JOINT WORKSHOP
Risks and Opportunities in Japan: Local Communities Confronting
Demographic Change and Climate Change
DATE: Thursday, November 12, 2015
VENUE: German Institute for Japanese Studies

The sustainability of Japanese society depends on how we deal with the risks and opportunities
in the age of a declining birth rate and an aging population. Securing the future of local
communities through innovative ideas and business schemes is being considered as one
important strategy. Recently many distinguished social entrepreneurs have tackled and solved
the social problems in respective communities with local stakeholders and achieved socialchange. One related area is renewable energy through its contribution to regional value added.
This workshop will focus on exploring the following questions; how do social entrepreneurs startand manage their business, how do they create and diffuse social innovation, how do they build
collaboration with stakeholders in communities, and how do they make an impact in the local
society? How do Japanese and German communities try to exploit the potential of renewableenergy for regional economic development?

The workshop will be held in English. It will take place at the DIJ. Admission is free, registration isnecessary: forum@dijtokyo.org

Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien German Institute for Japanese Studies
Jochi Kioizaka Bld. 2F, 7-1 Kioicho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094
Tel: 03 - 3222 5198, Fax: 03 3222 5420

PROGRAM:
10:00 – 10:10

OPENING
Franz Waldenberger, DIJ and Kanji Tanimoto, Waseda University

10:10 – 11:00

KEYNOTE SPEECH Chair: Kanji Tanimoto
1. Kazue Haga, DIJ, Entrepreneurship, new combinations and enterprises withsocial effects: creative responses to demographic change.
2. Takahiro Ogasawara, AXA Insurance, Chief CSR Officer, A role of insurancecompany at the age of aging society (tentative).

11:10 – 12:50

CASE STUDY I: Declining Birth Rate and an Aging Population,
Chair: Kanji Tanimoto
1. Masaatsu Doi, Hosei University, Social innovation and sick childcare in Japan: acase study of Florence.
2. Shuji Ohira, Chiba University of Commerce, Social Innovation for Housewives ina case of Career Mum.
3. Nobuyoshi Ohmuro, Kyoto Sangyo University, How to attract resources of local
community and the necessity of bird eyes in social innovation: a case of FRAU.
4. Kunio Okura, Hirosaki University, Social innovation in home care support service
for senior citizen and disabled people: a case of Care Center Yawaragi.
5. Kimihisa Komura, Kyoto Sangyo University, Social innovation in regional
activation: a case of Salad Cosmo.

12:50 – 14:10 LUNCH
14:10 – 15:10

CASE STUDY II: Environment and Renewable Energy
Chair: Kanji Tanimoto
1. Christian Dimmer, The University of Tokyo, Transition Towns.
2. Daniel Kremers, DIJ, Risk perceptions and inter-generation relations in rural Japan– Potentials and initiatives for sustainable development in Hakusan
3. Franz Waldenberger, DIJ, Renewable energy as community business - The
Japanese town Oki and German village St. Peter.

15:20 – 16:40

PLENARY SESSION, Chair: Franz Waldenberger
Kazue Haga, Christian Dimmer, Nobuyoshi Ohmuro, Masaatsu Doi

16:40

CLOSING
Franz Waldenberger and Kanji Tanimoto

17:00

RECEPTION