The start of "co-creation" utilizing local resources! Hokuryu Town x Jabarize Kitayama Co-creation Agreement Signing Ceremony

February 3, 2026
Feature Articles, Activity report from Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki of Hokuryu Town, Regional revitalization 2.0
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Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, with a population of 1,600, and Kitayama Village, Wakayama Prefecture, with a population of 400, have concluded a new "co-creation agreement" through hometown tax donations. Going beyond simple business outsourcing, this venture aims to establish a base in the town, create jobs, and raise 1 billion yen in donations, marking the beginning of a passionate story of connecting local resources to the next generation.

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1 The start of "co-creation" utilizing local resources! Hokuryu Town x Jabaraiz Kitayama Agreement Signing Ceremony
2 Other photos
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The start of "co-creation" utilizing local resources! Hokuryu Town x Jabaraiz Kitayama Agreement Signing Ceremony

On January 28, 2026, a historic signing ceremony for the "Hometown Tax Donation Business Co-Creation Agreement Utilizing Local Resources" was held at the Hokuryu Town Health Center. This agreement is not simply a contract for administrative services. It is a "twin-engine" challenge to combine local resources such as "Sunflower Rice," "Sunflowers," and "Kurosengoku Soybeans," which are the pride of Hokuryu Town, with outside wisdom and the town's passion to disseminate new value to the world.

Director General Takahashi gave a detailed explanation of the outline of the co-creation agreement.

Explanation by Director General Takahashi

The goal of 1 billion yen is embodied in the determination to protect the town

Hokuryu Town has set a goal of "1 billion yen in donations." There is a clear reason for this. By establishing a base within the town, they will be able to continue to maintain "stable employment for multiple people." This marks a turning point for elevating hometown tax donations from a temporary fad to an "industry" that will continue to circulate money and people in the region for the next 10 or 20 years.

As employment funding:Ensuring business scale to maintain stable employment for multiple people at the Hokuryu office.
Shift to industrialization:We aim to transform this business from a "side business" into an independent, major industry in the region.
Mid- to long-term perspective:Creating a system to leave jobs and pride to the next generation.

Immediate reflection of voices from the field:Through face-to-face dialogue, we create projects that are truly needed.
Responding to changes in production areas:Respond promptly to information that can only be obtained on-site and deepen relationships of trust.
Collaboration with the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team:Starting in fiscal year 2026, volunteers will be deployed to establish a system that will enable operations to be completed within the town in the future.

A partnership that tackles problems together and creates solutions together on the ground

The greatest feature of this agreement is that the base of operations will be located within the town. Rather than operating remotely from a distant location, the operations will be flexible and will listen directly to the opinions of the businesses on-site, adapting to changes in harvest yields due to weather and the situation in the production area. This is the essence of "co-creation" as "comrades in the same town," rather than simply "outsourcing."

After the explanation, both parties signed the agreement and took a commemorative photo.

Signature

Commemorative photo

"Multiplication, not addition" -- Mayor Sasaki's passionate thoughts

Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro gave a strong message of encouragement at the signing, saying, "This agreement is not an abstract document, but a concrete challenge with numbers and goals. After seeing the staff at Jabarize Kitayama, I was convinced that they are a trustworthy partner. Let's work together with the town, struggling and struggling, to create the final form we have in 10 years' time." He also mentioned the "desire to cherish one's hometown" of former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, the founder of the hometown tax donation system, and expressed his determination to pursue the original form of the system.

The "Jabara" spirit of Kitayama Village in Wakayama Prefecture resonates with the "Himawari" spirit of Hokuryu Town

Mr. Teruyuki Ikegami, Representative Director of Jabaraiz Kitayama

Our partner, Jabara Rice Kitayama Co., Ltd., has a track record of growing "jabara," a specialty product of Kitayama Village, the only enclave village in Japan, from a burden to a village treasure. Representative Director Ikegami Teruyuki said, "When I heard about Hokuryu Town's sunflower rice initiative, I was moved by their unique enthusiasm." By joining forces, two companies with similar population sizes and aspirations will create a model for revitalizing Japan from the countryside.

A new form of harmony that illuminates the future of Hokuryu Town

A base will be set up in the town in April, and operations will begin steadily with front-line operations close to the actual site. In addition to providing "products" (reward gifts), the development of "experience-based" return gifts that allow visitors to experience the rich nature and culture of Hokuryu Town will also proceed. With the powerful engine of Jabaraiz Kitayama, the "little airplane" that is Hokuryu Town is about to take off into the sky.

We believe this new challenge will bring smiles to the faces of the townspeople and deepen the harmony with donors across the country who love Hokuryu Town. We sincerely hope that this journey of co-creation will bring rich rewards to all involved.

A combination of each other's identities!!

The "Mythical Jabara Citrus Fruit," a specialty of Kitayama, Wakayama Prefecture, the "Sunflower," the symbol of Hokuryu Town, and the "Mythical Kurosengoku Soybeans," a specialty of Hokuryu Town, have teamed up like brothers to exorcise evil, enhance the power of light, enrich the town, and disseminate new value to the world in this "Total Engine-Type" Co-Creation Agreement, a challenge that is filled with boundless love, gratitude, and prayer...