NEWS

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, nine students supervised by Professor YOSHIZAWA Kiyoyoshi of the College of Sustainability and Tourism presented the results of their work at the Flying Cars Symposium, which was held at the Beppu International Convention Center. The symposium, entitled “Next-Generation Air Mobility and Regional Revitalization: Innovation in the Skies Beginning from Beppu and Yufuin,” was organized by Oita Prefecture as part of its initiative to explore the use of next-generation air mobility, including flying cars, to address regional challenges and foster new industries.

This initiative began in June 2025, when Oita Prefecture, Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), and SkyDrive Inc. signed a comprehensive partnership agreement aimed at utilizing flying cars to promote regional development and solve social issues. Based on this agreement, a consortium of six companies—JR Kyushu, JTB Corporation, Kanematsu Corporation, SkyDrive Inc., Skyport Inc., and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.—was formed to examine potential applications within the prefecture.

As a member of this industry-government-academia collaboration, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) conducted three workshops and on-site fieldwork in cooperation with local governments and businesses in the Beppu-Yufuin area. Through these activities, students explored local challenges and discussed potential use cases for air mobility.
At the symposium, the participating students delivered a presentation entitled “Future Solutions to Regional Challenges through Flying Cars: Four Perspectives on Emerging Use Cases.” Their proposals highlighted potential applications of flying cars across four key areas: logistics, tourism, healthcare, and regional revitalization. Their presentation illustrated realistic pathways for implementing next-generation air mobility in local communities.

The event drew approximately 100 attendees, including Oita Governor Sato, the mayors of Beppu and Yufu, representatives from partner companies, and members of the general public. The students’ forward-looking proposals envisioning new modes of air-based transportation were met with strong praise and high expectations from many participants.
APU will continue to contribute to solving social issues, including next-generation mobility, through practical, community-engaged education that shapes the future together with local society.