Transforming Kawachinagano: The Future of a Selective City through Job Theory

In an innovative collaboration, Kawachinagano City, led by Mayor Shuhei Nishino, teams up with Disciplina Inc., a transformation consultancy based in Shibuya, Tokyo, to host a unique workshop targeting leaders from the city's Growth Strategy Bureau. This workshop utilizes the globally recognized Job Theory proposed by Professor Clayton Christensen to address urban challenges and policy formulation.

Why Job Theory?

The conventional demographic data, focusing merely on attributes like "30s child-rearing generation," fails to adequately explain the diverse motivations behind people's behaviors. Job Theory dives deeper, questioning why individuals choose specific services or cities. By applying this framework to municipal management, the project aims to develop policies that are truly favored by citizens and businesses, breaking away from traditional methods.

Purpose of the Workshop: Shifting Perspective from Structure to Co-Creation

As population declines and lifestyle diversification become more pronounced, there’s a pressing need for municipal policies that recognize and respond to individual needs. The workshop intends to analyze the underlying psychological desires concerning urban advancement among citizens and businesses using Job Theory. This initiative is not just an exercise; it’s a proof-of-concept that promotes a broader understanding of pressing challenges.

Exploring Key Themes in the Workshop

The workshop will delve into three main themes, gathering insights while examining ongoing projects:

1. Future Aspirations of Parenting Generations

How do residents from outside the city and currently active generations feel about their daily lives, including their essential values, anxieties, and expectations? This examination aims to extend beyond mere evaluation of systems and subsidies, seeking ways to enhance the quality of life in Kawachinagano.

2. Designing Unforgettable Experiences in Minami Hanadai

In the Minami Hanadai area, a project is underway to enhance the charm and vitality of the city through the construction of a soccer stadium and the comprehensive redevelopment of local parks. The focus will be not just on the facilities themselves, but also on the experiences they offer to both citizens and visitors, thereby improving the area’s overall appeal.

3. Collaborating with Local SME Owners

What visions do local business owners desire to achieve through their enterprises? This theme seeks to identify how the city can synergize its resources and networks to assist these entrepreneurs. Through this process, new cooperative models between local governments and businesses can be developed.

Future Outlook: Toward an Open Municipal System of Co-Creation

This workshop serves not merely as a platform to devise a complete policy but marks the beginning of a continuous exploration of "what can be done in this city" alongside businesses, younger generations, and parenthood-focused communities. It aims to build a more engaged and open municipal structure.

Disciplina will leverage insights from this initiative to support future operational reforms in local enterprises and technologies ranging from AI integrations to foster a sustainable local ecosystem, working closely with Kawachinagano City.

Comments from Stakeholders

According to the Director of the Growth Strategy Bureau of Kawachinagano City: "Our bureau emphasizes understanding not just the surface-level issues but the fundamental essence of sustainable regional development. The workshop proposed by Disciplina is expected to enhance perspectives that city personnel need to experience. It will refine the problem-setting abilities of civil servants, leading to more valuable policies for citizens and businesses."

Disciplina's CEO, Shingo Yamamoto, expressed: "One of our core philosophies is to revitalize Japan from local communities. Accurately recognizing and embodying the deep, unique attractions of a region—along with its residents' true wishes—holds the key to regional economic revival. This project marks a pivotal moment to showcase Kawachinagano's potential and broadcast its appeal nationwide. We see this pilot initiative as proof of localities' infinite possibilities and aspire to propagate this innovative public-private partnership model across Japan."

Workshop Overview

- Target Group: 19 group leaders from the Growth Strategy Bureau of Kawachinagano City
- Content: Issue extraction and policy prototyping using Job Theory
- Date: July 15, 2026
- Location: Conference Room, Kawachinagano City Hall

Contact Information

Disciplina Inc.:
Website: Disciplina
Contact: Contact Disciplina
Kawachinagano City, Growth Strategy Bureau:
Contact: Kogubō, Public-Private Partnership Division
Phone: 0721-53-1111 (Extension 327)