"Interaction with Young People from Outside Becomes Community Development." — 21 People in Rikuzentakata Discuss for the First Time

"The business of an NPO is not to increase sales. It is to make diverse citizens the bearers of the town." — On May 24, 2026, 21 stakeholders from agriculture, forestry, fisheries, commerce, industry, administration, and temples gathered for the first time at a public space in Rikuzentakata.

The first "Visions Fest" was held at the Avasse Takata public space in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, bringing together a diverse range of local stakeholders to discuss the future of the town. Twenty-one people from different positions and professions took the stage and shared their visions for Rikuzentakata under three themes: "Creating a Lively Town," "Thinking about the Future of Work," and "The Potential Sleeping in the Region."

■ Why Discuss Visions in Rikuzentakata Now?

In Rikuzentakata, where the population continues to decline, the post-disaster reconstruction phase has reached a milestone, and the question of how to create the region—the "creation period"—has come to the forefront. However, until now, there was no opportunity for stakeholders from different fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, commerce, industry, administration, and temples to discuss the future of the region in the same place.

The festival was first planned by a voluntary executive committee of five people, including company employees and organization staff from Rikuzentakata City. The chairperson of the executive committee was City Council Member Satoshi Kimura. Under the guidance of a moderator, the future of Rikuzentakata was discussed from each participant's perspective. Creating a place to talk about the town as a "possibility" rather than a "challenge"—this attempt itself was a new step for Rikuzentakata.

■ "Moving the Town with Business" — The NPO's Question Posed by Shunsuke Mitsui

Shunsuke Mitsui, Chairman of the certified NPO SET, took the stage in a session themed "Moving the Town with Business." Mitsui stated, "The business of an NPO is not to increase sales. It is to make diverse citizens the bearers of the town," sharing the core philosophy of NPO activities with the audience. He further added, "I hope you will enjoy interacting with young people from outside. That becomes community development," presenting the perspective that the connection between young people from outside the region and local residents is the essence of community development.

SET has been building activities that connect young people from outside the region with local residents, based in Rikuzentakata City. Not just one-off events or experiences, but fostering people who continue to be involved—this accumulation has gradually increased the number of local stakeholders. The appearance at this Visions Fest became an opportunity to re-examine the "moment when someone becomes a stakeholder," which SET has been addressing for many years, together with various players in the region.

■ This Question is Not Just About Rikuzentakata

The space of that day, where the voices of 21 people overlapped, leaves a question that transcends the single town of Rikuzentakata. In a region with a declining population, is there meaning in connecting people from outside with those inside? Are stakeholders not something entrusted to someone, but something born through dialogue? The questions posed by Visions Fest are connected to the questions that regions across the country are facing.

To those who want to do something in this town, or in their own town. Continuing to hold that question may be the beginning of the next stakeholder.

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■ About Certified NPO SET

SET's mission is to "turn each person's 'I want to' into 'I did it,' creating Good Change for Japan's future." Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, it has been creating systems for young people and residents to learn together, primarily in the Iwate region. Through school trip homestays, programs for university students and working adults, and community building, SET fosters "continuing relationships" where young people engage in the daily life of the region and learn together with residents. In fiscal year 2024, over 5,000 people participated annually. It now operates in multiple regions beyond Iwate Prefecture. While simultaneously generating youth growth and regional vitality, it is working on sustainable community development based on the relationship between people and the region itself. It has received the Prime Minister's Award twice in the past, among many other awards.

[Organization Overview]

Certified Specific Nonprofit Activity Corporation SET

Location: 52-6 Aza Yamada, Hirota-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

Chairman: Shunsuke Mitsui

Established: March 12, 2011 (Incorporated: June 18, 2013, Certification Acquired: October 16, 2025)

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