Consortium and 3 Municipalities Collaborate in Anticipation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 'Furusato Resident Registration System'. Launching a New 'Related Population Creation Model'.
Three municipalities (Iizuna, Kamikawa, Koshu) and the Furusato Resident Support Consortium have launched a joint project to build a related population creation model in anticipation of the new national system.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (4h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 06:34 (6h 31m after Collected)
The three municipalities of Iizuna Town in Nagano Prefecture, Kamikawa Town in Hokkaido, and Koshu City in Yamanashi Prefecture, along with the Furusato Resident Support Consortium (hereinafter 'Consortium'), are pleased to announce the launch of a joint project to build a new comprehensive collaboration model to accelerate the creation of related populations and the resolution of regional issues, in anticipation of the full-scale operation of the 'Furusato Resident Registration System' planned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
This project is a groundbreaking initiative, unprecedented nationwide. It utilizes the 'Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System (Corporate Dispatch Type)' to dispatch young talent from the Youth Career Education Organization (Consortium caretaker and member company), which has expertise in entrepreneurial education communities and business co-creation, to the three municipalities. By utilizing the knowledge and know-how of Consortium participating companies, including Rakuten Group, Inc. (Consortium secretariat and member company), the entrepreneurs will direct and implement solutions in the regions.
Prior to this announcement, a joint kickoff event with the 6 participating parties was held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
April 21 (Tue) 6-party Joint Kickoff Event (WeWork Shinagawa)
■ Background and Previous Initiatives
The 'Furusato Resident Registration System', which the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications aims to fully launch in FY2026, is an important measure that visualizes the 'related population'—people continuously involved in specific regions in diverse ways—and positions them as new leaders of regional revitalization. However, to effectively utilize the system, it is essential to build advanced PR and matching strategies, as well as a 'reception system' on the regional side.
To resolve this issue, the 'Furusato Resident Support Consortium' was established in September 2025, with Rakuten Group serving as the secretariat. The consortium has strongly promoted understanding of the system and nationwide awareness activities by holding offline events inviting key persons from local governments, private companies, and organizations, conducting weekly online roundtable discussions over 30 times, and hosting a conference for local assembly members nationwide in January 2026.
This current initiative is a practical phase where the collaboration foundation and know-how cultivated during the awareness phase will be fully implemented in actual municipal fields (Kamikawa Town, Iizuna Town, Koshu City) to demonstrate and establish various efforts ahead of the system's launch.
■ Unique Structure and Roles of Each Party
The most significant feature of this project is that the 'Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs' dispatched by the Youth Career Education Organization act as a hub, optimally combining the regional resources held by each municipality with the strengths of Consortium participating companies like Rakuten Group.
3 Municipalities (Iizuna Town in Nagano, Kamikawa Town in Hokkaido, Koshu City in Yamanashi)
Leveraging their respective regional characteristics and existing related population measures (e.g., Iizuna Town's fan club 'Iizuna Apple Club'), they will prepare experience programs and key roles where the related population can be active. As business principals, they will promote the resolution of regional issues while absorbing private sector know-how.
Furusato Resident Support Consortium
Promotes the expansion of awareness of the 'Furusato Resident Registration System' and the formation of communities for municipalities and related populations. Shares the results and know-how of this model project widely with other municipalities and leads policy recommendations towards the full operation of the system. Currently, over 700 individual members, a wide variety of companies, and local governments from various regions participate.
Rakuten Group, Inc.
Conducts the overall structure building and training support for this project. Formulates related population creation measures utilizing the extensive marketing data possessed by Rakuten and provides support for collaboration with various platforms.
Youth Career Education Organization
Utilizing its know-how in entrepreneurial education and business co-creation, it dispatches Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs to the 3 municipalities. Leveraging the knowledge gained from previous awareness activities, it will also implement regional initiatives through 'training of personnel to lead related populations' for local residents and businesses, and career formation support for young people.
■ Appointment Schedule of Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs
The appointment of Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs to the 3 municipalities is progressing sequentially according to the following schedule:
Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture: Appointed April 1, 2026
Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture: Scheduled appointment May 1, 2026
Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido: Scheduled appointment July 1, 2026
■ Regarding the Joint Event on Tuesday, April 21
On Tuesday, April 21, at WeWork Shinagawa, a grand joint event was held, gathering the mayors of the 3 municipalities, the entrepreneurs, and many related parties.
