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Student-Led Solutions to Local Challenges
Case Studies
We introduce student-led initiatives to solve local challenges, carried out with the support of government. Beyond what was done (What), we emphasize how it was done (How) and the explicit, reusable knowledge that other regions can apply too.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Turning the marché into a place of learning — the quiz ‘Veggie Q’ that conveys farmers’ dedication
At a sales-centered marché, growers’ dedication is hard to convey to consumers. Three students interviewed an organic farmer, translated that dedication into the quiz “Veggie Q,” and exhibited it at a local food fest. Thirty-five people took part, satisfaction was 4.6 out of 5, and vegetable sales that day exceeded the usual—leading to an invitation from the farm to exhibit again in winter.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Bringing the castle town into a virtual space — the metaverse “Virtual Hiji Town”
Developed and released “Virtual Hiji Town,” a virtual space recreating Ninomaru Street of Hiji Town, Oita, on the social VR platform “VRChat.” With displays where visitors can experience history, tourism, and local products amid the streetscape of Ninomaru Hall and the Kimon Yagura turret, plus paths to e-commerce sites, it delivers the town’s appeal to younger generations and users of digital spaces.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
To the classroom of the “everyday” seen in anime — the “Japanese High School Tour in Hiji Sogo” created by university and high school students
“I want to go to a Japanese high school like the one I saw in anime.” A student team that noticed such a latent need among international students, with the cooperation of Hiji Sogo High School, built an on-campus visit tour together with high schoolers. The high schoolers served as guides, and they interacted through blackboard art and origami. A record of co-creation set at a high school.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Discover on site, share in short videos — building a path to the official tourism site [in preparation]
Finding the charm of Hiji Town on foot and sharing it — four APU students walked the town from a tourist's perspective, looked for places worth seeing, and turned them into 15–20-second short videos posted on Instagram and TikTok. Making the most of the short-video format, they gathered many views in a short time and worked on building a path that leads that interest to the official tourism site “Hiji Navi” and on to the town's sights.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Crossing the language barrier through play — the after-school children’s club English lessons “Eigo GO!”
At an after-school children’s club in Hiji Town, Oita, the student team “Eigo GO!”—including international students—held three English lessons that incorporated games. With the wish that “English isn’t scary,” they created chances for children to encounter English through play. Session by session the children’s voices grew louder, and English greetings began to come out naturally.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Local vegetables, from the local station — the ‘Hijimachi Station Marché’ that gave form to local production for local consumption
Dwindling farmers, off-spec vegetables with nowhere to go, and an unused station—facing these local challenges, four students conceived a direct-sales marché selling “local vegetables, from the local station.” With the town hall bridging the way, they connected with five growers, and local vegetables and eggs sold out over two days. The local-production-for-local-consumption effort was featured in newspapers and on radio, and led to the ongoing activity “HIJIVEGE.”
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