A conversation between current students and graduates Otemae University

Eiji Tomita

Otemae University　Faculty of Modern Social Studies

Fourth-year student majoring in Tourism Management

I am scheduled to join the Awaji City Hall. I also studied Creating Regional Value through a crossover program, and in my seminar activities, I have been working on creating walking maps of the city, as well as developing and selling original craft beers and coffees.

hillKyohei Tada

Representative Director, Local Capital Co., Ltd.

Otemae University

Faculty of Integrated Culture (currently: Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies)

Graduated in 2015

After graduation, I gained business experience in real estate sales and market research. In February 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I established Chihoto Co., Ltd., and have been producing regional revitalization projects in collaboration with local governments and companies.

Tomita, who achieved her dream of becoming a city hall employee, and Okada, who took on the challenge of regional revitalization and started his own business, share a common ambition to "energize their communities." They discussed the appeal of crossover learning, where they can learn flexibly across boundaries. We delve deeper into how the broadened perspectives they gained through learning have been put to good use in the future.

Tomita: Mr. Okada, after graduating from Otemae University and working for two companies, you became independent. When did you first become interested in regional revitalization?

Okada: I've always loved traveling to rural areas of Japan since my university days, but I often felt sad when my favorite places disappeared due to development. That's where it all started, with the desire to do something to help local communities. However, I thought that I wouldn't be able to be convincing if I started a business without a business foundation, so I first worked for a real estate company for three years, and then for three years at a market research company that was recommended to me because "you can talk to three business owners every day." Through these experiences, I deepened my knowledge of various industries and honed my ability to see business trends.

Tomita: Meeting founders and executives of listed companies seems like it could have a big impact on one's life.

Okada: In fact, when I hesitated to go independent during the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of a certain company encouraged me, saying, "Now is the time to act, while the regions are suffering," and that's how I decided to go independent and got to where I am today. I'm savoring the rewards of connecting local governments and companies and producing regional revitalization projects.

Tomita: Whenever I visit rural areas, I see a reality where the number of shops is decreasing, and I wanted to do something about it, so I aimed to become a local government employee. As Confucius said in the Analects, "To see what is right and not do it is cowardice," so my goal is to become an employee who does not turn a blind eye to the challenges and can bring out the potential of the region.

Okada: There are also an increasing number of groundbreaking regional development initiatives by local governments, and I hope that you will use what you learned at Otemae to feel the satisfaction of knowing that "your actions can change people's lives."

Tomita: The field of "tourism" that I studied has a broad base, and I gained valuable insights from being able to delve into the stories of a region from various angles, such as the design of its Architecture and the history of the land. In the crossover course on museum exhibition theory, I learned about the design philosophy of exhibitions and was able to build up a wide range of perspectives.

Okada: I studied career theory, management, and welfare through crossover studies, and I found that welfare projects are highly valued in large corporations and local governments. Having knowledge of welfare makes it easier to have in-depth discussions about budget planning. I never imagined back then that knowledge of welfare would be useful in business negotiations.

Tomita: The true value of "STUDY FOR LIFE" can only be understood once you enter society. I was thrilled to see how my seniors are making the most of their multifaceted learning. I too will aim to become someone who can make a difference in the community, and I will follow in their footsteps!

*All information is current as of the time of coverage (February 2026).