Implementing a 'System for Continuous Development of Key Players' in the 'Kumamoto DX Promotion Consortium' with Approximately 800 Members; station, YOMIKO, and Lbose Join the 2026 Management Secretariat

station Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Co-CEOs: Yusuke Watanabe and Takahiro Miyake), in collaboration with Yomiuri Advertising Agency (hereinafter YOMIKO) and Lbose Inc., will participate in the 2026 secretariat operations of the 'Kumamoto DX Promotion Consortium' (Secretariat: Kumamoto Prefectural Government Digital Strategy Promotion Division). The Kumamoto DX Promotion Consortium is a framework for companies, organizations, and administrative bodies to collaborate and create new value using digital technology, aiming to promote digitalization and DX within Kumamoto Prefecture. It boasts approximately 800 member companies, including diverse members from both within and outside the prefecture. This fiscal year, station, together with YOMIKO and Lbose, aims to evolve the consortium from a mere information-sharing platform into a co-creation community where members proactively engage, leading to the resolution of regional issues and the social implementation of DX. As a first step, station, in collaboration with YOMIKO and in partnership with Kumamoto Prefecture, has developed and launched the 'Civic Pride School for Consortium,' an academic program designed to discover and develop core human resources who will drive the social implementation of DX and solve regional challenges. ■ What is the 'Civic Pride School for Consortium'? This program is a practical, hands-on program that starts from the motivation and awareness of each participant, connecting them with regional and social challenges and opportunities to foster core human resources who will co-create the future of the region. The program consists of two main components: 'Formulating a Personal VISION' and 'Acquiring Practical Skills.' Participants clarify their own motivations and awareness of issues, delve deeply into regional challenges and needs to find their connection to the region, and formulate a concrete vision for co-creating the region's future. They then learn specific methods for planning and practice to realize that vision, supporting them in shaping their 'own actions' within the region. The program is scheduled to be held in four face-to-face sessions from July to October 2026. Prior to the start, an information session will be held on June 9, 2026, at XOSS POINT. in Kumamoto City to explain the school's purpose, program content, and application methods. ■ Why are 'Core Human Resources' necessary? In recent years, regional issues have become more complex, with an increasing number of themes that are difficult for governments or specific companies to solve alone. On the other hand, there are individuals in local communities who have a sense of issues or a desire to 'start something' but cannot take the first step because they don't know how to get involved, who to collaborate with, or how to sustain their activities. To continuously enhance the value of a region or facility, it is crucial not only to implement events or programs but also to find people who are rooted in the area, those who are starting to act with a sense of mission, and those who can create small-scale practices by involving others, and to build relationships with them. ■ station's Role station has focused on discovering, interviewing, and building relationships with local players who could become such core human resources. They have organized who should be involved, what kind of purpose or touchpoints make participation easier, and what kind of space should be designed for sustainable co-creation, based on the local context and project goals. The 'Civic Pride School for Consortium' incorporates the design knowledge cultivated through these practices: structurally understanding regional issues and resources, visualizing potential core human resources, and nurturing them into small co-creation movements. ■ Implementation of a Development Program to Foster Civic Pride This program utilizes not only the regional issues and characteristics raised by participating local governments and attendees but also YOMIKO's 'Town Insight 5 Indicators' to objectively derive 'what is needed in the region' and 'what is lacking in the region' from data indicators, helping participants understand regional characteristics with high resolution. Furthermore, by realizing one's own motivations and awareness of issues in connection with the region, the program fosters pride and attachment to the city, as well as a sense of ownership ('I am involved'), sparking a desire to contribute to making the region better. This creates a virtuous cycle and chain of activities. Curriculum Leading to Practice and Co-creation Through the training program, participants acquire ways of thinking about planning and practice, as well as the mindset and attitude for collaborating with others. It encourages 'intrinsic activities' that go beyond mere learning, allowing participants to shape actions within the region based on their own feelings, utilizing digital tools. Design to Attract Diverse Participants The program emphasizes 'motivation' – the desire to act based on one's own awareness of issues – rather than prior experience. The interaction of motivated individuals with diverse thoughts shares new perspectives and awareness of issues, creating a chain of proactive actions. ・DAY 1 Takuji Noguchi, Director, Community Creation Business Bureau, YOMIKO ・DAY 2 Norikazu Seki, Urban Lifestyle Research Institute, Community Creation Business Bureau, YOMIKO Tomoko Sakamoto, Space Business Room, Community Creation Business Bureau, YOMIKO ・DAY 3 / DAY 4 Yusuke Watanabe, CEO, station Inc. Recruitment begins June 4 (Application period: June 4 – June 26). Approximately 30 participants will be recruited. ■ What is the 'Kumamoto DX Promotion Consortium'? The 'Kumamoto DX Promotion Consortium' is a promotion organization for industry-academia-government collaboration, currently with approximately 800 member companies. From this fiscal year, aiming for a transformation into an 'autonomous community' where members proactively engage and drive activities, the 'Civic Pride School for Consortium' has been newly launched. Kumamoto is a region expected to grow, driven by the entry of advanced technology companies, redevelopment, and expanding inbound demand. This consortium promotes co-creation where diverse organizations, including local companies, unions, groups, educational institutions, administrative bodies, and financial institutions, learn together and spur each other on through practice. ■ Inquiries about Discovering Regional Leaders and Designing Co-creation Communities station, through 'Localist,' which is centered on a database of over 3,000 local players that cannot be found through desktop research by its specialized research team, can support the discovery and relationship-building of regional leaders and players who may resonate with a project. Furthermore, through community design at 'STATION Ai,' Japan's largest incubation facility in Aichi Prefecture, station has been working to form an ecosystem where companies, local governments, startups, and regional players connect across fields, continuously generating pitch events, study sessions, fieldwork, and co-creation proposals. Through these practices, rooted in the region...