This page summarizes, in our own words, a sponsored article (PR) by UR (Urban Renaissance Agency) published in Asahi Shimbun SDGs ACTION! (in Japanese). It reflects the report at the time of publication. See the original article for details.
What is the project?
The “Kimochi, Atsumaru Project” is a study tour run by UR for university students from across Japan. They visit Okuma, Futaba and Namie in Fukushima Prefecture to learn about reconstruction after the earthquake and nuclear accident. In its fourth year, the project goes beyond the tour: students work with local people to plan and carry out their own projects.
The project theme is “feel, think, get involved, and visit again.”
Four things that make it stand out
- Local people offer the themes
Four people active in the area propose the topics, so the projects start from what the community wants. - It continues after the tour
A four-day visit in August, online planning meetings from September to November, a presentation on site in December and the event itself in February. - Local supporters accompany the students
Four local people watch over and support the students’ planning. - The results go back to the place
The plans are presented and carried out on site, rather than ending with a visit.
The four days
- Visit memorial facilities and preserved disaster sites to learn what happened.
- Hear residents’ experiences and feelings about their hometowns first-hand.
- Visit reconstruction hubs and exchange facilities to hear about community-building support.
- Walk the sites of the four themes (a farm, a shop, a planned office site), then develop and present concepts in groups.
The four project themes (summary)
| Town | Theme |
|---|---|
| Namie | How to preserve people’s lives, streetscape and memories of a house due to be demolished |
| Okuma | Designing how an office with a community-exchange function could work |
| Okuma | Furniture that connects people to a kiwi orchard |
| Futaba | Reusing spent coffee grounds |
What we can learn
- A study tour can grow from “visit and leave” to “build together and give back.”
- Starting from a topic the community asks for makes a project meaningful on both sides.
- Combining several visits with online meetings keeps the relationship going and gives people a reason to return.
To apply this flow to your own tour, see How to Organize a Study Tour (applied section).
Source: Asahi Shimbun SDGs ACTION! (Oct. 9, 2026, sponsored by UR), in Japanese.
Read the original article →
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“What stood out to me is that the tour does not end after four days. Online meetings, a return visit and a final event follow, so students are not just visitors.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“I agree with your point about the design continuing, Aoba. I also like that the themes were offered by local people, so the projects start from what the community hopes for.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading
“Hearing both of you, I notice that the starting points are small, everyday things such as kiwi-farm furniture and coffee grounds. It shows that you can get involved from something close to daily life.”
Editor-in-chief comment
Ren DateEditor-in-chief
“A study tour can go beyond learning: build something with the community and give it back. I turned this idea into a practical method in the applied section of our guide to organizing a tour.”