#Japan #Nara #Mirai Kuru Lab #TEA&THINGS #Entrepreneurship Promotion

Mirai Kuru Lab's Impact in Local Entrepreneurship Education

In a significant move towards revitalizing local communities, Mirai Kuru Lab, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has been selected to participate in Nara Prefecture’s 'Dive+Su Meetup' open innovation program. This initiative aims to enhance entrepreneurship education for students in the region, particularly in the town of Tahara. The program, managed by eiicon, fosters collaboration between startups, local governments, and educational institutions to tackle community challenges.

The Significance of Dive+Su Meetup

'Dive+Su Meetup' is an innovative program designed to bring startups and local government bodies together to solve administrative and regional issues. By selecting Mirai Kuru Lab for the theme of 'Revitalizing the Community,' Nara Prefecture is amplifying its commitment to nurturing future entrepreneurs. The collaboration aims to realize Tahara’s vision of creating an industrial cluster, by working closely with local businesses to develop new educational programs. This effort not only focuses on individual development but also aims at invigorating the local economy through the education of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Educational Program Overview

The program is set to include experiential learning opportunities that merge educational and industrial values. One such initiative will revolve around Mirai Kuru Lab’s upcoming fruit herb tea brand, 'TEA&THINGS.' This initiative advocates for real-world experience by allowing participants to collaborate on flavor development workshops for the tea brand.

Through these workshops, participants will engage in product development processes, providing them with the chance to contemplate their roles in society and their connections with their communities. The aim isn't to push entrepreneurship as an endpoint but rather to cultivate entrepreneurial thought by teaching participants about value creation and the connections between people and work.

One of the core elements includes using local ingredients, like the region's specialty dried strawberries, to challenge participants to think about how to communicate the value of local produce. This aspect not only aids in deepening their understanding and affection for their local area but also encourages them to gain perspectives on connecting with regions beyond their own. Reflecting on their experiences in product development will encourage participants to articulate their interests and future aspirations, guiding them towards discovering their own ways of engagement without confining themselves to traditional career paths.

This initiative aims to assess the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education, especially in small municipalities, and ultimately contribute to the development of future talents and community revitalization.

TEA&THINGS: A Unique Brand

TEA&THINGS is positioned as a community media-style fruit herb tea brand that creatively utilizes irregular fruits and herbs from the region, showcasing the stories behind these ingredients. Developed in collaboration with students and local entrepreneurs in Fukushima in 2022, this brand seeks to create new value from regional resources.

For more information about TEA&THINGS, visit TEA&THINGS official site.

About Mirai Kuru Lab

Mirai Kuru Lab operates under the motto 'Wanting to Grow Up Fast,' aiming to cultivate children’s abilities to forge their futures from their passions and discomforts. The organization implements various educational programs that foster value-creating talent through entrepreneurship education, inquiry-based learning, and community-engaged practical projects. Through initiatives like 'Academee,' targeting university and high school students, they provide platforms for students to participate in practical experiences such as educational event support and corporate social media management. Mirai Kuru Lab's goal is to expand new models that connect education with the real world through such industry-academia collaborations.