Source: Peatix

We are looking for participating entrepreneurs and creators who submit ideas! The team with the best idea will receive a prize of 100,000 yen for a team visit to Toyama and research expenses! For information on how to enter, please see the "Now accepting entries" section on this page.

Toyama Prefecture x SHIBUYA QWS "Q-reation" is an event that creates ideas that will generate new value within Toyama Prefecture by combining the wide variety of "Questions" and "Creations" that come from Shibuya.

This is the seventh in a series of events that will continue from July 2023. This is a pitch event where members active at SHIBUYA QWS and entrepreneurs active in the Tokyo metropolitan area will present business ideas born from the "questions" of local key people at "CROSS PARK," an exchange space within SHIBUYA QWS. Why not join us in "Q-creating" ideas to solve the "questions" of Toyama Prefecture?

After the pitch event, we will hold a social gathering where we will offer light snacks and drinks, a tasting of Toyama sake, and famous Toyama sweets!

★Now accepting applications for pitch speakers!!
Would you like to realize your idea in Toyama? If you would like to apply, please apply through the [Tokyo venue/business idea presenter] section on Peatix!

[Entry requirements]
Participants will be asked to choose one of the "questions" posed by the Toyama judges, who are key people in the Toyama region, and give a five-minute presentation at SHIBUYA QWS on ideas for businesses, demonstration experiments, plans, etc. that seem to fit the question. Entrants can be individuals or corporations, and their backgrounds and achievements are not important, but if they already have businesses, content, resources, or examples that can realize their idea, they will have an advantage in the selection process.

Regarding the "question" from the Toyama judges, please be sure to read the explanation of the "question" and "entrepreneurs and creators we want to meet" below. If there is a YouTube video, we recommend watching it. After that, please think of an idea to solve the relevant problem and submit it.

Miyu Gorai (Takaoka Traditional Industry Youth Association)

Question: "Can traditional industries and business perspectives create new value?"

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
We are looking for creators and producers who are skilled at growing businesses and bringing out and spreading the appeal of the region. In particular, we are looking for people who can see the whole picture of management and strategically create products and services that take advantage of the historical background and strengths of tradition. We are also looking for people who can play the role of companions who will continue to be involved with the region for the long term, rather than simply providing temporary support or planning. We would like to work with people who have a deep understanding of local artisans and traditional crafts, and who have the ideas and networks to spread the appeal of Toyama to the rest of Japan and the world.

- - - - -

Tatsuya Iwakura (Nanto City Hall)

Question: "How can we promote the appeal of the region through ideas from the perspective of young people?"

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
I would like to meet young creators and business people who can convey the charms of Nanto City from a new perspective. Through collaboration with people who have the sensibilities and innovative ideas of the younger generation, I would like to rediscover tourism and local culture, and by incorporating outside opinions and support, I would like to discover the charms that are often overlooked locally from an outside perspective, and use this to revitalize Nanto City as a whole, leading to new growth in the region.

- - - - -  

Erina Doi (CEO of Mamaski Co., Ltd.)

Question: "How will digital technology help evolve child-rearing support beyond local boundaries?"

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
Her mission is to solve the problem of declining birthrates and to create a society where the younger generation feels more positive about raising children. She is looking to meet talents with new perspectives and skills in the Tokyo metropolitan area. In particular, she is looking to collaborate with people who can use digital technology and new service models to provide child-rearing support nationwide, without being tied to a particular region.

- - - - -

Megumi Nakagawa (CEO of War)

Question: "How can local fishing and food culture be reinterpreted through contemporary creativity?"

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
We are looking for creative people with unique perspectives on the fishing industry and regional revitalization. In particular, we are looking for partners who can share new ideas that combine traditional fishing culture with modern values and promote the appeal of Toyama through "experiences" such as tourism and training. We would like to meet talents who can empathize with our desire to create content that will attract the interest of people working in urban areas that have little connection to the fishing industry and who can grow together with us.

- - - - -

Takafumi Sugiki (Engames)

Question: "How can Japanese board games continue to be a hit overseas?"

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
He is a creator who makes interesting digital and analog games in the subculture field. Sugiki has already developed a channel to distribute games made by Japanese publishers and game designers overseas, but the demand for Japanese board games in the overseas board game market is strong and creators cannot keep up. We are looking for creators who have ideas for analog games or can turn analog games into products that can be sold overseas.

