#Japan #Tokyo #community support #Atotsugi Koshien #ACT Programs

The 7th Atotsugi Koshien Event: Bridging Future Successors

Overview of the Event

The 7th Atotsugi Koshien, organized by the operating secretariat, aims to enhance connections and learning opportunities for successors of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and associated support organizations, including municipalities, financial institutions, and commercial organizations. This year, the event will include the ACT-MeetUp and ACT-Basic programs, designed to empower future business leaders.

Atotsugi Koshien itself is a pitch event where potential successors showcase innovative business ideas utilizing the resources from family businesses. The goal is to cultivate the capabilities of successors in strategy formulation, communication, and execution, thereby nurturing the next generation of local economic leaders.

ACT Program Features

The ACT program, which stands for Atotsugi Community Trigger, comprises various online and in-person initiatives targeting both successors and support organizations. The program this year includes six regional ACT-MeetUps and the ACT-Basic foundational course, empowering participants by expanding the horizons of challenges and providing practical learning opportunities.

ACT-MeetUp: Regional Networking Events

The ACT-MeetUp events will bring together successors, support organizations, and relevant stakeholders throughout the six regions. These in-person gatherings will feature presentations and discussions led by accomplished successors and supporters.

Event Details:

• - Target Audience: Current successors, potential successors, and stakeholders interested in supporting the Atotsugi community.
• - Capacity: Approximately 30 participants per event (including successors and supporters).

Schedule and Locations:

1. Kyushu & Okinawa: September 17 (Thursday) at HITTOBE, Kagoshima City
2. Chugoku & Shikoku: September 30 (Wednesday) at Megriba Industrial Exchange Space, Yamaguchi City
3. Kinki: October 1 (Thursday) at BONCHI, Nara City
4. Chubu: October 2 (Friday) at hiraku, Toyama City
5. Kanto: October 5 (Monday) at Shibusawa MIX, Saitama City
6. Hokkaido & Tohoku: October 6 (Tuesday) at Smart Innovation Lab Sendai, Sendai City

Main Program Highlights:

• - Overview presentation of Atotsugi Koshien
• - Keynote speeches
• - Panel discussions with finalists, regional ambassadors, and supporters
• - Workshops focusing on regional challenges
• - Networking opportunities

Each region’s event will be designed to facilitate experience sharing among local participants and support players, constructing an environment where attendees can envision specific challenges and actionable strategies.

ACT-Basic: Foundational Online Course

The ACT-Basic course is focused on helping successors and potential successors develop essential perspectives and methodologies for launching new ventures and tackling challenges. Topics covered will include identifying the strengths of the family business, foundational strategies for business creation, and effective presentation techniques to support their journey as successors.

Key Audience for ACT-Basic:

• - Individuals looking to initiate new challenges but are uncertain about where to begin
• - Those wishing to develop business strategies that leverage their company’s strengths
• - Prospective participants of the Atotsugi Koshien
• - Individuals wanting to connect with successors and support organizations from other regions

Scheduled Sessions:

1. ACT-Basic Session 1: October 27 (Tuesday) from 10:30 to 12:00, featuring Hidekuni Kuroda, President of Kokuyo Corporation.
2. ACT-Basic Session 2: October 29 (Thursday) from 10:00 to 12:00, led by Kyohei Hori, CEO of Civic Power Co., Ltd.
3. ACT-Basic Session 3: November 2 (Monday) from 13:00 to 15:00, presented by Kamari Maeda, presentation creator and artist.

Conclusion

The ACT program, spearheaded by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, seeks to foster a supportive ecosystem for successors and their respective communities. For more information and to apply for the programs, participants can visit the special ACT program page at ACT Program.

With the reoccurring theme of empowerment and collaboration, the 7th Atotsugi Koshien stands as a hallmark initiative in supporting the next generation of business leaders and enriching local economies across Japan.