Kitakyushu’s ‘Generation Z Division’ is already bearing fruit. Established in April 2024 with the aim of providing opportunities for young people locally, it provides funding and support to younger people in the Kitakyushu region to stem the flow of their best and brightest leaving for the main cities of Tokyo and Osaka to find work.

In late March, the Kokura Coffee Garden project held a tree-planting ceremony at their new, residential-area greenhouse. Hosted by 28-year-old third-generation farmer Retsu Ueno, he planted 54 Arabica Tipica saplings in the 280m2 greenhouse with the aim of harvesting and selling them as high-end specialty coffees in two to three years. He expects to sell up to 108 kg of coffee a year, or about 2.16 million yen in terms of cost. The initial investment of 3 million yen was covered by prize money from the city's

Meanwhile, entrepreneur Tsugen Yamazaki, 27, a researcher at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, used his contest prize money to hold a ‘Welfare Robot Fest’ at the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park, where 150 people got to experience the latest robotic innovations. Mr. Yamazaki positions “there is no innovation without local education” and focuses on supporting technological development by supporting students and children.

Kanako Kashiwagi, manager of the Generation Z Division, said, “we want to transform the community with the flexible ideas of young people. The government is committed to providing support and aims to create a community of co-creation that transcends generations.”

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