Two third-year students from Department of Tourism, Faculty Faculty of Collaborative Regional Development Yamato Tsumugi (Jiyugaoka High School) and Nomiyama Haruka (Kaho High School), participated as selection committee members in the "Discovering the Light of Our Hometown Project," organized by an executive committee composed of seven local newspapers, including the Nishinippon Shimbun. This project aims to uncover attractive resources hidden within local communities, widely disseminate their value, and contribute to regional revitalization.
This year's stage is Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The students participated as selection committee members alongside experts and local stakeholders. Prior to the project, they conducted research on Munakata City's tourism resources, culture, nature, and food, and proposed local resources they would like to recommend as "Lights of Our Hometown" from their respective perspectives. Furthermore, they attended the selection meeting held in July, deepening their understanding of the value of local resources and methods of promoting them through discussions with committee members from diverse backgrounds.
As a result of the selection process, 20 items were chosen as "Lights of Our Hometown," including historical and cultural resources such as Munakata Taisha Shrine, natural landscapes, and locally rooted food culture. These were featured in the Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper (morning edition, September 20, 2026), along with comments from students.
The students also participated in a press conference held in August, where they promoted the appeal of the local resources they had helped select. Through their participation in this project, they gained practical experience in tourism studies, discovering local resources and communicating their value, as well as deepening their understanding of regional development initiatives in collaboration with local communities, businesses, and the media.
[Department of Tourism / Industry-Academia Co-innovation and Research Promotion Headquarters]
