Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and the city of Nasushiobara in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture are pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement to both strengthen coordination and help to revitalize the city’s local communities through digital (DX) and energy (EX) transformations(*).

(*)Joint work in energy shall focus on balancing sustainable enhancements of industrial competitiveness and addressing environmental concerns.

 

１．Background Information
Nasushiobara has taken a number of proactive activity on “Nasushiobara city DX promotion strategy” and “Climate changing measure plan” to rebuild and rebrand itself as "sustainable city, Nasushiobara".
On May, 2022, MC announced its latest management plan, entitled “Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024 – Creating MC Shared Value”. Through connected advances in both EX and DX, MC is now working to revitalize regions and build independent, distributed communities that provide vibrant and convenient living environments and new, carbon-neutral industries that are powered by renewable energies.  
Through the discussion between Nasushiobara and MC, it is agreed that DX and EX joint promotion is essential to build the sustainable city and working together for regional-revitalization projects (see “Areas of Collaboration” below).

 

２．Overview of Demonstration Work

The first step in our new partnership shall be to launch demonstration work in the following two services:

（１）Regional Portal: This portal shall function as both a communication tool for local schools and PTA members, as well as a bulletin board for both the municipal authority and local businesses. We plan to test the portal with the assistance of selected parties including schools, instructors and parents/guardians.

（２）Digital Tourism Passport: Through its use of the LINE communication freeware app, this passport shall function as a tool to promote tourism in certain communities, and by extension of that, both consumer activity and population growth within those communities. A trial run of the system shall commence in September, so as to coincide with Japan’s colorful autumn season and Kokutai events (to celebrate national pride and character).   

 

＜Areas of Collaboration＞

（１）Use of digital technologies to revitalize local communities.

（２）Use of energy, mobility, service-infrastructure and other digital technologies to enhance services for local citizens.

（３）Construction of data-connection platforms aimed at enhancing services for local citizens.

（４）Building of net-zero society through use of renewables and other advances.

（５）Other projects aimed at regional revitalization.

＜Demonstration Work＞

＜Signing Ceremony＞

 

 

 

Based on the Three Corporate Principles, which serve as MC’s core philosophy, MC has continued to grow together with society by contributing to the sustainable development of society through its business activities while pursuing value creation. MC’s revised “Materiality” was announced in Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024 as a set of crucial societal issues that MC will prioritize through its business activities, towards the strategy’s goal of continuous creation of MC Shared Value (MCSV). Guided by this Materiality, MC will continue to strengthen its efforts towards sustainable corporate growth. Out of the six material issues relating to “Realizing a Carbon Neutral Society and Striving to Enrich Society Both Materially and Spiritually”, this project’s activities particularly support “Contributing to Decarbonized Societies” “Utilizing Innovation to Address Societal Needs” and  “Addressing Regional Issues and Growing Together with Local Communities”.