The Local SDGs Leadership Program ‘migakiba’ is a hands-on programme organised by the Ministry of the Environment that aims to envision and manifest future circular societies through dialogical exploration of regional resources and cultures. Re:public has assumed the planning and management of the project for four years, spanning from FY2020 to FY2023. To date, 469 participants from 125 teams with diverse expertise and backgrounds, both from Japan and abroad, have participated in the programme, engaging in research and project design in 19 regions across the country.

In the final year (FY2023), the programme was carried out in tow regions: Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and Osaki Town, Soo District, Kagoshima Prefecture. A total of 50 participants in 15 teams from all over Japan delved into the exploration of sustainable regional models and ways of relating to/ engaging with the region through lectures, fieldwork, and workshops. Throughout, participants worked to refine their project proposals with a view to realising them in a tangible way.

Through continuous dialogue between participants and local practitioners engaged in pioneering initiatives in the regions; interaction between participants from diverse backgrounds; and collaborative project creation, the circle of networks connecting regions and people continues to spread.