ATOMica Partners with Nobeoka City to Promote Local Job Opportunities for Students

In a bid to tackle the critical issue of youth outflow from Nobeoka City, ATOMica, a social coworking startup based in Miyazaki, is launching a collaborative project with the city. The goal is to showcase the charm of local businesses to students, aiming to create pathways encouraging them to either return to their hometowns after graduation or seek employment within the city.

Starting October 30, 2025, a series of three events will be held not only in Nobeoka City but also in Fukuoka (a city known for its high number of young transplants from Nobeoka) to engage students. These initiatives will provide opportunities for direct connections between students and local businesses, seeking to fill the void created by the ever-increasing number of young residents leaving the area for education and employment.

Background of the Initiative

According to the “Nobeoka City Population Vision,” there were 3,762 outgoing residents in 2019 compared to just 3,229 incoming residents. This ongoing trend emphasizes the necessity to understand and engage local youth before they decide to leave. An alarming aspect is the significant number of young people moving to Fukuoka (463 individuals) and other municipalities within the prefecture (1,521 individuals).

To reverse this trend, it’s imperative that students familiarize themselves with the allure of local enterprises during their studies—building lasting connections that could influence their career decisions. Therefore, this project targets students studying both within the Fukuoka area and those attending schools across Miyazaki Prefecture. By offering company introductions and practical internship experiences, it seeks to promote local employment and the idea of U-turns back to their roots.

ATOMica is well-equipped for this venture, having a strong background in connecting communities and its operation of roughly 50 facilities nationwide.

Project Overview

Benefits of Participation

To ensure a seamless experience for businesses participating in the project, ATOMica will facilitate interactions with students, designing the engagement to foster genuine connections. Here are some of the key advantages for participating companies:

1. Direct Outreach to Potential U-Turn Candidates
Utilizing ATOMica’s extensive network, companies can directly reach out to students associated with Nobeoka, ensuring targeted engagement with those likely to return after graduating.

2. Enhanced Student Understanding and Motivation
Events designed by ATOMica leverage its experience in creating engaging programs, which spark student interest. Community managers from ATOMica will guide these engagements, helping alleviate any trepidation students may have regarding local employment opportunities.

3. Long-term Relationship Building and Recruitment
The initiative aims to foster a community that keeps the lines of communication open between students and companies, transitioning relationships into future recruitment channels.

Event Schedule

1. Internship Accepting Seminar
- Date: October 30, 2025
- Location: Nobeoka Coworking Space, Nobeoka
- Host: Natsuki Kuwabata (Internship Coordinator, Miyazaki University)
- Target Audience: Local businesses in Nobeoka
- Content: Case studies, workshops, and individualized consultation for designing and executing internship programs.

2. Networking Event with Fukuoka Students
- Date: November 20-21, 2025
- Location: Fukuoka Prefecture (venue TBD)
- Target Audience: Local Nobeoka businesses (first 8 companies) and interested students (first 20 students)
- Content: Discussions with career representatives from Fukuoka universities, and a tour promoting mutual understanding between students and businesses.

3. 1-Day Industry Experience
- Dates: February 17-20, 2026
- Location: Various company offices in Nobeoka
- Target Audience: First 12 companies in Nobeoka and interested students
- Content:
- Day 1: Orientation (overview of companies, life in Nobeoka, interaction workshops, and networking event)
- Days 2-4: Real-world job experiences and team interactions.

About ATOMica

Founded in April 2019, ATOMica, operating over 50 facilities nationwide, embodies a startup spirit that emphasizes social coworking. Their mission transcends mere workspace provisions; they aim to continually foster engaging environments that encourage exchange, collaboration, and community integration for stakeholders ranging from enterprises and municipalities to universities. The company’s effort reflects an aligned investment in revitalizing local economies and reversing youth outmigration.

Company Overview

- Company Name: ATOMica
- Founded: April 5, 2019
- Executives: Co-CEOs Mizuki Shimada and Kazuki Minuhara
- Headquarters: 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
- Business Overview: Support for the establishment and management of coworking spaces, planning and operation of industry-academia collaborative projects, and training for talent matching specifically within the Social Coworking domain.
- Corporate Website: https://atomica.co.jp
- Community Manager Specific Website: https://atomica-communitymanager.com