#Japan #Community Development #Shizuoka #AlphaDrive #Shizuoka Railway

AlphaDrive and Shizuoka Railway Join Forces for Regional Revitalization

In a significant move towards revitalizing Shizuoka Prefecture, AlphaDrive, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has announced a strategic partnership with Shizuoka Railway, headquartered in Shizuoka City. This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at creating a sustainable framework that ensures benefits circulate within the local community.

Background of the Partnership

Founded in 2018, AlphaDrive has been at the forefront of driving sustainable new business creation by developing and offering various solutions to over 230 companies. The company established AlphaDrive Kochi in 2019, collaborating with local governments, financial institutions, and educational organizations to support new business development and human resource training for local enterprises. This initiative, which started in Kochi, has expanded across the country, with AlphaDrive now nurturing business seeds in nearly 20 regions nationwide.

Recognizing the need to not only accompany business development but also to act as a driving force within the community, AlphaDrive has invested in projects such as the succession of ryokan businesses lacking heirs and collaboration with local artisans to sell traditional crafts.

A Shared Vision with Shizuoka Railway

The partnership with Shizuoka Railway aligns with AlphaDrive's mission to contribute to the development of local communities. Under the leadership of Governor Yasuyuki Suzuki, Shizuoka Prefecture is actively fostering innovation through support for startups and collaboration with local businesses. Both AlphaDrive and Shizuoka Railway share a vision of creating a thriving system where benefits flow back to the region.

This collaboration was sparked by an encounter between Yusuke Doi, Head of AlphaDrive Tokai, and Masaki Nimura, Head of Future Business Creation at Shizuoka Railway. Engaging in discussions about their mutual desire to enhance Shizuoka Prefecture, they formalized their commitment through a partnership agreement. The project aims to increase the vibrancy of Shizuoka through co-creation and tangible business solutions to local challenges.

The Project’s Goals and Strategies

With Shizuoka Railway's 100-year history of supporting the local community and AlphaDrive's expertise in business development, the project intends to implement specific initiatives designed to revitalize the prefecture:

1. Co-creating and Promoting Shizuoka's Charm:
By collaborating with local enterprises, the project will rediscover and promote Shizuoka's tourism resources and local products, engaging in content development, product creation, and market expansion efforts.

2. Encouraging New Business Creation:
The partnership will foster new business development and open innovation among local businesses by leveraging AlphaDrive’s business development know-how. This includes providing support for conducting necessary activities like exploring potential business opportunities and implementing pilot projects, utilizing Shizuoka Railway's extensive network and assets.

3. Building a Community for Shizuoka's Future:
The project aims to connect visionary individuals passionate about shaping Shizuoka's future, facilitating a vibrant community that fosters collaborative efforts. Future expansion plans include involving other local enterprises and entrepreneurs in this initiative.

Upcoming Joint Events

To commemorate the launch of this partnership, AlphaDrive and Shizuoka Railway will co-host an event targeting individuals working on community development and local issue resolution. The event, themed "New Initiatives for Revitalizing Shizuoka Prefecture and Resolving Local Challenges," is scheduled for September 18, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at =ODEN in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City.

Expecting around 30 participants, the event is free of charge and aims to gather companies, local governments, and entrepreneurs engaged in revitalizing Shizuoka. Noteworthy speakers include Shohei Omori, CEO of Whiskey&Co., Masaki Nimura, Head of Future Business Creation at Shizuoka Railway, and Yusuke Doi, Co-CEO of Unij and Head of AlphaDrive Tokai.

For registration, interested attendees can apply via the following link: Event Registration.

Remarks from Leaders

Masaki Nimura, Head of Future Business Creation at Shizuoka Railway:
Since its establishment in 1919, Shizuoka Railway has been closely aligned with the development of Shizuoka Prefecture. Given the pressing social issues of declining population and aging demographics, we believe it's crucial to drive new value creation in our local context. Through this partnership with AlphaDrive, we harness our long-standing local connections and AlphaDrive's business development expertise to contribute to Shizuoka's revitalization in unprecedented ways.

Yusuke Doi, Co-CEO of Unij and Head of AlphaDrive Tokai:
As a native of Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture, contributing to the region's progress has always been my dream. To maximize local potential, collaboration with land-rooted enterprises is essential. Shizuoka Railway possesses invaluable relationships and assets developed over a century, along with a deep commitment to the region, making them ideal partners. We share a vision of establishing a system where benefits circulate within the community, driving the discovery of Shizuoka's charm and creating new businesses alongside a community of people who love Shizuoka.

Our commitment is to work tirelessly towards making Shizuoka an even more attractive and vibrant region in the coming decades.

Contact Information

For inquiries, please reach out to:
Shizuoka Railway Co., Ltd.
Future Business Creation Department, Taiki Endo
[email protected]

AlphaDrive, Inc.
Regional Co-Creation Business Division, Masayuki Ishikawa
[email protected]