[ZESDA News Vol.41 (May 2026 Issue)] Director Sesaki Participates in the Judging of the World's Largest Student Business Idea Contest. The Reality of Japan as Seen by Student Entrepreneurs Around the World and the Future of Producer Ship

Non-profit organization ZESDA (Representative Director: Daisuke Sakuraba, Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter ZESDA) is a parallel career group that produces global-local businesses. We report on event information sponsored by our organization and project activities conducted domestically and internationally.

For details about ZESDA, please visit our official website.

1) Top News

Director Sesaki Participates in the Judging of the World's Largest Student Business Idea Contest. The Reality of Japan as Seen by Student Entrepreneurs Around the World and the Future of Producer Ship

On May 9, Director Sesaki participated as a judge in the HultPrize Japan preliminary round held at Tohoku University's Aobayama Campus. HultPrize is the longest-running student business contest, with a prize of $1 million for the world championship final and 200,000 yen, 100,000 yen, and 50,000 yen awarded in the Japan preliminary round, making it a large-scale event full of dreams for student entrepreneurs.

Director Sesaki serving as a judge in the HultPrize Japan preliminary round (right photo)

Although this was the Japan preliminary round, most of the presenters were international students, and all presentations and Q&A sessions were conducted in English. The international students' presentations focused on urgent issues in their home countries and discussed social issues as if they were their own. There were students who repeatedly tried and failed to create value, discovering and exploring solutions to problems, such as establishing production systems in local communities to circulate trial products and developing demos for the elderly to use and operate.

In Japan, social issues may not be as easily perceived as they are in developing countries, making it a challenge even to visit the site. When starting a new business in Japan, it is necessary to be aware of such structural difficulties. ZESDA, focusing on local Japan where challenges are piled up, is creating global-local businesses while demonstrating producer ship. From now on, we will continue to share this awareness and connect the world and the region.

・HultPrize Official Website

2) ZESDA-Sponsored Event Information

ZESDA Stand Up LIVE (ZSUL)

A seminar series where individuals active in parallel careers share their experiences.

Event Report

ZESDA Stand UP LIVE, a seminar series where individuals active in parallel careers share their experiences. The 13th installment featured Tsun-san, also known as the Chonmage Captain, who leads the volunteer group Smile for Nippon. Under the theme of 'Why do I take children from disaster-stricken areas to the World Cup?', we heard stories about sports, support for disaster-stricken areas, the future of children, and connections with the world.

3) Project Activity Reports

ZESDA is producing global-local businesses (overseas expansion of local small and medium-sized enterprises, etc.) in various regions of Japan. We report on the activity information of each project.

Shunran no Sato Project (Local Revitalization Production in the Noto Region, Ishikawa Prefecture)

Shunran no Sato Accepts School Trip Participants

Last year, Shunran no Sato, a farm stay in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, which accepted school trip participants for the first time after the disaster, is also accepting school trip participants this year. On May 13th, approximately 120 junior high school students from Meguro Ward, Tokyo visited Shunran no Sato. The students engaged in rice planting work in the paddy fields of the rural area, an experience unique to rural areas. ZESDA will continue to collaborate with the people of Shunran no Sato to strengthen not only the acceptance of school trips but also the acceptance of inbound tourists.

・Regeneration of 'Noto's Inn' after the Disaster Progresses: First School Trip Participants of the Season Visit Farm Inn Group in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, Cheers at Rice Planting Experience (Hokuriku Broadcasting, May 13, 2026)

・Shunran no Sato Project

Amami Project (Production in the Amami Oshima Region, Kagoshima Prefecture)

Amami Vanilla Trial Pudding Completed.

Mr. and Mrs. Shinjiro Hayashi, who successfully harvested vanilla for the first time in Amami Oshima, created a trial pudding using these vanilla beans. The pudding was finished with a gentle taste that wraps all the ingredients in the aroma of vanilla and makes you feel the sweetness of vanilla itself. Vanilla beans are completed after applying a special processing method called curing to the vanilla fruit after harvest. Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi are proceeding with the curing process, taking time and effort, referring to the processing methods practiced in Madagascar, the birthplace of vanilla. This time, an article summarizing the dedication of Mr. and Mrs. Kobayashi, who produce vanilla beans, was published in 'Neoterrain journal', a media operated by Senior Producer Miyake, so please take a look.

Trial Amami Vanilla Pudding

・Turning the Air of Amami into Fragrance.

'From Shibuya, Amami's Island Songs to Europe.' Crowdfunding is being conducted. Supporting the June performances in London, Oxford, and Paris

'Simasima', a restaurant in Shibuya that disseminates Amami culture, which is an important exchange hub for ZESDA's Amami Project, has launched a project to hold island song performances, workshops, and exchange events in London, Oxford, and Paris. Crowdfunding is being accepted until June 18th. After returning to Japan, the development of experience programs for inbound tourists and the creation of related populations are also planned, and ZESDA supports this project as an initiative to connect Amami with the world. Your support will be a step towards delivering Amami's island songs to the world. Please support us.

・[Connecting Island Songs and Black Sugar Shochu] We Want to Deliver Amami Culture to London, Oxford, and Paris!

'AquariPure' Project (Rebranding of Water Purifier)

Water Sampling Tour to Verify the Water of Gojo River in Kitanagoya City

In a water sampling tour to verify the water purification function of AquariPure in rivers and lakes across the country, we visited the Gojo River in Kitanagoya City. We filmed the process of scooping up river water in a bucket and actually using AquariPure to purify the water, and published it. We also explain how to actually use AquariPure, so please take a look.

・Water Sampling Tour 2026 in Gojo River, Kitanagoya City

・AquariPure HP

Singapore Branch Activities

'Charity Tea Party 2026 - Enjoying the Wind Furnace' with All Four Families of Aono Casting from Sano City Sponsoring and Exhibiting

The 20th Charity Tea Party 'Charity Tea Party 2026 - Enjoying the Wind Furnace' organized by the Singapore Association of Urasenke Tankokai was held in Singapore on May 24th. This time, the tea kettle of Aono Casting, a traditional craft from Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, was used and exhibited with the wind furnace as the theme. A larger tea party is also planned for October. ZESDA will continue to support the overseas sales channel development of local specialty products, including Aono Casting from Sano City.

・Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association

New York Branch Activities

ZESDA Sponsors Naoya Ogura Band at Japan Parade in 2026

The 'Japan Parade', an event that introduces Japanese culture and deepens Japan-US friendship, was held in New York on May 9th. The parade included,