Private sector steps in to revitalize Japan’s rural communities

Rural Japan faces an ever-more acute shortage of people to keep its communities going. | REUTERS

Jiji

Nov 3, 2026

A growing number of companies are launching local projects and working directly with residents to tackle the problems confronting farming, fishing and mountainous communities hit by depopulation and aging.

Such efforts are expected to help secure agricultural labor and broaden the ranks of people with continuing ties to the regions. They also offer benefits to the companies themselves, by showcasing their social contributions and opening the door to new business opportunities.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, for its part, is stepping up efforts to draw in corporate participants and to support the communities that host their activities.

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