The “Community Drive Project,” which tackles local mobility challenges,
Expanding to Chiba, Hyogo, and Shimane Following Toyama and Hiroshima
Selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Regional Transportation Challenges Solution Project” for the third consecutive year in FY2026
~Identifying and nurturing talent to proactively address regional mobility challenges, building a sustainable foundation for activities, and expanding nationwide following initiatives in Kurobe City, Fukuyama City, Ichihara City, Toyooka City, and Matsue City~

The Community Drive Project (SMART Fukushi Lab, a general incorporated association; Nikken Sekkei Ltd.; and Zukai Soken Co., Ltd.), which tackles local mobility challenges, will expand to Ichihara City in Chiba Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture Government Toyooka City, and Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture, following its launches in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, and Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.Furthermore, the project has been selected for the third consecutive year to receive the FY2026 “Subsidy for Securing, Maintaining, and Improving Regional Public Transportation” under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Project to Resolve Regional Transportation Issues.” This fiscal year, the project will implement the “Full-Scale Rollout Project for Redesigning Transportation to Eliminate Service Gaps (Mobility Human Resources Development Project).”This project, which began in July 2024, will be rolled out nationwide in phases to identify and develop talent that will take a proactive role in solving local mobility challenges and to build a sustainable foundation for these activities.

In fiscal year 2026, marking our third year of activities in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, we will move forward with STEP 3: While operating the MobiLAB@Kurobe Base—a venue for building project leadership and conducting resident-participatory experiments—we will begin the process of establishing “CDPJ Kurobe,” a self-governing consultative body.In Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture—now in its second year—we will implement STEP 2 by holding monthly MobiLAB meetings. At these meetings, residents will serve as “researchers” and carry out activities to advance micro-projects (small-scale pilot experiments).Furthermore, starting this fiscal year, we will begin expanding the initiative to Ichihara City in Chiba Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture Government Toyooka City, and Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture. As part of STEP 1, we will aim to verify the program’s versatility in each region and create new model cases while fostering collaboration among residents, businesses, local governments, and the public sector.

STEP 1: Introduction Program. Bring together residents, businesses, local governments, and the public sector. Build momentum through sector-specific workshops and integrated workshops to identify community drivers.
STEP 2: MobiLAB Meetings. Hold monthly strategy meetings. Residents act as “researchers,” formulate hypotheses, and conduct repeated small-scale experiments.
STEP 3: Establishing an Implementing Entity. Moving from proof of concept to implementation. Establish a sustainable operating organization.

Through initiatives launched earlier in Kurobe City and Fukuyama City, the Community Drive project emphasizes mutual support within communities and the building of cooperative relationships that transcend conflicting interests, achieved through ongoing dialogue among residents themselves.In addition to conducting surveys and visualizing existing challenges and opportunities, we will design activities that empower residents to generate their own information and find joy in solving problems, while refining the dialogue process to make it more sustainable.Furthermore, to serve as guidelines for residents to generate fair and constructive dialogue and drive their own activities forward, we will organize a systematic Community Drive program that can be applied in various regions, and develop and utilize the following tools to facilitate dialogue.
About the Tools:
Mobility Issue Map: A common language that structures the causal relationships and “negative loops” of complex issues. It visualizes local challenges by categorizing sticky notes by stakeholder and connecting causal relationships with arrows.
Kadai (Issue Tool): An issue map creation app developed by Zukai Research Institute (kadai.zukai.co). Allows users to create and share issue maps digitally, in addition to handwritten notes and sticky notes.
Mobi Map: Analyzes travel routes from Private by timeline and location to identify latent needs and overlaps in resources.
Honne POST: Easily collects residents’ “off-the-cuff comments”—which don’t appear in surveys—and analyzes and visualizes them using AI.
Liqlid: Utilizes a citizen-participatory consensus-building platform provided by Liquitous Co., Ltd., which enables the direct collection of citizen opinions and the analysis of audio from dialogue sessions and social media posts. Audio recordings made during workshops are also imported and used for analysis and visualization.

