“Gather, Friends of Oku-Aizu!”—or “Atsuoku” for short.
Why not build a connection with a “special region” that’s different from where you live?
At “Atsuoku,” we’re bringing together compelling content from the seven towns and villages of the Oku-Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture—one of Japan’s “Oku” (remote) areas (Yanaizu Town, Mishima Town,Kanayama Town, Showa Village, Tadami Town, Minamiaizu Town, and Hinoemata Village)—one of the “Oku” (remote) regions—and host a one-day social gathering (SHAKOBA) in Takeshiba, Tokyo!
Why not come experience the region in its entirety—right now—alongside the unique “Okubito” (people living in Oku-Aizu) from the seven towns and villages of Oku-Aizu?
Whether you’re new to Oku-Aizu or it’s been a while since you’ve been here, you’re more than welcome. You’re sure to find a way to get involved that’s just right for you.
Please come visit us.
[Event Overview]
Date and Time: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM) *You are welcome to come and go as you please. Please feel free to arrive at any time.
*Food and drinks will be served starting at 1:30 PM.
Venue: SHAKOBA, 1-10-45 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 1st Floor, WATERS Takeshiba Theater Building (inside Atre Takeshiba)
Directions: ・ 3-minute walk from Takeshiba Station on the Yurikamome Line
・ 6-minute walk from the North Exit of Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Line
・ 7-minute walk from Exit B1 of Daimon Station on the Toei Oedo and Asakusa Lines
Admission: Free (Food and drinks at the venue are available for purchase)
How to Register: Participation is free, but to help us prepare, please register via the Peatix page or the dedicated Google Form below.
Peatix URLs: https://peatix.com/event/5232746
Google Form URL: https://forms.gle/Ax2NunBqJQzZSt6eA
*Please click here for details and the flyer.
■ 6 Highlights of the Event (Atsuoku Program)
1. [PITCH] Presentation by seven stakeholders from Oku-Aizu: “Here’s How You Can Get Involved”
Seven passionate local leaders from the seven towns and villages of Oku-Aizu, who are continuously taking on new challenges, will each give a 5-minute pitch. They will present concrete “ideas for getting involved”—such as repurposing vacant homes, digital regional revitalization using AI and 3D technology, nature guiding, and collaborative projects in the highlands—that people can participate in and support even from the Tokyo metropolitan area.
2. [TALK] Editor Nobuko Shimuta and Others Discuss “What Is the Depth of Oku-Aizu?”
Nobuko Shimuta (CEO of Future Research Institute), an editor and author of books such as *Civic Pride* and *The New Science of Editing*, who aims to create designs that positively impact businesses, society, and local communities by focusing on “the curation of things,” took the stage.Together with Ryo Kitadate, Executive Director of the Oku-Aizu Promotion Center, and moderator Shigenari Ishii (Associate Professor at Aomori University and Oku-Aizu Regional Co-creation Fellow), she will delve into the unique value and potential of the Oku-Aizu region.
3. [Mini-Live] A live music performance by singer-songwriter Ryoka Otake, a native of Tadami Town
Ryoka Otake, a singer-songwriter from Tadami Town, Fukushima Prefecture—who has composed the theme song for the JR East Tadami Line and the ending theme for a short drama commemorating the full reopening of the Tadami Line—will perform a mini-concert to liven up the event.
4. [FOOD & DRINK] Oku-Aizu’s “Gottsu” (Feast): Local Sake and Snacks
"KOBASHOW. (Kobayashi Shoten)" will be serving delicious local sake, nurtured by the rich natural surroundings of Oku-Aizu, along with regional snacks that pair well with the sake (*Food and drink are available for purchase; service begins at 1:30 p.m.).
5. [PLAY] Win Local Specialties! Experience “Itoppiki,” a Secret Game of Oku-Aizu
At the event, you can try your hand at “Itoppiki,” a traditional game that has been quietly passed down among the women of Oku-Aizu since the Meiji era. Participants will also have a chance to win local specialties from Oku-Aizu.
6. [MEET] Booth Activities to Connect Directly with “Okubito” from 7 Towns and Villages
We will set up an interaction booth where you can talk directly with local organizations and stakeholders about everything from information on relocation, the Regional Revitalization Corps, and the “Hometown Tax” program to real-life topics related to the Tadami Line and daily life in the region.
■ List of Speakers and Performers
[Mini-Live] Ryoka Otake (Singer-songwriter from Tadami Town, Fukushima Prefecture)
[TALK] Nobuko Shimuta (Representative Director, Future Research Institute / Editor) and Ryo Kitadate (Executive Director, Oku-Aizu Promotion Center)
[NAVIGATOR] Shigenari Ishii (Associate Professor, Aomori University | Oku-Aizu Regional Co-creation Fellow)
[PITCH (7 players from Oku-Aizu)] *Titles omitted; listed in alphabetical order*
Minato Onuki | Yanagizuka Town: “Yanagizuka Town Cross-Exhibition” Archive Exhibition / Creating a Community Hub Using Vacant Homes
Daisuke Kimura | Showa Village: Building the Foundation for a New Way of Life Together in a Snowy Region
Sara Kuriki | Showa Village: Project to Build a Vibrant Village Where Mind and Body Thrive
Kosuke Sakurazawa | Mishima Town: A Digital Regional Revitalization Project Using AI and 3D Technology to Showcase the Charms of Oku-Aizu
Masafumi Shida | Mishima Town: “Let’s All Help Grow Misaka Highlands” Project — Making Misaka Highlands a Place Where Everyone’s “I Want to Try That” Comes Together
Mai Hagiwara | Hinoemata Village: Connecting Oze with the villages at its base and their people as an Oze Nature Interpreter
Yuko Hiramatsu | Tadami Town: YUI—Connecting Local Life and Travelers
[MC] Asami Takahashi (Environmental Partnership Council / Fellow, Regional and Human Resources Co-creation Organization)
[Partner Organizations] Tadami Line Management Office / Sedomori no Utage Organizing Committee (SATORU Co., Ltd.) / Showa Village "Related Population" Project Secretariat (tsuguto LLC) / Seven Towns and Villages in the Oku-Aizu Region, and others
■ Recommended for people like this!
People with ties to Oku-Aizu or Fukushima Prefecture, or those who would like to visit
People interested in new ways of engaging with rural communities (such as the “relational population,” dual-residence lifestyles, and participation in local projects)
For those who love delicious local sake, regional cuisine, and authentic local culture
For those who want to connect with players taking on challenges in their local communities
■ Organized by / Sponsored by
Organized by: Tadami River Power Generation Basin Promotion Council (Oku-Aizu Promotion Center)
Supported by: Fukushima Prefecture; Yanagizawa Town; Mishima Town; Kanayama Town; Showa Village; Tadami Town; Minamiaizu Town; Hinoemata Village
In collaboration with: SHAKOBA (Revita Co., Ltd.)
■Contact Us
Tadami River Power Generation Basin Promotion Council (Oku-Aizu Promotion Center)
Phone: 0241-42-7125 (Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Mon–Fri)
EMAIL: tdrsk@okuaizu.net
■Other
・The personal information you provide will be used solely for the implementation of this project and will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent.
・This project is part of the Tadami River Power Generation Basin Promotion Council’s “Oku-Aizu Regional Human Resources Co-creation Initiative” and is operated by the General Incorporated Association for Regional and Human Resources Co-creation (contractor).