Announcing the Winners of the Local Government Side Job Awards 2025

The Local Government Side Job Awards 2025: Recognizing Innovation

On May 23, 2025, Another Works, a Tokyo-based startup, hosted the Local Government Side Job Awards 2025. This event honors projects that have tackled local community challenges through the innovative use of side jobs, demonstrating a commitment to improving local governance and community living. With a focus on impact, novelty, co-creation, and sustainability, these awards spotlight initiatives that exemplify the potential of collaboration between municipalities and skilled professionals working in diverse roles.

What Are the Local Government Side Job Awards?

This annual event aims to promote the utilization of side job talent within local governments. Launched this year by Another Works, the awards are a platform for recognizing impactful projects that have addressed regional issues. The goal is to encourage individuals and municipalities to collaborate and create better governmental services that enhance communities. As society faces pressing challenges like declining populations and aging infrastructures, leveraging the skills of side job talents becomes increasingly vital.

Highlights of the Local Government Side Job Awards 2025

Since October 2020, Another Works has facilitated the matching of municipalities with professionals possessing specialized skills. So far, over 220 municipalities have benefited from this initiative, resulting in more than 600 placements of professionals across various administrative roles. This year’s awards presented five standout projects:

Grand Prize / Design Award

- Project Name: Community Park "保育園らしくない保育園" (Nursery School Unlike Any Nursery)
- Recipient: Keido Toyota, Side Job Advisor from Tottori Prefecture, Hino-gun, Eofu Town.

This innovative project integrates a park with a nursery, addressing issues related to aging child care facilities and declining birth rates. Residents were actively engaged during its conception, culminating in the design philosophy "Diversity Fosters Social Cohesion." With the aim of opening in 2027, this initiative seeks to create one of Japan's most vibrant multi-generational community parks.

Marketing Award

- Project Name: Squid King Economic Impact Assessment Project
- Recipient: Toshiro Shirai, Side Job Advisor from Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture.

By leveraging a government grant of 25 million yen, this project assessed the impact of a squid monument built to promote tourism, breaking down perceptions and generating valuable insights for future initiatives.

Business Improvement / DX Award

- Project Name: Electronic Decision-Making System Implementation Project
- Recipient: Jin Yoshihiro, Side Job Advisor from Daitoa Town, Fukuoka Prefecture.

This project focused on enhancing administrative document management through digitalization while addressing challenges related to paper use and operational processes, laying the groundwork for a more efficient decision-making system.

Public Relations Award

- Project Name: Media Distribution Enhancement Project Centered on Study Abroad Initiatives
- Recipient: Mikan Yamada, Side Job Advisor from Uda City, Nara Prefecture.

Focusing on strengthening public outreach for a project connecting with Estonia, Yamada implemented strategies that significantly increased the city's media coverage and enhanced communication with journalists.

Human Resources / Work Style Award

- Project Name: Sustainable Recruitment Project
- Recipient: Tomoya Nagaki, Side Job Advisor from Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.

Amidst a high candidate withdrawal rate, Nagaki transformed the recruitment process to improve candidate experience, effectively lowering the withdrawal rate from 38% to 11% through a restructured approach that better communicated opportunities to prospective candidates.

About Another Works

Another Works operates as a comprehensive side job matching platform aimed at alleviating the shortage of specialized talents faced by local governments. The company’s vision emphasizes maximizing opportunities for individuals seeking challenges and driving substantial societal change through collaboration. With varied offerings like "Side Job Cloud for Public," "Side Job Cloud for Sport," and "Side Job Cloud for Academy," Another Works continuously champions the integration of side job talents into various sectors.

For more information, visit: Another Works Website

The Local Government Side Job Awards serve as an important reminder of how innovative effort and community spirit can bring about effective solutions to pressing regional challenges.