#Japan #Social Innovation #Chiba #Yamana Academy #Southern Boso

The Launch of Yamana Academy for Business

In Southern Boso, Chiba Prefecture, a new initiative called Yamana Academy for Business has emerged, aiming to tackle social challenges and utilize local resources. Operated by AWATHIRD LLC, this platform serves as a social experiment venue where businesses, universities, local governments, and practitioners collaborate.

A New Approach to Social Challenges

As the importance of addressing social issues, such as those outlined by the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, rises, companies and organizations are increasingly grappling with questions about their roles in society. Yamana Academy for Business goes beyond traditional models of support, which typically involve CSR and donations, by offering practical learning opportunities that intertwine their core business activities with local engagement. Participants will engage with pressing issues faced by Southern Boso, such as vacant homes, wildlife damage, biodiversity loss, and the decline of primary industries, fostering sustainable relationships through shared learning and practices.

Connecting Urban and Rural Perspectives

Located just 90 minutes from Tokyo, the Southern Boso area offers unique real-life challenges that act as a social experiment platform (Social Field). Yamana Academy for Business views these challenges as opportunities for urban enterprises and universities to stimulate new ideas, businesses, and talent development through collaboration with local residents.

By stepping outside traditional office environments and immersing themselves in the local context, participants can reassess their organizational structures and work styles. Programs like field training retreats and dialogues with regional practitioners provide chances to gain fresh perspectives that are hard to come by in urban settings.

Education and Engagement Across Overlapping Borders

The academy emphasizes an unconventional approach to education, encouraging participants to engage with complexities rather than seeking straightforward answers. By addressing