Fukushima's Bandai Town Partners with Another Works for Co-Creation Initiatives
On December 23, 2025, Bandai Town in Fukushima Prefecture and Another Works, a company specializing in side job matching platforms, announced a collaborative agreement aimed at promoting the side job culture among public servants. This pioneering initiative emerges from recent changes allowing local public employees to engage in side jobs, catalyzed by the recommendation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The new regulations are designed to address challenges posed by Japan’s declining and aging population, as well as the increasingly complex issues in governance. Under these new guidelines, individuals looking to develop their careers will benefit from opportunities to gain new skills and knowledge through side jobs in the private sector.
Another Works has actively promoted the concept of multi-job working since its inception in May 2019, believing it fosters personal growth and career advancement by allowing individuals to explore various professional avenues. Their flagship service, the "Side Job Cloud," which connects individuals interested in side jobs with corporations and government entities, boasts an impressive track record of over 100,000 registered talents, 2,500 client companies, and 250 municipalities by the end of 2025. This partnership represents a major step towards creating a dynamic socio-economic environment where side jobs play a critical role.
The backdrop of this initiative lies in the changing social landscape of Japan that necessitates better utilization of human resources. The formal guidelines issued in June 2025 enable public employees to undertake side jobs, which are permitted under certain conditions. This shift is also a response to the growing demand from public servants for career autonomy, professional development, and self-actualization while addressing the municipalities' needs for specialized skill sets.
The potential benefits of engaging in side jobs for civil servants are immense. The practice could serve as a catalyst for organizational reform within Bandai Town, allowing staff to acquire additional skills and perspectives through their extra endeavors. The collaboration aims not only to elevate employee motivation and engagement but also to investigate how side jobs eventually impact organizational performance and service delivery.
The collaboration's primary objectives include:
1. Organizational Reform through Side Jobs: By enrolling Bandai Town employees in the "Side Job Cloud" platform, the project will enable staff to actively participate in side jobs, potentially acquiring new skills that enhance their work engagement. Specific initiatives will involve promoting registrations at Bandai Town, jointly researching the impacts of side jobs on employee engagement, and providing training opportunities for those pursuing side jobs.
2. Establishment and Sharing of Next-Generation Administrative Models: Another Works aims to disseminate the results from the Bandai Town pilot as a model for innovative public administration. Unlike previous models where external talents were temporarily involved, the new "Bandai Model" envisions a sustainable collaboration between public employees and side-job professionals, collaborating equally to tackle community challenges continuously.
The Bandai Town, located approximately 200 km north of Tokyo in the Aizu Basin, is renowned for its rich history and culture, with significant landmarks such as the historical temple, Enihiji, established by the monk Tokuitsu in the early Heian period. The town is a picturesque region characterized by its scenic views of Mount Bandai, renowned for its natural beauty, quality water, and local specialties including sake and soba.
Another Works envisions maximizing opportunities for everyone engaged in challenges. By establishing a culture that normalizes side jobs, the company aims to build infrastructure that facilitates career exploration without the need for drastic changes in personal circumstances. The commitment to innovating the work model reflects in their mission to create a robust environment where side jobs are recognized as a vital component of career development.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Bandai Town and Another Works marks an essential endeavor towards revising traditional administrative frameworks, promoting innovative practices, and adapting to the evolving needs of society. Through this initiative, the aim is to foster an environment that encourages lifelong learning and collaboration among public employees, ultimately benefiting both the individual and the community at large.
Another Works has actively promoted the concept of multi-job working since its inception in May 2019, believing it fosters personal growth and career advancement by allowing individuals to explore various professional avenues. Their flagship service, the "Side Job Cloud," which connects individuals interested in side jobs with corporations and government entities, boasts an impressive track record of over 100,000 registered talents, 2,500 client companies, and 250 municipalities by the end of 2025. This partnership represents a major step towards creating a dynamic socio-economic environment where side jobs play a critical role.
Background of Side Jobs for Public Officials
The backdrop of this initiative lies in the changing social landscape of Japan that necessitates better utilization of human resources. The formal guidelines issued in June 2025 enable public employees to undertake side jobs, which are permitted under certain conditions. This shift is also a response to the growing demand from public servants for career autonomy, professional development, and self-actualization while addressing the municipalities' needs for specialized skill sets.
The potential benefits of engaging in side jobs for civil servants are immense. The practice could serve as a catalyst for organizational reform within Bandai Town, allowing staff to acquire additional skills and perspectives through their extra endeavors. The collaboration aims not only to elevate employee motivation and engagement but also to investigate how side jobs eventually impact organizational performance and service delivery.
Objectives of the Pilot Project
The collaboration's primary objectives include:
1. Organizational Reform through Side Jobs: By enrolling Bandai Town employees in the "Side Job Cloud" platform, the project will enable staff to actively participate in side jobs, potentially acquiring new skills that enhance their work engagement. Specific initiatives will involve promoting registrations at Bandai Town, jointly researching the impacts of side jobs on employee engagement, and providing training opportunities for those pursuing side jobs.
2. Establishment and Sharing of Next-Generation Administrative Models: Another Works aims to disseminate the results from the Bandai Town pilot as a model for innovative public administration. Unlike previous models where external talents were temporarily involved, the new "Bandai Model" envisions a sustainable collaboration between public employees and side-job professionals, collaborating equally to tackle community challenges continuously.
The Bandai Town, located approximately 200 km north of Tokyo in the Aizu Basin, is renowned for its rich history and culture, with significant landmarks such as the historical temple, Enihiji, established by the monk Tokuitsu in the early Heian period. The town is a picturesque region characterized by its scenic views of Mount Bandai, renowned for its natural beauty, quality water, and local specialties including sake and soba.
A Vision with a Social Impact
Another Works envisions maximizing opportunities for everyone engaged in challenges. By establishing a culture that normalizes side jobs, the company aims to build infrastructure that facilitates career exploration without the need for drastic changes in personal circumstances. The commitment to innovating the work model reflects in their mission to create a robust environment where side jobs are recognized as a vital component of career development.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Bandai Town and Another Works marks an essential endeavor towards revising traditional administrative frameworks, promoting innovative practices, and adapting to the evolving needs of society. Through this initiative, the aim is to foster an environment that encourages lifelong learning and collaboration among public employees, ultimately benefiting both the individual and the community at large.
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