地域発のビジネス発想、ネットで広める 気ままなリライト173
In an era when many people are turning away from traditional TV and newspapers, LBS Local Business Satellite, a video content series produced by Nikkei in partnership with regional five TXN-affiliated stations, is reaching broader audience with the latest news and trends from Japan's vibrant local economies. This relay-style online video series delivers fresh insights from different regions, spotlighting the vitality of regional industries and startups across the country.
Since LBS Local Business Satellite began broadcasting and streaming in October 2021, four locally-focused projects have captured widespread interest. Each project highlights an innovative, community-centered business model led by tech-savvy companies that are well-positioned to address regional challenges. Rooted in local problem-solving, sustainability, cultural preservation, and economic revitalization, these initiatives draw on distinctive regional resources and traditions—whether by repurposing urban wood waste in Osaka, celebrating Fukuoka’s street food culture, transforming Gifu’s agricultural byproducts, or promoting Hokkaido’s premium seafood. By building on these local assets, these companies are creating meaningful economic, cultural and environmental value that resonates deeply with their communities.
The first featured project is the Urban Biomass Power Generation initiative in Osaka. This project focuses on biomass power generation, using urban waste wood—such as construction debris and pruned roadside trees—as fuel. Leading this effort is TJ Group Holdings, an Osaka-based company that converts waste wood into wood chips to fuel steam turbines for electricity production. With specialized technology to maintain consistent wood chip quality, including optimal moisture levels, TJ Group generates 40,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to power nearly 10,000 households—from approximately 60,000 tons of waste wood. By transforming urban wood waste into clean energy, TJ Group is not only addressing a major waste management challenge but also promoting a circular economy model of “local production for local consumption” that reduces dependency on imported fuels.
The second featured project focuses on advancing a circular economy through innovative recycling and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is led by Spacewasp, a Gifu City-based startup founded in 2022, which has implemented a circular resource model using agricultural and industrial waste. By repurposing leftovers from flower and crop cultivation, as well as reclaimed industrial wood, Spacewasp produces and sells furniture and interior building materials. The company has built its own 3D printers, allowing it to reduce production costs and maintain high quality standards. By customizing and controlling the 3D printing process, Spacewasp can experiment with cutting-edge designs that align with emerging trends toward eco-friendly, resource-efficient architecture. Through its commitment to creating value from discarded resources, Spacewasp is contributing to a circular economy and supporting sustainable design practices.
The third example takes place in the town of Shiranuka in Hokkaido, which ranked fourth nationwide for four consecutive years in donations through Japan’s hometown tax program as of fiscal 2022. The town’s initiative aims not only to revitalize Shiranuka’s primary industries but also to raise the town’s profile, making it more attractive to tourists and boosting revenue from the hometown tax program. To draw in more supporters through tax platforms like Furusato Choice, the town has invested in the branding and processing of its local seafood. Partnering in this effort is Tokyo-based startup Immue, which uses advanced food processing and preservation technologies to create high-quality, value-added products for broader markets. In 2023, Immue established a factory in Shiranuka and launched a unique brand, "Extreme Cold Yellowtail," to emphasize the fish’s origins in Hokkaido’s frigid waters. Later that year, the company also took over production of "true shishamo" and began developing a line of shishamo-based products.
The fourth project focuses on reviving street food culture in Hakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture, showcasing how a city can restore a cherished tradition with deep cultural roots while creating economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs. By 2011, the number of street stalls had dwindled to around 150, prompting city officials to take action. In 2013, they introduced the "Street Stall Ordinance," designed to revitalize Hakata’s iconic street food scene as a tourism attraction and a business opportunity. The ordinance eased entry regulations, providing a launchpad for food startups to experiment with new culinary concepts without the high overhead of a traditional restaurant. Since then, the economic impact of these stalls has doubled thanks in part to online marketing and a strong social media presence that allowed food stalls to reach boarder audience both domestically and internationally. New stalls with thoughtfully crafted menus are popping up, and it’s now common to see long lines forming at popular spots, evoking the golden era when Fukuoka boasted over 400 bustling street stalls.