New Product Development Program Launched in Shibetsu Town for Local High School Students
In a groundbreaking initiative, Shibetsu Town, Shibetsu High School, and Trustbank have come together to launch an innovative Product Development Program tailored for students. This program, set to commence in late April 2025, aims to harness the rich local resources of Shibetsu with the engaging perspectives of high school students, creating an interactive platform for youth involvement in community economic activities.
This collaborative agreement, signed on April 14, 2025, is designed to promote the development, improvement, and discovery of new products that utilize local specialties. By tapping into the remarkable resources of Shibetsu, the program intends to enhance the region's economic sustainability while fostering student creativity and local pride.
Under this initiative, students will engage in practical classes focused on product development using local foods and crafts. They will propose new ideas, refine existing products, and plan effective marketing strategies to showcase Shibetsu's unique offerings. The developed products will be sold via the e-commerce platform 'Meibutsu Choice', run by Trustbank, ensuring the community's culinary treasures gain visibility at a national level.
The overarching goals of the program are to increase local engagement in specialty product creation and enhance the community brand’s appeal while encouraging local youth to consider future careers within Shibetsu. The students’ active participation is designed to instill a sense of belonging and pride in their local environment, ultimately leading to influences on local employment trends post-graduation.
The proposed timeline for this initiative includes discussions on class content and selection of target products and issues starting in April 2025, followed by a series of practical classes until August. By September of the same year, the developed products are expected to be listed on the e-commerce site as well as on the Hometown Tax donation service.
Shibetsu Town's mayor, Masahito Yamaguchi, expressed his excitement about this partnership. He emphasized that this collaboration will help high school students develop a deeper connection to their community, enrich the local educational landscape, and stimulate regional revitalization through new product development. The involvement of local businesses in creating new products is seen as a catalyst for growth and a unique opportunity to promote Shibetsu on a larger scale.
Tomomi Fukui, principal of Shibetsu High School, shared her enthusiasm regarding the program, highlighting previous successful classes where students integrated local ingredients into meal planning. This recent initiative aims to further show appreciation for Shibetsu's local resources while effectively communicating the town's charm to a broader audience.
Finally, Kenichi Kawamura, CEO of Trustbank, commented on the abundance of natural beauty and regional specialties of Shibetsu, such as salmon and caviar. He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining connections between the community and traditional industries in the face of modernization and aging populations but is optimistic that such initiatives will deepen connections between students and local resources.
Through this project, the three parties aim to cultivate a new generation of local champions who take pride in their community, ensuring that Shibetsu Town continues to thrive in the future. As each phase of the program unfolds, it promises to bring together students and local businesses in meaningful ways that promote both education and local economic growth.
This collaborative agreement, signed on April 14, 2025, is designed to promote the development, improvement, and discovery of new products that utilize local specialties. By tapping into the remarkable resources of Shibetsu, the program intends to enhance the region's economic sustainability while fostering student creativity and local pride.
Under this initiative, students will engage in practical classes focused on product development using local foods and crafts. They will propose new ideas, refine existing products, and plan effective marketing strategies to showcase Shibetsu's unique offerings. The developed products will be sold via the e-commerce platform 'Meibutsu Choice', run by Trustbank, ensuring the community's culinary treasures gain visibility at a national level.
The overarching goals of the program are to increase local engagement in specialty product creation and enhance the community brand’s appeal while encouraging local youth to consider future careers within Shibetsu. The students’ active participation is designed to instill a sense of belonging and pride in their local environment, ultimately leading to influences on local employment trends post-graduation.
The proposed timeline for this initiative includes discussions on class content and selection of target products and issues starting in April 2025, followed by a series of practical classes until August. By September of the same year, the developed products are expected to be listed on the e-commerce site as well as on the Hometown Tax donation service.
Shibetsu Town's mayor, Masahito Yamaguchi, expressed his excitement about this partnership. He emphasized that this collaboration will help high school students develop a deeper connection to their community, enrich the local educational landscape, and stimulate regional revitalization through new product development. The involvement of local businesses in creating new products is seen as a catalyst for growth and a unique opportunity to promote Shibetsu on a larger scale.
Tomomi Fukui, principal of Shibetsu High School, shared her enthusiasm regarding the program, highlighting previous successful classes where students integrated local ingredients into meal planning. This recent initiative aims to further show appreciation for Shibetsu's local resources while effectively communicating the town's charm to a broader audience.
Finally, Kenichi Kawamura, CEO of Trustbank, commented on the abundance of natural beauty and regional specialties of Shibetsu, such as salmon and caviar. He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining connections between the community and traditional industries in the face of modernization and aging populations but is optimistic that such initiatives will deepen connections between students and local resources.
Through this project, the three parties aim to cultivate a new generation of local champions who take pride in their community, ensuring that Shibetsu Town continues to thrive in the future. As each phase of the program unfolds, it promises to bring together students and local businesses in meaningful ways that promote both education and local economic growth.
Topics People & Culture）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.