UTokyo Field Study – Takahata Town
As part of the University of Tokyo Field Study Program (2022–23), collaborated with Takahata Town Hall on a community event promoting local women-run businesses and inspiring children to see future opportunities in their hometown.
2022-23
Revitalization Initiatives
UTokyo Field Study – Takahata Town (2022–23)
Community engagement project with Takahata Town Municipality, Yamagata Prefecture
The University of Tokyo’s Field Study Program connects students with local governments to collaboratively address regional challenges. During the 2022–23 academic year, I worked with Takahata Town Hall in Yamagata Prefecture to design and implement a community event.
Our proposal focused on two goals:
Promoting women-led businesses – highlighting a locally owned and run café by women entrepreneurs, showcasing their role in revitalizing the town’s economy.
Inspiring the next generation – introducing children to local entrepreneurs, giving them direct role models and encouraging them to imagine their own future within Takahata.
The event brought together residents, entrepreneurs, and local officials, creating dialogue across generations and sparking new energy in the community. It demonstrated how small-scale, locally driven initiatives can strengthen identity, opportunity, and resilience in regional towns.
Role & Contribution
Conducted field research in Takahata and engaged with community stakeholders.
Co-developed the event proposal with the town hall.
Assisted in the execution of the event, including planning logistics and community outreach.
Tags
Community Engagement · Regional Revitalization · Women Entrepreneurship
Some of the activities I documented are available below (only in Japanese)
Waraku Cha-no-ma: Wagatsuma Yumiko-san shares with us the story of how an abandoned old building was converted into a lively community space, 'Waraku Cha-no-ma.'
Kunori Gakuen High School - Student Presentations and Discussion session with the UTokyo students
We also participated in local activities like making soba from scratch with a local veteran of organic food Kikuchi Ryoichi (b. 1937)
Oral history documentation:
Takahata is part of Higashi-Okitama, an area surrounded by beautiful hills and we went on a short hike (around 2 hours) in one in Niijuku. This hill is a power spot with 33 Kan'non Rock statues. Jinbo Kazuo-san takes us on the tour and tells us the stories behind the statues. We were also very lucky to find mountain lilies, which are very rare these days, and also Higurashi cicada, also quite rare. It was slightly raining, but it was a delightful hike thanks to Kazuo-san's wonderful stories.
(All videos filmed and edited by Priya Mu)