NISHIMURA Jin | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Program: (ST) Creating sustainable regions: Survey in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture
Instructor: TSUCHIHASHI Takuya

Reasons for Participating in the Program

Iida City in Nagano Prefecture aims to be an "Environmental and Cultural City" and has implemented various advanced initiatives, earning the designation of an "Environmental Model City." While each local region in Japan faces unique challenges, issues such as the declining workforce due to an aging population, depopulation, and the decline of traditional industries are common concerns. Therefore, I applied, believing that the insights gained from the innovative approaches in Iida City could provide valuable hints applicable to my seminar research, as well as my own thesis and other studies conducted in other regions.

How the Program Helped You Grow

Participating in the program allowed me not only to gather information from newspapers, the internet, and books but also to directly listen to the authentic voices of local residents and government officials. I learned how initiatives like Iida City's "Circular Model Project for Environment and Economy," "Community Solar Power Generation Project," and "Japan's First Regional Environmental Rights" have been implemented under citizen self-governance. Understanding how these projects flourish under community involvement and mutual trust, utilizing the strengths of each region, and collaborating between public, private, and academic sectors, I gained insights applicable to addressing regional challenges elsewhere.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

Learning about diverse perspectives, theoretical frameworks, historical contexts, and unique local cultures from experts is invaluable. The experience of discovering challenges and hints for problem-solving through practical fieldwork can never be gained through classroom learning alone. If you are not sure whether or not to participate, I encourage you to give it a try. The program also included participants from other universities and international students, and I think one of the reasons it was such a meaningful experience was that we were able to discuss and exchange opinions from a variety of perspectives.