Co‑creation Challenge — Connecting Kaizuka to a Future Society

“KAIZUKA MACHIGOTO EXPO” is a project born to leverage the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai as an opportunity to enhance Kaizuka City’s appeal and energize the whole community. Aligned with the Expo, the initiative promotes co‑creation challenge projects—industry‑academia‑government collaborations underway in Kaizuka that address social issues and drive regional revitalization. The goal is to raise the city’s profile and share Expo enthusiasm not only at the main venue but across Kaizuka as well.

Project Inauguration

To create opportunities for domestic and international visitors to come not only to the Expo site but also to Kaizuka and discover its charms, six businesses selected through Kaizuka City’s “EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Co‑creation Challenge” (open call) united to form the KAIZUKA MACHIGOTO EXPO Executive Committee. The committee launched to co‑create a city‑wide Expo experience in 2025.

Project Activities

The six businesses selected by Kaizuka’s Co‑creation Challenge each run projects in their respective areas. Initiatives include “Marine Festa 2024,” focused on cleaning and beautifying the fishing and coastal environment; job‑experience programs at confectionery and coffee workshops; a free school creating community; operation of “NōMARU Club,” an experiential farming program using fallow land; and a tourist information center guiding visitors to the Mizuma area for domestic and international guests.

Targeting inbound visitors, a vacant‑house‑based guesthouse operation emphasizing “experiences” has been launched. To enhance the appeal and safety of Nishikinohama—Kaizuka’s asset that earned Osaka’s first international environmental Blue Flag certification—a lifesaving club was also established.

Future Prospects for the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai

In coordination with the Expo, the six selected businesses and their partners plan to hold simultaneous events as “KAIZUKA MACHIGOTO EXPO Week,” creating opportunities for domestic and international Expo visitors to also visit Kaizuka and discover the city’s attractions.