Jizoku Inc., Toyamanome, and Shiten Inc. Announce Business Alliance

Jizoku Inc., the General Incorporated Association Toyama no Me, and Shiten Inc. have announced a business partnership aimed at addressing social challenges in Toyama Prefecture’s agriculture sector. The collaboration will launch a project to generate carbon credits from agricultural practices within the prefecture.

This initiative will evaluate the environmental value of agriculture, leading to potential additional income for farmers and contributing to securing the next generation of agricultural workers and achieving sustainable agriculture.

As the first phase, the project will specifically focus on generating carbon credits through the extension of the mid-season drainage period in rice cultivation within Toyama Prefecture.

By collaborating with Toyama no Me and Shiten Inc., both of which are deeply involved in community development and agriculture in Toyama Prefecture, the project aims to promote widespread adoption among local farmers.

In this regard, the three organizations will hold an information session on the project details as outlined below. Your attendance would be greatly appreciated.

Information Session Schedule:

Date: August 7th

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Shoto Nosan Co., Ltd.

Address: 21 Teratsukahara, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture 934-0056

Inquiries: toyamanome@gmail.com / 080-6702-9937 (Contact: Koyo Nakaya)

Project and Partnership Background:

Rural areas across Japan are facing serious issues such as population decline and labor shortages, a trend particularly pronounced in primary industries including agriculture. In Toyama Prefecture, the number of core agricultural workers, typically full-time farmers, has significantly decreased by 25.8% from 2015 to 11,258 in 2020. Furthermore, the aging of the agricultural workforce is severe, with 84.2% of farmers being 65 years or older.

Jizoku Inc., with its vision to “create rice paddies that last for 2000 years,” is engaged nationwide in generating carbon credits through the extension of the mid-season drainage period. This approach evaluates the environmental value of agriculture, leading to potential additional income and contributing to the realization of sustainable agriculture.

However, current trends suggest that the area may face a rapid decline in agricultural workers and farmland around 2030 due to further aging and a potential increase in farmers retiring.

In response to this background, Jizoku Inc. believes that securing young agricultural workers is crucial for the sustainable growth of Toyama Prefecture’s agriculture.

By partnering with Toyama no Me and Shiten Inc., both established with the aim of solving social challenges in primary industries, this initiative will promote the generation of carbon credits to help secure the next generation of farmers in Toyama Prefecture.

This partnership was initiated after Jizoku Inc.’s selection for the “Q-reation” program organized by the Toyama Prefectural Government’s Tokyo Metropolitan Area Headquarters.

About Shiten Inc.:

Shiten Inc. was established by the General Incorporated Association Toyama no Me, inheriting the spirit of a local volunteer group in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture.

This project originated from a 100-year-old traditional house (with approximately 4,000 tsubo of land) that currently serves as Toyama no Me’s base of operations. This house was previously the activity center for a local volunteer group formed in 2014. The group was involved in activities such as bamboo forest maintenance to revitalize the traditional house and the local community.

However, due to the aging of its members (average age of approximately 73), it became difficult to continue operations, leading to its dissolution. Subsequently, Toyama no Me was established to carry on its mission, with the aim of “ReCommunity.” Through addressing local concerns, Toyama no Me strives to restore weakened human connections, enrich local resources, and build new communities while regenerating the Earth’s ecosystems (improving soil and marine ecosystem health).

Starting with a few members, Toyama no Me has grown to approximately 60 individuals by leveraging human connections, local media, and the latest technologies. Its diverse membership, ranging in age from 18 to their early 30s, includes tree climbing experts, lumberjacks, first-class architects, influencers, artists, farmers, engineers, dancers, accountants, and more. By combining their diverse talents, they address local and social issues.

In particular, while focusing on solving social challenges in primary industries through initiatives such as agri-sports and the Uni to Yasai Kuru Project, Toyama no Me received a consultation regarding the business succession of a local agricultural corporation, leading to the establishment of Shiten Inc. as a business entity. With the goal of upgrading Japan’s primary industries, Shiten

Inc. aims to create a “learning space (school) for primary industries.”

About Jizoku Inc.:

A Hitotsubashi University-born venture that evaluates the multifaceted functions of agriculture. The company develops top-quality carbon credit creation projects with consideration for biodiversity and is engaged nationwide in the creation of carbon credits through the extension of the mid-season drainage period and biodiversity surveys.

Company Profiles:

Organization Name: Jizoku Inc.

Location: YMCA Hitotsubashi Dormitory, 1-20-12 Higashi, Kunitachi, Tokyo

Representative: Keiichiro Kataoka, Representative Director and President

Business Activities: Carbon credit creation business

Organization Name: General Incorporated Association Toyama no Me

Location: 795 Nishi-Takagi, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture

Representative: Koyo Nakaya, Representative Director

Business Activities: Symbol tree lighting, agri-sports, Uni to Yasai Kuru Project, etc.

Organization Name: Shiten Inc. *Newly established on April 1st by Toyama no Me. Inherited a local agricultural corporation.

Location: 795 Nishi-Takagi, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture

Representative: Koyo Nakaya, Representative Director