- - - - -

Hironobu Sado (Section Chief, Startup Support Division, Regional Industry Promotion Office, Commerce, Industry and Labor Department, Toyama Prefecture)

Question: "Attracting startups that take advantage of Toyama Prefecture's strengths, such as healthcare, nature, and healing through food."

■ Entrepreneurs and creators you want to meet
In Toyama Prefecture, known as "Toyama, the land of medicine," where pharmaceutical companies are concentrated, I am interested in startups that can collaborate with healthcare companies and medical institutions in the prefecture. I would like to meet startups and their managers that can create synergy with businesses in the prefecture by utilizing their unique technologies and ideas. In particular, I would like to form a new industrial cluster by attracting healthcare ventures that are active in the fields of pharmaceuticals and drug discovery, wellness, healthcare systems, health, beauty, and disease prevention.

- - - - -

If you apply for the Tokyo Venue/Business Idea Presenter position on Peatix, we will send you a message on Peatix with information on the format of the application form. Once you reply with the application form via message, your application will be complete (you do not need to submit presentation materials at this point). Speakers and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the selection results by November 5th (planned) via Peatix message.

The final deadline for entries is 23:59 on Friday, November 1st. However, if we receive more entries than we expect and meet the selection criteria, we may close the application process earlier than expected. We recommend that you enter early.

On the day, you will be asked to give a 5-minute presentation based on the contents of your application form. You do not need to submit presentation materials in advance, but please make sure the content is in line with your application form.

The judges will select the winning teams and announce them on the day. The winning teams will receive a right to inspect the site (round-trip Shinkansen fare and one night's accommodation will be provided, and Potage staff will assist with booking and accompany the on-site inspection) and 100,000 yen for research expenses. However, since this is merely an idea contest and not a "business adoption," the organizers and participating local governments do not guarantee support for commercialization after that (opportunities for networking and business mentoring will be provided, but the teams will be required to work on commercialization on their own). Please be aware of this before entering.

<Date>
Monday, November 11th 18:30-21:10
*Reception starts at 18:00

<Location>
[Tokyo venue] SHIBUYA QWS (15F Shibuya SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE, 2-chome, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
[Toyama Satellite Venue] hiraku (4F Shin-Marunouchi Building, 1-8-17 Marunouchi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture)
*Please select when applying for tickets
*When visiting the venue, we ask that you please cooperate with health and hygiene management.

＜Recommended for these people＞
Entrepreneurs, people considering starting a business, and supporters who fit the following criteria:
・People from Toyama Prefecture
・People who have some kind of connection to Toyama Prefecture
・Those who are considering contributing to Toyama Prefecture
Anyone who wants to utilize their skills and ideas in the local community!

<Participation Fee>
Both the Tokyo venue and the Toyama satellite venue will include free snacks and drinks.

<Time Schedule
18:00 Reception begins
18:30 Event start
18:30～18:45 Introduction
18:45～19:30 Pitch
19:30～19:50 Judging
19:50～20:10 Closing
20:10～21:10 Networking
21:10 End

<Pitch speakers>
coming soon ...

<Pitch judges>
・Toyama Judge
Miyu Gorai (Takaoka Traditional Industry Youth Association)
Tatsuya Iwakura (Nanto City Hall)
Erina Doi (CEO of Mamaski)
Megumi Nakagawa (CEO of War)
Takafumi Sugiki (Engames)

・Tokyo judges
Akira Nakajima (Representative of Toshima Conference/Incubation Manager of RYOZAN PARK)
Kumiko Shiga (Director of SocialX Inc. / Co-founder of million dots LLC)

​
Toyama Prefecture Metropolitan Headquarters

<Facilitator>
Azusa Kawahara (CEO of Potage, Community Accelerator)
Yuji Fujita (Peatix Japan CMO)

■Notes for participation:
・Participation is free of charge.
・Please see here for access to the venue.
[Tokyo venue]https://shibuya-qws.com/about/outline
[Toyama Satellite Venue]https://hanamatsu.co.jp/hiraku/
・Number of participants: Approximately 30 people per venue
・Please note that we may take photos and videos of the event for record-keeping and publicity purposes.
・Participants will be responsible for transportation and parking fees.
・We will send you a message on Peatix with information about the event, so please be sure to check it.

