#Japan #Tokyo #Japan Management Association #Local Government Fair #Public-Private MEET

Upcoming Event: 'Public-Private MEET' at Local Government Fair 2026

The Japan Management Association (JMA), based in Shibuya, Tokyo, is set to host the 'Local Government Fair 2026' from July 8 to 10, 2026, at the Tokyo Big Sight, Hall West 3 & 4. A key feature of this event is the 'Public-Private MEET', aimed at addressing 116 administrative challenges faced by various local governments and ministries across Japan.

The Public-Private MEET initiative flips the conventional model of collaboration on its head, allowing local governments and ministries to bring their challenges to businesses, who can then propose solutions. Prior to the event, participating companies can review these challenges and prepare proposals to engage in direct discussions with government representatives on-site. Additionally, three new seminars will showcase successful examples of co-creation between local governments and businesses.

Highlights of Public-Private MEET

This year, the challenges brought forth by local governments will be categorized into five key themes, allowing businesses to select areas of interest and learn more about each issue's context, prior efforts, anticipated proposals, and budget status. Here’s a brief breakdown of the themes and their associated challenges:

1. Childcare & Education
- Expanding extracurricular activities, improving the nutritional value of school lunches, and self-sustaining children’s programs like 'Kodon BASE'.

2. Health & Welfare
- Enhancing nutrition, physical activities, and social participation for the elderly, as well as creating delivery ecosystems that transform food safety data into added value.

3. Administration & Digital Transformation (DX)
- Employing generative AI and agent technology to replace administrative tasks, thus boosting productivity, and streamlining processes through 'non-writing windows'.

4. Disaster Prevention & Safety
- Using AI to optimize fire investigation operations, leveraging advanced technologies to prevent special scams, and strengthening measures against bears.

5. Others
- Utilizing surplus power for hydrogen production and EV smart grids, pioneering decarbonization strategies for a zero-carbon city by 2050, and finding new uses for vacant land and facilities.

Venue Map for Efficient Engagement

A venue map for the Public-Private MEET has been published, indicating which local governments and ministries will be at which booths, including their availability on July 8, 9, and 10. By selecting the challenges they wish to address and matching them with the venue map, businesses can optimize their meeting schedules for fruitful discussions.

New Seminar Offerings

In addition to the meeting opportunities, the fair will also feature newly established seminars where stakeholders will share their co-creation success stories. These seminars, which are free to attend but require prior registration, will provide valuable insights for companies seeking to engage in public-private partnerships and local government initiatives. Here are details of some of the seminars:

• - July 8, 12:00-12:30: 'A Town that Attracts People' – Featuring insights from Hokkaido Atsuma Town’s local revitalization efforts — speaker: Hidetaka Otsubo, Director in charge of local revitalization.
• - July 10, 11:00-11:30: 'Connecting Air and Land with New Logistics' – A discussion on drone delivery innovations from Yamanashi Prefecture's Kosuge Village in partnership with Aeronext — speakers: Naomi Funaki, Village Head of Kosuge, and Keisuke Taji, CEO of Aeronext.

Who Should Attend?

The event is highly recommended for:

• - Business development and management planning professionals looking to collaborate with local governments for new projects.
• - Startups, system integrators, and manufacturers aiming to expand their technologies and services into the public sector.
• - Large corporations' sustainability departments seeking business opportunities focused on ESG, community coexistence, and social problem-solving.

Event Details

• - Date: July 8-10, 2026
• - Location: Tokyo Big Sight, Hall West 3 & 4
• - Organizer: Japan Management Association
• - Entry Fee: Free (Pre-registration required)
• - Previous Attendance: 8,648 visitors from 354 organizations across 46 prefectures and 100 exhibitors.

For further information or to register, please visit the Local Government Fair registration page.

About Japan Management Association (NOMA)

Founded in 1949, the Japan Management Association has been at the forefront of promoting modernization and efficiency in Japanese management practices. NOMA continues to strive toward a sustainable societal advancement by harmonizing management, humanity, and science, ensuring the ongoing innovation of Japanese management in collaboration with its clients.