Synergy Marketing Partners with Wakayama Shimbun to Enhance FAVTOWN Initiatives

Partnership Announcement

Synergy Marketing, headquartered in Osaka, has officially announced a collaboration with Wakayama Shimbun to support the FAVTOWN initiative. This partnership, formed on July 29, 2026, aims to enhance community connection and engagement through a platform focused on fostering relationships between young individuals who have left Wakayama for education or employment and their home region.

The Role of Wakayama Shimbun

Wakayama Shimbun will leverage its extensive local network of businesses to promote participation and sponsorship in the FAVTOWN program. The agreement is expected to strengthen efforts in delivering the value of FAVTOWN to regional enterprises and create a more structured approach to solving local business challenges through advanced SaaS solutions and digital marketing support.

Expanding Community Ties

Since its launch in February 2023, FAVTOWN Wakayama has worked to connect over 9,000 registered members with their home region through initiatives like “Furusato-bin.” These efforts aim to maintain ties for those who have moved away for educational or job opportunities. However, FAVTOWN recognizes that expanding these connections requires deeper collaboration with local enterprises and increasing participation.

By partnering with Wakayama Shimbun, the initiative aims to create a synergistic relationship that combines local connections with a robust digital foundation provided by FAVTOWN. This collaboration is seen as a way to foster new mechanisms that connect local businesses with individuals, thereby nurturing an ecosystem that supports U-turns back to the region and community contributions.

Objectives of the Partnership

With this agreement, Wakayama Shimbun is expected to play a significant role in promoting local initiatives and connecting people in and out of the region. This will create opportunities for local businesses to showcase their goods, services, and technologies, further facilitating ties that may lead to future engagements or returns to Wakayama.

By enabling Wakayama Shimbun to support regional participation and connections, the trust built over years with local communities will blend seamlessly with FAVTOWN's expertise in customer relationship management and digital technologies. This combination aims to develop sustainable systems that welcome more local businesses into the future of Wakayama’s community.

Comments from Leaders

Tsutomu Tsuchiya, President of Wakayama Shimbun

Tsuchiya emphasized the importance of maintaining connections for youth leaving Wakayama and highlighted the region’s rich culture, resources, and excellent companies. He believes FAVTOWN can bridge the gap and wants to leverage the partnership to effectively highlight Wakayama’s regional charm, encouraging a deeper connection between local businesses and individuals.

Hiroshi Okudaira, CEO of Synergy Marketing

Okudaira expressed enthusiasm regarding the collaboration with Wakayama Shimbun and acknowledged the strength that this partnership will bring to fostering local initiatives. He noted that fostering continuous connections with those who have left the area is critical for community development and believes this partnership will facilitate a broader reach and engagement with both local businesses and individuals.

FAVTOWN Overview

FAVTOWN serves as a members-only platform designed to enrich relationships between individuals with ties to Wakayama, particularly focusing on young people who have ventured away for education or jobs. The platform functions as a CRM tool dedicated to forming lasting community ties and includes features such as special delivery services, local news, digital membership cards, and population engagement initiatives. Launched in Wakayama City, FAVTOWN has expanded to cover 15 municipalities across five prefectures by July 2026.

Future Plans

FAVTOWN aims to continue expanding its model of sustaining community ties across Japan. The initiative is open to consultations from local governments and entities facing challenges due to population decline, providing solutions through a shared commitment to community engagement.