STEP Taking on Challenges Through Questions That Shape the Future

I want to confront the increasingly serious issue of business succession and protect small local businesses and shops that are disappearing in rural areas. What insights were gained from participating in the “Social Entrepreneur Development Program,” which was filled with repeated setbacks?

I grew up watching my father, who is a business owner. Even as a child, I could see how challenging it was to run a company that is so easily affected by economic events such as the Lehman Shock and the COVID-19 pandemic. In high school, I participated in a business competition focused on solving regional issues, where I learned about the increasingly serious problem of business succession across Japan and became deeply interested in it. After that, I obtained a certification as a business succession planner and gained internship experience at a company that deals with M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and business succession.

As I deepened my understanding of business succession, I realized that what I truly wanted to pursue was supporting the succession of small-scale businesses—such as local shops and small factories—that often fall outside the scope of M&A and conventional support systems. Beppu itself is facing this very challenge, and I believed that APU, with its strong emphasis on regional engagement, international perspective, and diversity, would provide an environment where I could develop multifaceted viewpoints and learn how to address such issues. In fact, through interacting and engaging in discussions with people from diverse backgrounds, I have been able to gain a wide range of insights and answers.

The “Zeroichi” program aims to develop social entrepreneurs who engage in business activities that lead to solving social issues. Out of 227 applicants, I was selected as one of the final 10 teams—and the youngest participant. Over the course of seven months, including training in Silicon Valley, I was truly challenged and pushed beyond my limits. I came to realize that my previous “things will somehow work out” mindset would not be enough, and I experienced many setbacks along the way. Nonetheless, by constantly questioning myself and pushing forward alongside peers who worked tirelessly, I learned that failures can become valuable stepping stones. Through this experience, I was able to grow both mentally and in terms of my business skills.

In Japan, the issue of business succession is affecting a wide range of businesses—from long-established sake breweries and traditional craft industries to small local candy shops. Due to the aging of business owners and the lack of successors, many businesses are forced to close each year, even if they are profitable. Although it rarely makes the news, this is a significant and familiar social issue. When a ramen shop I used to frequent closed due to the same succession problem, it strengthened my determination that we must urgently create successful models to address this challenge.

With the belief that if there is no existing system to support the succession of small businesses, then I must create one myself, I decided to pursue a path as a social entrepreneur. As a first step, I plan to collaborate with shopping streets in Beppu. By leveraging the unique strengths of students—such as their ability to promote through social media—and by enhancing the appeal of individual shops, I aim to put these businesses in a position where succession becomes possible. These businesses can then be passed on to APU graduates, people who have relocated to the area, or those who have returned for family care. Of course, financial resources and skills are also essential, so I will seek understanding and support from companies, investors, and external advisors as well.

With the mission of “making Beppu loved by people around the world,” I took over as the representative of the student organization “Tabi Beppu” in June 2023, which is engaged in regional revitalization activities in Beppu. Our activities include promoting the city’s attractions, planning events, and providing marketing support for local businesses. However, we aim to evolve further by developing a wider range of activities that are more deeply rooted in the local community. Working in collaboration with the city to achieve regional revitalization and community contribution has provided me with valuable learning experiences that are also closely connected to my work in business succession. I hope to create successful models based in Beppu and expand them further.