Please note: This Tea Time event will be hosted in person at the Intralink office near Uchisaiwaicho station, with an option to drop in online as usual. When you sign up, please state if you would rather join in person or online in the ‘Additional Information (optional)’ field.
Online attendees will receive an email with the Zoom access details two hours before this session is scheduled to start.

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For our 17^th BCCJ Tea-Time session–and first in a hybrid format–we are delighted to invite Kate Sedwell from Atlantic Pacific (AP) to lead the discussion as part of her visit from the UK. This event will include a brief presentation about AP’s work in Kamaishi, leading to a wider and open discussion concerning the regeneration of regional areas through education and positive initiatives to inspire much-needed change.

Context: The world’s urban population has grown rapidly over the last 100 years, and this concentration has bought about economic growth and urban prosperity. However, this has caused an outflow of people from rural to urban and suburban areas, which is not only a problem in Japan, but a global phenomenon. In Kamaishi, a city devastated by the 2011 Tsunami, the rate of outflow has been expedited because of the disaster, leaving an ageing community clinging to their livelihoods. Young Kamaishi people are coming-of-age and leaving for the cities, only returning for short-term family visits. The problem is large and complex, but educational interventions, such as those led by the Atlantic Pacific team, are showing positive signs.

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BCCJ Tea Time sessions are designed to be a safe space where you can drop by to share your thoughts, pick up new information and take a break from the daily grind. Any colleagues of member companies are very welcome to join, so please feel free to share this event internally should you believe the topic might be of interest to someone at your company. This event also serves as an opportunity to engage in some light networking in English.