[Theme4] Creating the Future in Local Communities: How to Design a Sustainable and Well–being Society
Information
The decline of regional communities due to declining birthrates, aging populations, and population outflow has long been noted. According to estimates from the 2024 Population Strategy Council, over 70% of municipalities in Tohoku are classified as potentially disappearing local governments. How to build a sustainable society, including in rural areas, is a major challenge for Japanese society. We must aim to achieve harmony with the natural environment and well–being from the local level, maximizing the benefits of advancing technologies like AI and digitalization. While keeping an eye on the trends already underway in local manufacturing and community development, we envision an ideal relationship between technology and human society.
The 4th Social Value Creation Exp
- Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026 12:00 – 19:00 (JST)
- Venue: Kansai University Umeda Campus
- Summary:
The students of The School of Designing our Future Society will participate in the 4th Social Value Creation Exp. The event showcases student–led initiatives in discovering and creating collaborative models of social value through social entrepreneurship. It aims to deepen practical understanding of social value creation among university students nationwide.
The 15th CSR Vision Interseminar
- Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025 10:00 – 18:00 (JST)
- Venue: Komazawa University, Komazawa Campus
- Summary:
The students of The School of Designing our Future Society will present findings from their field research at the headquarters of Nihon Seinyu Co., Ltd. (Takahata Town, Yamagata Prefecture). The seminar will feature proposals and reports on wellbeing–oriented management practices and product development. This event provides undergraduate students from across Japan with a platform to explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) through seminar activities, aiming to deepen interest in business ethics and support future academic and professional development.
Field Work 2 at MORINAGA MILK INDUSTORY's Fukushima Factory.
- Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
- Venue: MORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY’s Fukushima Factory (Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture)
- Summary:
As a case study relevant to Theme 4 of the School of Designing our Future Society, “Creating the Future in Local Communities: How to Design a Sustainable and Well–being Society,” we will investigate the food bank support initiative undertaken by Morinaga Milk Industry's Fukushima Plant. We will clarify the actual state of solving social issues through collaboration between the company and local/welfare organizations, while also advancing research into the mechanisms of food banks themselves and their regional implementation.
Field Work 1 at NIHON SEINYU
- Date: Friday, September, 12, 2025
- Venue: NIHON SEINYU (Takahata Town, Higashiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture)
- Summary:
We will visit the headquarters of NIHON SEINYU (Yamagata Prefecture) to learn about the company's well–being–oriented management practices and product development initiatives. Through on–site dialogue and observation, we explored approaches to locally–based manufacturing that contribute to the well–being of producers, consumers, and future generations, while also considering concepts for future product development and value creation directions