Toward "100 Million People Emotionally Connected to Kamikawa." Beyond Tourism and Migration – Experience a "Third Option" for Engaging with a Community for One Day
Event Date: Sunday, January 18th, 2026
Host: Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido
Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido will host an urban exchange event proposing new ways for city dwellers to connect with regional communities on Sunday, January 18th, 2026, at Shibuya Cast.
Themed "Kotatsu Urban Exchange Event Connecting with Kamikawa Town," this experiential event features talk sessions, interactive programs, product exhibitions and sales, and comedy performances that allow participants to engage with Kamikawa's people, initiatives, and values.
Kamikawa Town's key message is:
"Toward 100 Million People Emotionally Connected."
Beyond tourism and migration, this event aims to touch people's hearts and foster ongoing relationships—a concept that can be experienced right in the heart of the city.
Background
Located in central Hokkaido, Kamikawa Town serves as the gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park and boasts abundant natural surroundings. The town is also a hub for diverse initiatives spanning community development, tourism, migration support, entrepreneurship assistance, and regional projects.
In recent years, there has been growing demand among urban residents who say:
- "Migration feels like too big a leap, but I want to engage with regional communities somehow."
- "I want relationships based on support, participation, and co-creation."
This event was planned to present city dwellers with a new way to engage with regional communities—one centered on "ongoing connection."
Event Overview
Event Name: "Toward 100 Million People Emotionally Connected" Urban Exchange Event
Theme: Kotatsu Urban Exchange Event Connecting with Kamikawa Town
Date & Time: Sunday, January 18th, 2026, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Talk Sessions: 1:00 PM / 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM
Product Exhibition & Sales: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Kotatsu Booth: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Venue: Shibuya Cast
Admission: Free
Host: Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido
Registration:
Free admission / Walk-ins welcome
Peatix: https://peatix.com/event/4764962/view
Program Details
Talk Sessions – 1:00 PM / 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM
Guests who are actively involved in Kamikawa Town's initiatives will speak on themes such as community development, work styles, and ways to engage with regional communities.
■ 1:00 PM
Yohei Shimizu
(Entrepreneur / EFC.inc / Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido)
An entrepreneur who engages with Kamikawa Town while taking on regional challenges and projects. He will share his work in Kamikawa and the realities of connecting with regional communities.
■ 3:00 PM
Kaoru Oku
(Yoga School Manager / President of Wise One Co., Ltd.)
*Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido
From her position working in media and events, she will discuss her connection with Hokkaido and communication that bridges people and regions. Her talk will offer a perspective that moves between urban and regional settings.
■ 5:00 PM
Haruki Nakamura
(Representative, Local no Mirai Co., Ltd.)
Nakamura has held roles including system development at a SIer, consulting at a publicly traded company, CAO at a startup, and director at a DMM.com Group company. Since October 2022, he has been active as a regional revitalization entrepreneur in Kamikawa Town.
Drawing on his diverse career background, he will speak about business creation in regional communities and how people can get involved.
(Hobbies: Weight training, sauna, anime viewing)
Interactive Booths – 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Interactive spaces will be set up where visitors can talk directly with guests and Kamikawa Town representatives. Gathered around kotatsu, participants can engage in dialogue with guests to learn:
- What's happening in Kamikawa Town right now
- What kinds of engagement opportunities are available
This is an experiential interactive program designed to casually learn and close the distance with regional communities through questions and conversation.
Product Exhibition & Sales – 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Products from Kamikawa Town and Hokkaido will be introduced and sold.
Beyond the products themselves, the initiatives and stories behind them will be shared to foster relationships that go beyond mere consumption and support ongoing connections.
Comedy Performance
Two comedy groups from Hokkaido will participate as hosts, performing stage programs with guest interactions. They'll incorporate Hokkaido-themed material to energize the venue.
● Chuka Daiman Zoku (From Sapporo, Hokkaido)
● Dekkai Michi (From Otofuke Town, Hokkaido)
This program brings themes like "regional communities" and "towns"—which can feel distant—closer to audiences through humor.
Event Highlights
Presenting a third population model beyond "tourism" and "migration"
A practical demonstration of Kamikawa Town's "100 Million People Emotionally Connected" vision
Natural dialogue and interaction fostered by gathering around kotatsu
A culture-forward urban exchange event hosted by a municipal government
Contact Information:
Department: Kamikawa Town Hall Regional Appeal Creation Division (Seiko)
Phone: 01658-2-4063
Email: teiju@town.hokkaido-kamikawa.lg.jp
Event Day Contact: Director Hisano Konuma
Phone: 090-8100-1503
Email: hisano.konuma@gmail.com