As we approach 2026, when one in six people will be classified as “elderly in the later stages of life,” and amid a further decline in the birthrate and an aging population, transportation challenges related to social welfare and disaster preparedness are becoming increasingly severe in rural areas.More than 70% of Japan’s 1,718 municipalities—including Kurobe City, which has a population of approximately 38,000 and an elderly population ratio of 32% (compared to the national average of 29%)—face similar challenges (Reiwa 2 National Census, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).This situation compromises the safety and convenience of local residents’ daily lives and affects their access to medical and long-term care services. Amid accelerating population decline, there is an urgent need to create sustainable systems. Recognizing these challenges, the Community Drive Project was launched in July 2024.We have been working to identify solutions to local mobility challenges and envision the future, as well as to discover and nurture “Community Drivers”—individuals who will promote (Drive) mobility within their communities (Community)—and to develop the necessary programs and tools.
Specifically, the project began in Kurobe City in July 2024, and we developed programs and tools while conducting workshops and interviews with representatives from the public, private, and civic sectors.In November, as the culmination of these efforts, we held the Mirai Drive Workshop, creating a space for cross-sector dialogue and organizing a presentation and forum to share the results.

Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture: Population of approximately 40,000; aging rate of 32% *Reiwa 2 National Census Basic Tabulation of Population and Other Data; the same applies below
Activities
We are moving forward with the implementation of MobiLAB@Kurobe Base and the establishment of the self-sustaining organization “CDPJ Kurobe,” focusing on three pillars: human resource development, organizational launch, and collaboration among stakeholders.
Currently, approximately 40 researchers interested in solving mobility challenges—drawn from various sectors including citizens, businesses, government, and supporters—are actively participating. This fiscal year, we aim to nurture these researchers as “Community Drivers”—individuals who will take the initiative to tackle challenges on their own by leading micro-projects (small-scale pilot experiments).
2026 Schedule
・Kickoff: Friday, August 7; Final Presentation: Friday, February 5
Community Drivers (CDs) are individuals who guide the resolution of local issues through a process of dialogue, research, visualization, and implementation
We will conduct “MobiLAB @ Kurobe Base,” a hands-on program consisting of seven sessions.
Participants will launch micro-projects and engage in the entire process—from field research and pilot testing to presenting their results.
STEP 1: Dialogue, STEP 2: Research, STEP 3: Visualization, STEP 4: Implementation.

<Establishment of the Self-Sustaining Organization “CDPJ Kurobe”>
“CDPJ Kurobe”—Establishment of a sustainable, self-governing organization.
As a foundation for sustainable activities, “CDPJ Kurobe” will be established as a legal entity by the end of February 2027.
(30 founding members confirmed / 5 participating companies and organizations / 10 supporting companies and organizations / 2 preparatory committee meetings held (July and December))

Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture: Population of approximately 460,000; 29% of the population is elderly
Project Details
STEP 1 was implemented in fiscal year 2025. Through workshops involving government officials, businesses, and residents, as well as field research, we deepened dialogue, conducted surveys, and visualized findings, with a total of more than 158 participants.
In fiscal year 2026, we will move on to STEP 2. While continuing dialogue, research, and visualization, we will work on implementing micro-projects and forming teams and organizational structures to serve as the implementing bodies.
2026 Schedule
・Kickoff: Tuesday, August 4 (in front of Fukuyama Station); Wednesday, August 5 (Tomo-no-Ura); Final Report Session: Saturday, January 30

<Implementation of MobiLab Fukuyama Station and MobiLab Tomonoura; Preparations for the Establishment of the Self-Sustaining Organization CDPJ Fukuyama>
In Fukuyama City, we will hold “MobiLab Fukuyama Station” – covering the entire city – and “MobiLab Tomonoura” – focusing on the southern part of the city – monthly from August through January.In parallel with these initiatives, we will move forward with preparations for establishing the self-sustaining organization “CDPJ Fukuyama,” focusing on identifying and developing talent, preparing to launch the organization, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
Project Leader: Legato LLC
Partner Companies and Organizations: REHANOWA Co., Ltd., Fukuyama Denkyo Co., Ltd., Nets Toyota Hiroshima Co., Ltd.
Fukuyama City, Fukuyama City Community Development Support Center, Fukuyama City Council of Social Welfare

Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture: Population of approximately 270,000; elderly population rate of 29.2%
Project Details
Liquitous Co., Ltd., the lead organization for this initiative, has been contracted by Ichihara City since the previous fiscal year to provide “Operational and Support Services for a Citizen-Participatory Co-creation Platform.” Additionally, the Ichihara Citizens’ Activities Council, a specified nonprofit organization collaborating on this initiative, has long served as an intermediary support organization for citizen activities.Last fiscal year, as part of the aforementioned services, our company supported Ichihara City’s “Platform Conference on Measures Against Loneliness and Isolation.” During this conference, it became apparent that there were transportation challenges for children and their guardians regarding “safe spaces for children.” Consequently, this fiscal year, under the name “Ichihara Koushō Project,” we will utilize the city’s online platform “Liqlid,”face-to-face interviews, and surveys distributed through organizations. Through this project, we aim to give shape to the process by which those who previously said, “I wish it were like this,” transition to becoming the ones who say, “Let’s do this.”
Project Leader: Liquitous Co., Ltd.
Partner Companies and Organizations: Ichihara Citizens’ Activities Council (a specified non-profit organization), Ichihara City, D-Land Co., Ltd., and others.

