— Toward the Creation of New Business Opportunities Leveraging Local Resources and the Building of Sustainable Partnerships —
SeiRogai, Inc. conducted a multi-day workcation in Aomori City, located in northern Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, from Wednesday, December 17 to Saturday, December 20, 2025. This initiative was carried out under the FY2025 Minato City Partner Municipality Workcation Promotion Subsidy Program, a public–private collaboration framework designed to encourage deeper engagement between Tokyo-based companies and regional municipalities across Japan.
A “workcation” is a hybrid concept that combines remote work with on-site immersion in a regional environment. In Japan, workcations are increasingly used as a policy tool to address regional revitalization challenges by encouraging companies to engage directly with local governments, businesses, and communities while continuing their professional activities.
During the program, SeiRogai team members continued their regular work while participating in structured meetings, site visits, and cultural exchange activities with officials from Aomori City Hall and members of the local community. The workcation aimed to explore new business opportunities rooted in regional strengths, while also building long-term, trust-based relationships with local stakeholders.
Objectives of Participation
Exploring New Collaboration and Business Opportunities with Local Government
Through direct dialogue with officials from Aomori City, SeiRogai applied its expertise in inbound tourism promotion, cross-border e-commerce, and overseas market expansion to explore potential collaboration opportunities. Discussions focused on how Aomori’s local products, cultural assets, and regional stories could be positioned more effectively for international audiences.
Deepening Regional Understanding Through Cultural and Community Engagement
By experiencing Aomori’s daily life, traditions, and local perspectives firsthand, the program aimed to move beyond surface-level observation. Engaging directly with residents and community leaders allowed SeiRogai to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s history, values, and way of life—an essential foundation for building sustainable partnerships.
Enhancing Regional Brand Value and Visibility
SeiRogai also sought to amplify Aomori City’s appeal by sharing insights from the workcation through its website and digital channels. By communicating authentic regional stories to a global audience, the initiative aimed to contribute to stronger regional branding and increased interest from overseas markets.
Understanding Regional Challenges and Identifying Co-Creation Opportunities
In addition to showcasing strengths, the program provided an opportunity to better understand the structural challenges faced by regional Japan, including population decline, youth outmigration, the need for greater global readiness, and the importance of extending healthy life expectancy. These insights are critical for identifying meaningful, co-creative initiatives that align public and private sector goals.
Key Activities and Experiences
◇Policy Dialogue and Networking with Aomori City Officials
SeiRogai held structured opinion-exchange meetings with representatives from the Aomori City Local Products Support Division and the Exchange Promotion Division—departments responsible for regional product development, tourism promotion, and external engagement.
Discussions covered:
- The current state of inbound tourism and its challenges
- Strategies for regional branding and information dissemination aimed at overseas markets
- Potential areas for future collaboration and joint initiatives
SeiRogai shared practical perspectives on internationally oriented content planning, digital storytelling, and cross-border e-commerce strategies. These exchanges enabled both sides to explore realistic models for collaboration between local governments and globally minded private-sector partners.
◇Cultural, Lifestyle, and Community Exchange Experiences
➀Local Cuisine Cooking Experience with an Aomori City Migration PR Ambassador
Participants took part in a hands-on cooking session guided by an Aomori City Migration PR Ambassador—individuals appointed to promote the city to potential new residents and visitors. Through preparing traditional home-style dishes together, participants engaged in direct交流 (kōryū), a Japanese concept emphasizing mutual exchange and relationship building.
The menu included:
- Sekihan (red bean rice traditionally served at celebratory occasions)
- Kenojiru, a nutrient-rich soup made from finely chopped root vegetables
- Iga-menchi, deep-fried patties made primarily from vegetables
- Ko-ae, vegetables dressed with seasoned cod roe
- Ame-senbei, traditional sweet rice crackers
This experience offered insight into Aomori’s everyday food culture and the practical wisdom embedded in local home cooking, providing a perspective far removed from standard tourist experiences.
②Kogin-zashi Embroidery Workshop
At the Aomori Prefecture Tourism and Local Products Center ASPAM, participants joined a Kogin-zashi embroidery workshop led by members of the Maeda Setsu Kogin Research Group. Kogin-zashi is a traditional form of geometric embroidery that originated in Aomori as a way for farming communities to reinforce and insulate clothing.
③Visit to Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Participants visited Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, which houses the massive illuminated floats used in the Aomori Nebuta Festival—one of Japan’s most famous summer festivals. In addition to viewing the floats, participants observed and joined regularly scheduled performances featuring Nebuta-bayashi music and Haneto dance.
Experiencing the festival culture up close provided insight into how the Nebuta Festival has been sustained through strong community involvement and passed down as a source of local pride and identity.
Through these experiences, participants were able to engage directly with local residents and related organizations, further deepening their understanding of the lifestyle, culture, and values of Aomori City.
About the Minato City Partner Municipality Workcation Promotion Program
Minato City is one of Tokyo’s central business districts and home to many globally oriented companies. This program aims to connect such companies with partner municipalities across Japan, facilitating collaboration that addresses shared challenges while creating new business and innovation opportunities.
By encouraging repeated engagement rather than one-off visits, the program serves as a catalyst for long-term, sustainable partnerships between urban businesses and regional communities.
Outcomes and Future Outlook
Through this workcation, SeiRogai gained first-hand insight into Aomori City’s natural environment, cultural heritage, and local perspectives, as well as a deeper understanding of the region’s structural challenges and growth potential.
The policy dialogues with city officials provided concrete insights into how regional resources could be developed and communicated more effectively for international markets. As such, the workcation functioned not merely as a site visit, but as a practical learning and relationship-building initiative.
Moving forward, SeiRogai will leverage the knowledge, networks, and trust established during this program to support overseas promotion of regional resources, inbound tourism initiatives, and international market expansion. The company remains committed to exploring sustained collaboration with local governments and regional businesses, providing both strategic advisory and hands-on support to enhance global awareness of Aomori City and expand international sales channels for regional products.
About SeiRogai, Inc
SeiRogai is a Tokyo-based startup specializing in media production, advertising, branding, media technology, and business consultancy. Renowned for its diverse one-stop media production services, the company also offers strategic consulting services to businesses of all sizes. The team at SeiRogai, comprising seasoned experts from various industries, provides clients with a comprehensive perspective on their unique needs.
SeiRogai was selected as one of the top 15 companies among Tokyo’s selection of “Next Unicorn” startups by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The firm continues to lead in media technology solutions with innovative ventures like SeiRogaiTV and Global Virtual Travel to redefine the landscape of immersive experiences.
Company Profile
Company Name: SeiRogai, Inc.
Head office: Roppongi Denki Building 5F, 6-1-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 106-0032
Representative Directors: Samuel Yuen, Rachel Leng
Establishment: 2019
Website: www.seirogai.com
Business Activities:
1. Media production services (including VR 360° technology)
2. Marketing, advertising, PR, branding (including marketing planning/strategy formulation, brand development, image planning, product design, etc.)
3. Online distribution services for TV programs and movies
4. Overseas expansion support services (specialized services including market research, overseas expansion strategy/overseas market development support, startup support, etc.)
5. Development, construction, and provision of VR distribution systems and DX digital platforms
