Official website: https://chiisana-machi.jp/
・Official note: https://note.com/chiisana_machi
Contact Information
Future Forum for Small Towns Secretariat (within Mindshare Inc.)
Contact: Nakazawa / Shimada
TEL: 03-5232-6866
Email: chiisana-machi@mindshare.co.jp
FAQ
Who is the target of this forum?
Staff of small municipalities with populations under 50,000.
How many participated in the 3rd event?
53 participants from 50 municipalities across 31 prefectures.
What were the main presentations?
In-house DX by Shimotsuma City, Tokyo base utilization by Mibu Town, and data utilization by the Cabinet Office.