The mayors spoke about building the future of their regions utilizing Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs, and the 3 entrepreneurs expressed their enthusiasm for the community building that is about to begin.
■ Future Prospects
Moving forward, through this framework, we will create opportunities for regional activities that even busy human resources in urban areas can easily participate in, for example, by collaborating with diverse matching platforms that offer spot part-time jobs, seasonal part-time jobs, and social activities.
Through this initiative, the 6 parties will...
This project is a groundbreaking initiative, unprecedented nationwide. It utilizes the 'Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur System (Corporate Dispatch Type)' to dispatch young talent from the Youth Career Education Organization (Consortium caretaker and member company), which has expertise in entrepreneurial education communities and business co-creation, to the three municipalities. By utilizing the knowledge and know-how of Consortium participating companies, including Rakuten Group, Inc. (Consortium secretariat and member company), the entrepreneurs will direct and implement solutions in the regions.
Prior to this announcement, a joint kickoff event with the 6 participating parties was held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
April 21 (Tue) 6-party Joint Kickoff Event (WeWork Shinagawa)
■ Background and Previous Initiatives
The 'Furusato Resident Registration System', which the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications aims to fully launch in FY2026, is an important measure that visualizes the 'related population'—people continuously involved in specific regions in diverse ways—and positions them as new leaders of regional revitalization. However, to effectively utilize the system, it is essential to build advanced PR and matching strategies, as well as a 'reception system' on the regional side.
To resolve this issue, the 'Furusato Resident Support Consortium' was established in September 2025, with Rakuten Group serving as the secretariat. The consortium has strongly promoted understanding of the system and nationwide awareness activities by holding offline events inviting key persons from local governments, private companies, and organizations, conducting weekly online roundtable discussions over 30 times, and hosting a conference for local assembly members nationwide in January 2026.
This current initiative is a practical phase where the collaboration foundation and know-how cultivated during the awareness phase will be fully implemented in actual municipal fields (Kamikawa Town, Iizuna Town, Koshu City) to demonstrate and establish various efforts ahead of the system's launch.
■ Unique Structure and Roles of Each Party
The most significant feature of this project is that the 'Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs' dispatched by the Youth Career Education Organization act as a hub, optimally combining the regional resources held by each municipality with the strengths of Consortium participating companies like Rakuten Group.
3 Municipalities (Iizuna Town in Nagano, Kamikawa Town in Hokkaido, Koshu City in Yamanashi)
Leveraging their respective regional characteristics and existing related population measures (e.g., Iizuna Town's fan club 'Iizuna Apple Club'), they will prepare experience programs and key roles where the related population can be active. As business principals, they will promote the resolution of regional issues while absorbing private sector know-how.
Furusato Resident Support Consortium
Promotes the expansion of awareness of the 'Furusato Resident Registration System' and the formation of communities for municipalities and related populations. Shares the results and know-how of this model project widely with other municipalities and leads policy recommendations towards the full operation of the system. Currently, over 700 individual members, a wide variety of companies, and local governments from various regions participate.
Rakuten Group, Inc.
Conducts the overall structure building and training support for this project. Formulates related population creation measures utilizing the extensive marketing data possessed by Rakuten and provides support for collaboration with various platforms.
Youth Career Education Organization
Utilizing its know-how in entrepreneurial education and business co-creation, it dispatches Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs to the 3 municipalities. Leveraging the knowledge gained from previous awareness activities, it will also implement regional initiatives through 'training of personnel to lead related populations' for local residents and businesses, and career formation support for young people.
■ Appointment Schedule of Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs
The appointment of Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs to the 3 municipalities is progressing sequentially according to the following schedule:
Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture: Appointed April 1, 2026
Iizuna Town, Nagano Prefecture: Scheduled appointment May 1, 2026
Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido: Scheduled appointment July 1, 2026
■ Regarding the Joint Event on Tuesday, April 21
On Tuesday, April 21, at WeWork Shinagawa, a grand joint event was held, gathering the mayors of the 3 municipalities, the entrepreneurs, and many related parties.
The mayors spoke about building the future of their regions utilizing Regional Revitalization Entrepreneurs, and the 3 entrepreneurs expressed their enthusiasm for the community building that is about to begin.
■ Future Prospects
Moving forward, through this framework, we will create opportunities for regional activities that even busy human resources in urban areas can easily participate in, for example, by collaborating with diverse matching platforms that offer spot part-time jobs, seasonal part-time jobs, and social activities.
Through this initiative, the 6 parties will...