Hyogo Prefecture Government Toyooka City: Population of approximately 77,000; 34% of the population is elderly
Activities
Launching in fiscal year 2026.Aiming for the social implementation of “Toyooka Welfare Mobility”—a project advanced through the Toyooka Smart Community Promotion Organization (TSC), a public-private partnership—we will establish a “Mobility Co-creation Hub” where diverse local stakeholders collaborate to address mobility challenges, and foster “Mobility Co-creation Professionals” to support these efforts.We plan to hold a total of three workshops, utilizing this program as a tool for identifying challenges, building consensus, and developing human resources. The kickoff workshop will be held on Monday, August 24, with additional workshops scheduled for November and January.

Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture: Population of approximately 200,000; 29.7% of the population is elderly
Project Details
Launching in fiscal year 2026, we will implement “Mobilab Shimane,” a program that integrates human resource development with organizational establishment. The project is led by Iya Taxi Co., Ltd., which operates taxis and community buses in Matsue City.Following a recommendation from Matsue City and subsequent approval and funding approval by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a new research and practice division called “MobiLab Shimane” was established within the company. A key feature of this initiative is that the local transportation operator itself is taking the lead in building an organization that involves citizens, businesses, and the government.The program is designed so that the six workshops will serve as the organizational steering committee. All participants will act as “MobiLab Researchers,” and those who meet the completion requirements will be certified as “Mobility Planners” (the goal for the first year is a total of over 100 researchers and at least 5 certified planners).A kickoff event for stakeholders will be held on Thursday, August 20; a kickoff event for citizens on Monday, September 28; and a two-part session on Monday, October 26. Following that, a total of six sessions will be held in November, December, and January.

On Thursday, September 10, we will hold an event (Tokyo: Nikken Sekkei PYNT Takebashi) to share an overview of the Community Drive project and the initiatives underway in various regions. In Kurobe City and other regions, we are planning major events for local residents to share details on the specific activities carried out over the past year.We plan to hold a midterm report in November and a final report in February. We also plan to organize similar reporting sessions in each location where the program is being implemented.

​◆Major Events for the Year (Standard Schedule and Timeline) ◆
In the first year, we will conduct the launch, sector-specific dialogues, mid-year updates, a consolidation session, and a wrap-up.
August: Regional Kickoffs—Program launch and sharing of the program’s objectives in each region.
Fall: Sector-specific workshops and dialogue sessions involving residents, businesses, local governments, and the public sector.
November–December: Interim reports and sharing of progress to date.
Around February: Final presentation session; Mirai Drive Forum—presentation of the year’s achievements.

今年度のプログラムの実施内容や、3年目を迎え他地域で展開を開始するCommunity Driveプロジェクトが目指すことなど、今後の展望をお伝えします。
■日　時： 2026年9月10日（木）15:00-17:30（-18:00 懇親会）＊終了予定時刻（開場：14:30）
■会　場：日建設計PYNT竹橋
■住　所：東京都千代田区一ツ橋1丁目1-1 パレスサイドビル5階
■電　話：03-5226-3030
■主催者：Community Driveプロジェクト (一般社団法人SMARTふくしラボ/株式会社日建設計/ 株式会社図解総研）
■参加者：黒部市・福山市・市原市・豊岡市・松江市のCommunity Driveプロジェクト実施予定地域の市民・行政・企業ほか多様なセクターの方々。

"This fiscal year, we will move from the micro-projects currently being carried out by MobiLAB@Kurobe Base to slightly larger projects, with the goal of commercialization and service development. We aim to solve challenges by co-creating with the government on issues that residents cannot address alone, and with businesses on issues that neither residents nor the government can address on their own.The Community Drive Project fosters “resident autonomy”—the most crucial element for solving mobility challenges and community development—and works to build a foundation for co-creation while promoting ‘local consensus-building.’We believe that if more people in the community take the lead in driving the community forward through positive, forward-looking dialogue—rather than confrontation—they will be able to effectively utilize various technologies and services to solve local challenges. With this conviction, we will expand this initiative nationwide.”

