ABS Explores Collaboration Opportunities with Minamiuonuma City

On June 4, 2026, Professor Taka Hosoda, Dean of the Graduate School of International Management (Aoyama Business School, ABS) at Aoyama Gakuin University, and Mr. Daisuke Ito, Adjunct Lecturer at ABS, visited Minamiuonuma City Hall in Niigata Prefecture and met with Mr. Naohiro Odaka, Deputy Mayor of Minamiuonuma City.

Aoyama Gakuin University and Minamiuonuma City signed a comprehensive partnership agreement on March 31, 2026, to promote collaboration in a wide range of areas, including education, research, regional development, and human resource development. This visit was conducted as part of the initiatives arising from that agreement and aimed to explore specific opportunities for future cooperation.

During the meeting, the participants engaged in extensive discussions regarding potential collaboration between ABS and Minamiuonuma City. The conversation focused on regional industrial development through the utilization of local resources and the creation of a sustainable community. Both parties exchanged ideas on how education and research activities could contribute to these objectives.

Particular attention was given to the potential of facilities that utilize snow cooling and thermal energy, an abundant local resource in Minamiuonuma. Snow-based thermal energy not only contributes to reducing environmental impact and energy costs but also offers opportunities for developing new business models and tourism resources that capitalize on the region’s unique characteristics. The participants discussed possible applications of this technology, related business opportunities, and its potential integration into educational and research activities.

The meeting also explored opportunities for collaboration with local private-sector companies. Minamiuonuma is home to many firms with distinctive technologies and capabilities, and partnerships between these companies and ABS could provide valuable experiential learning opportunities for students as well as support joint research projects aimed at addressing regional challenges.

In addition, the participants discussed the possibility of collaborating with the International University of Japan, which is located in Minamiuonuma. By leveraging the university’s global network and diverse community of students and researchers, ABS and the International University of Japan could work together on educational and research initiatives that contribute to the internationalization of the region and the development of globally minded leaders.

Following the meeting with Deputy Mayor Odaka, Professor Hosoda and Mr. Ito visited four local companies that play important roles in the regional economy. During these visits, they learned about the companies’ business operations, management challenges, and relationships with the local community, while also exchanging views on talent development and opportunities for industry-academia collaboration. These visits provided valuable insights into the strengths of Minamiuonuma’s industrial base as well as the challenges facing the region.

The visit deepened mutual understanding between ABS and Minamiuonuma City and laid the groundwork for future cooperation. ABS remains committed to strengthening partnerships with local governments, businesses, and educational institutions and to contributing to regional development through practical education and research. Looking ahead, the school plans to explore initiatives such as student fieldwork programs, collaborative projects with local companies, and research activities focused on regional issues, thereby advancing the goals of the comprehensive partnership agreement.