NEWS

On Friday, January 16, 2026, Professor Noriaki Kamei’s seminar in the College of International Management held a report session for its joint research and practical learning project with Oita Asahi Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (OAB) and ADK Marketing Solutions Inc. (ADKMS).
The aim of this project is to provide practical consulting and implementation support for real-world corporate marketing challenges. With OAB as the client and ADKMS as the professional advisor, the three year initiative began in October 2025.

Amid declining television viewership among younger generations and a decrease in advertising revenue driven by the rise of the internet, OAB is exploring new business models that meet the needs of the current era. In response, students in the first project cycle (October 2025–January 2026) proposed the following three digital and social media focused initiatives based on the question of “How can local broadcasters contribute to solving social issues identified by young people?”

1. Digital Co wellbeing Initiative: A project aimed at addressing dopamine addiction, a growing issue linked to excessive social media use.
2. Venture style Business Succession Model: A program designed to spark early interest among younger generations in taking over local businesses amid a serious succession shortage.
3. Mirai e (“Toward the Future”): A new framework to enable young people and local broadcasters to connect directly through channels beyond traditional broadcasting.

During the Q&A session, OAB and ADKMS praised the students for their in-depth analysis and original perspectives. At the same time, they offered constructive and practical feedback, raising questions such as: What is the rationale for OAB to lead this initiative? How can the operational process be refined? And how should the revenue model be strengthened? In response, the students articulated their ideas clearly and engaged in enthusiastic discussion.

The session reaffirmed the potential of a collaborative approach in which youth and local media work together to address social issues. Commenting on the students’ efforts, Professor Kamei said: “This project has only just begun. Together, let us continue this discussion with OAB and ADKMS to refine your ideas, integrate theory with creativity, and develop proposals with strong practical impact.”
Beginning in April 2026, students will work on refining their proposals from first cycle while conducting research to raise new proposals for the second cycle.