"The Community Drive project does not rely on the introduction of specific tools or services; instead, it emphasizes leveraging the relationships and mechanisms of mutual support that already exist in many communities, enabling residents themselves to continue the dialogue.For 126 years, Nikken Sekkei has cultivated dialogue in architectural planning projects to build consensus and agreement among numerous stakeholders. Through our initiatives in Kurobe and Fukuyama, we realized that the insights we have accumulated can be leveraged to foster mutual support within communities and build cooperative relationships that transcend conflicting interests.This fiscal year, in addition to conducting surveys and visualization efforts to identify existing challenges and potential opportunities, Nikken Sekkei will explore ways to design workshops where residents themselves can generate information and find joy in solving problems, as well as refine the dialogue process to make it more sustainable. We hope to contribute to the completion of the “Community Drive” program, which will serve as a set of guidelines enabling residents to foster fair and constructive dialogue on their own.”

"Through the Community Drive project, up until last fiscal year, we laid the groundwork for dialogue and action by visualizing local challenges related to mobility and conducting small-scale pilot projects. This fiscal year, building on that shared knowledge, we will transition from individual experiments to a phase focused on establishing sustainable business entities.At the Visualization Research Institute, we use visualizations to clarify complex stakeholder relationships, business models, and the various structures surrounding these challenges, thereby creating a common language that fosters co-creation. We will vigorously support the co-creation process by creating visualizations that give shape to the community’s aspirations and pave the way for implementation.”

地域における移動の課題や未来に向き合い解決策を導き出し、地域（Community）の移動を促進（Drive）する人材である「コミュニティ・ドライバー」の育成と必要になるプログラムならびにツール開発を目指すプロジェクトです。福祉のDXを推進する一般社団法人SMARTふくしラボ（所在地：富山県黒部市）と建築・土木の設計監理、都市デザインを行う組織設計事務所である株式会社日建設計（所在地：東京都千代田区）、複雑な情報を図解で可視化する株式会社図解総研（所在地：東京都千代田区）により2024年7月に発足しました。開発する研修プログラムでは、実際に課題解決に取り組む地域の住民や企業、行政といった多様なセクターが集まり、データ活用をしながら、対話し、自分たちで未来の地域の移動を考えていきます。その過程で住民に主体性が生まれ、合意形成が促進し、「自分たちの移動を自分たちで考えていく」マインドを醸成します。本プロジェクトは、2024年度より、国土交通省地域の交通課題解決プロジェクトである「地域公共交通確保維持改善事業費補助金」に3年連続で採択されています。

SMART Fukushi Lab is an organization that focuses on digitalization in the welfare sector, promotes DX (digital transformation), creates new businesses, and functions as a think tank. Focusing on mobility, a major challenge in local communities, the organization conducts research and studies. In 2023, it was selected for a co-creation model demonstration project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and developed "Go-Tore," a community-wide day service that provides a hybrid solution to preventative care, support for going out, and revitalize public transportation, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable community development.

Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm engaged in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related survey, planning, and consulting services.For 126 years since our founding in 1900, we have been committed to creating value through “Social and Environmental Design,” which seeks solutions to both apparent and latent social issues, in order to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of our clients.To date, we have been involved in various projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years have expanded our operations to India and Europe. To address regional challenges, we developed “Evacuation Maps,” which apply building evacuation plans during disasters to visualize evacuation times on maps.Workshops to create these “Escape Maps” have been held in 133 cities, towns, and villages across 43 prefectures nationwide, as well as at more than 30 elementary, junior high, and high schools, promoting risk communication and consensus-building regarding evacuation in each region. A total of at least 6,000 people, including local residents and municipal employees, have participated.

Zukai Soken is a visual think tank that structures and illustrates complex concepts—such as business models, accounting, co-creation, and policy—using a common framework.We provide comprehensive support—from the creation of frameworks that reduce the communication costs of mutual understanding and establish a common language among diverse stakeholders, thereby laying the groundwork for dialogue, decision-making, and execution—to the application of these frameworks in book publishing, product development, and the management and facilitation of co-creation initiatives, offering end-to-end support from concept to implementation.Our major publications to date include *Business Model 2.0 Illustrated*, *Business Model 3.0 Illustrated*, *The Map of Accounting*, *The Purpose Model*, and *Policy Illustrated*. Furthermore, by visualizing the structures of complex issues—such as challenges in long-term care and community development—and clarifying the relationships between them, we have created a foundation for discussions on what problems need to be solved.

Community DriveプロジェクトPR担当 pr@cdpj.jp

Community DriveプロジェクトPR担当（日本パブリックリレーションズ研究所）：大和・渡邉・横田・重松・曽根
TEL：03-5368-0911　FAX：03-5269-2390 e-mail: cdpj@japan-pri.jp