Rissho University Innovates with Four University-Industry Collaboration Projects for 2026

Rissho University's Faculty of Business Administration, led by Professor Hiroyoshi Fujii, is set to embark on an exciting path for the 2026 academic year with its four university-industry collaboration projects. These initiatives are designed to tackle pressing regional challenges using the power of business, specifically focusing on curbing food waste and creating sustainable business models.

The Philosophy Behind the Projects

The essence of these projects is rooted in the philosophy championed by past seminar students: to address societal issues through business solutions. This approach ensures continuity as it evolves from the experiences and lessons learned over the past six years. The current students, especially those in their second and third years, are poised to build upon this foundation by developing concrete products, branding, and promotional strategies.

Key Characteristics of the Initiatives

1. Connecting Past and Present Efforts

Unlike isolated activities, these projects are interconnected, creating a continuous line of engagement between previous seminar graduates and local businesses and communities. The knowledge accumulated through participation in local forums and markets serves as a foundation for further advancements.

2. A Business Perspective on Solving Social Issues

Preventing the projects from becoming mere student experiences is vital; thus, a strong business perspective is essential. Under Professor Fujii's guidance, students focus on profitability, sustainability, and maximizing product value. The goal is to establish a model that benefits producers, consumers, and society at large—a perfect example of a win-win situation.

3. Agility and Execution

The students are encouraged to break free from conventional frameworks. They exercise initiative by actively seeking out new production facilities and negotiating contracts, thereby gaining hands-on experience in real business operations and entrepreneurship.

Detailed Overview of the Four Projects

Project 1: Vegifuku (Year 6)

- Collaboration Partner: Maenomery Co., Ltd.
- Theme: Branding for irregular vegetables
- Current Status: Efforts are underway to transform discarded vegetables into processed products like vegetable chips, aiming for profitability and sustainability. Partnerships with farms and production facilities have been secured, with prototypes in development since July and product completion expected by August.

Project 2: Japanese Sake (Year 3)

- Collaboration Partner: Jinbai Brewing Co.
- Theme: Reviving young people's interest in Japanese sake
- Current Status: The project is in its early stages, exploring new values tailored to the younger generation's perspectives, with marketing strategies being formulated.

Project 3: Fruits (Year 2)

- Collaboration Partner: M-Pro LLC
- Theme: Promoting consumption of Yamanashi plums and reducing waste
- Current Status: Development of new products featuring plums is in progress. Meetings with farmers have concluded, and negotiations for new production facilities are ongoing, currently at the prototype stage.

Project 4: Honey (Year 6)

- Collaboration Partner: M-Pro LLC
- Theme: Development of non-heated honey "Akari" and expansion into cosmetics
- Current Status: Initial prototypes started in July; concurrently, strategies for sales and promotion are being developed focusing on leveraging the product's unique qualities.

Future Directions and Media Engagement

This project harnesses the networks of current students and alumni, making use of social media as well as proposing general sales at local markets. Students will be actively engaging in the production phase this summer, with a focus on face-to-face interactions with real business hurdles, and they welcome media coverage and interviews as their journeys unfold.

About Professor Hiroyoshi Fujii

Professor Hiroyoshi Fujii, a member of Rissho University's Faculty of Business Administration, specializes in accounting with a focus on management accounting. He aims to ensure students grow through theoretical knowledge and practical societal applications.

For more information about Rissho University's faculty, please visit this link.