#Japan #Kashima #Kashima City #QON Inc. #KASHIMA Colorful Base

Surpassing the Local Population: Kashima City’s Online Fan Community

In a groundbreaking development for Kashima City, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, the online fan community known as KASHIMA Colorful Base has surpassed its local population. The community currently boasts over 64,148 members, exceeding the city's population of 64,082 as of July 1, 2023. This marks a pivotal moment, indicating a rising interest from people across Japan in engaging with Kashima City, fostering interactions and participation beyond geographical boundaries.

Kashima's mayor, Shinichi Taguchi, expressed gratitude for this milestone, stating, "It fills me with joy to see our fan community grow to such a scale, where people from all over Japan are supporting Kashima and contributing to problem-solving initiatives. This collaborative effort signifies a new model of regional development. My hope is that KASHIMA Colorful Base will inspire members to visit Kashima and become partners in shaping its future."

KASHIMA Colorful Base serves as an inclusive platform for individuals currently residing in Kashima, those who used to live there, and others interested in the city. The community encourages discussions about Kashima’s unique lifestyle, ideal relocation options, tourism plans, and ideas for hometown tax donation rewards. Notably, 99.4% of its participants live outside the city, reflecting its expanded reach.

Since its inception in October 2021, this community has enabled direct interactions between city officials and participants through the platform Kashima City Hall's Direct Meeting Room. Feedback from community members is actively incorporated into the city’s policies, creating a dynamic and engaging environment. Participants have lauded the accessibility and relevance of the city hall’s operations, appreciating the interactive exchanges and forming connections that feel closer and friendlier than typical bureaucratic communications.

The commitment of city officials to engage sincerely with feedback has fostered a sense of trust and mutual respect. One notable outcome from this dialogue is the creation of Sen nen Yōkan, a local specialty linked to the community’s ideas. This initiative emerged through collaboration between local businesses and the community, epitomizing a successful model of joint creation involving the local government, community members, and enterprises. Community-driven contributions to hometown tax donations have surged by 18 times since the community's launch, contributing to record-high donation figures for Kashima City in 2024.

Kashima City is dedicated to enhancing its sustainable urban development by continuously implementing evidence-based policy-making practices, informed by data and participant suggestions. The success of the KASHIMA Colorful Base is positioned as a critical case study in the 2.0 Rural Revitalization approach—an innovative strategy focusing on addressing pressing regional challenges such as declining populations and economic depressions through digital transformation and the reassessment of local resources.

The initiative has garnered attention as a model implementation of the Hometown Resident Registration System, a key policy within the 2.0 Rural Revitalization framework.

About QON Inc.

QON Inc. plays a pivotal role in connecting communities with local governments and businesses through the development and management of online communities. Since its establishment in 1996, the company has built and operated fan communities for over 300 enterprises and municipalities, leveraging patented data science technologies to foster sustainable relationships and effective problem-solving. Successful case studies from various companies can be explored on their corporate website: QON Inc..

With such initiatives, Kashima City exhibits a commitment to effectively incorporating the opinions of those outside its geographical boundaries while addressing ongoing local issues through innovative solutions.