■Event management

[Organizer] Toyama Prefecture Metropolitan Headquarters

[Production] Potage Co., Ltd.

As part of its production collaboration, Potage is handling recruitment, promotion, contact information, and personal information management for this event.
Any personal information provided during application will not be used for any purpose other than this project.

[Venue provided by] SHIBUYA QWS

■ Pitch judges (Tokyo venue)

Akira Nakajima (Representative of Toshima Conference/Incubation Manager of RYOZAN PARK)

He specializes in relationship building, space creation, and co-creation projects, and has a track record of working with various players, including companies, governments, artists, and others, from theme communities to local communities. In his hometown of Toshima, he started the Toshima Conference in 2014 to discover and introduce people in the city. To date, he has introduced nearly 300 new movements and players in the city and encouraged collaboration. Since 2018, he has supported entrepreneurs as the incubation manager of RYOZAN PARK, a Tokyo-certified startup support facility, and as the chief director of Renoveling Co., Ltd., he is developing "renovation urban development" across the country, utilizing vacant houses to improve the value of areas. He will be producing the Toyama Conference from January 2023. He has been interacting with players in Toyama.

Kumiko Shiga (Director of SocialX Inc. / Co-founder of million dots LLC)

Graduated from Doshisha University. After working as a secretary to the president of a major company, she raised three children and was stationed overseas. After that, she worked at a human resources consulting firm, where she was involved in the selection and training of executives of major companies, the dissemination of management philosophies, new business support, and training content development. In 2018, she co-founded the public-private co-creation consulting company million dots. She is a founding member of "Gyaku Propo." As a founding member of Social X, she serves as the local government support business manager and oversees the Gunma Prefectural Government Decarbonization and Public-Private Co-Creation Acceleration Program. In the summer of 2023, she developed a public-private co-creation training program and implemented it in 109 local governments, 55 companies, and three ministries. She is an advisor for promoting corporate collaboration in Minato Ward, Tokyo. She is a program mentor at the TOKYO Co-cial IMPACT Studio. In her private life, she created a childcare support system in Kamakura and Yokohama, which was made into a book and a movie. She created a small economic cycle in the region through the regeneration of vacant houses in Yokohama, and created a social problem-solving business, which has been featured in magazines such as Wedge and NHK dramas.

■Event producer/facilitator

Azusa Kawahara (CEO of Potage Inc., Community Accelerator)

Representative Director of Potage and Community Accelerator. After working for Fujitsu, Nifty, etc., he became the event coordinator for the event house-style restaurant "Tokyo Culture Culture" in 2008. He is involved in the management of more than 200 events per year. He was stationed in San Francisco from 2013 to 2016. After returning to Japan, he produced numerous business communities for NHK, Itoen, Kokuyo, Omron Healthcare, Suntory, Tokyu, etc. In the spring of 2020, he became independent and launched the guild-based team "Potage", where he works as a community accelerator planning events and designing corporate communication.

He is the author of "A Textbook on Creating a Community that Cultivates Fans and Grows Businesses" (Diamond Inc., co-authored with Yuji Fujita). He is a key opinion leader for COMEMO, an opinion media outlet for the Nikkei Inc. He is an official influencer on LinkedIn, and a director of Koto Co-Creation Lab, a general incorporated association that promotes open innovation in large companies.

Yuji Fujita (Co-founder, Director and CMO, Peatix Japan Inc.)

Co-founder, Director and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Peatix Japan Inc.
Peatix Singapore Country Manager Peatix Malaysia Country Manager

After graduating from Keio University, he worked in sales at Intelligence Co., Ltd. (now Persol Career Co., Ltd.) before joining Amazon Japan Co., Ltd. (now Amazon Japan, LLC) in 2003. As the youngest manager at the time, he oversaw sales for the marketplace business, and then founded Orinoco Co., Ltd., the predecessor to Peatix. After overseeing the domestic community manager team, he took on the dual role of sales and marketing oversight. In June 2019, he was appointed CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) and oversees community management and marketing for the entire Peatix business, including globally.
Nikkei COMEMO Key Opinion Leader. LinkedIn Certified Influencer.

His publications include "A Textbook on Creating a Community to Cultivate Fans and Grow Your Business" (co-authored with Kawahara Azusa / Diamond Inc. / 2020).

Venue