(Source: Innovation Partners Inc.)
Innovation Partners Inc. supported the conceptualization and attraction of a new Japanese language school, ICA International Conversation Academy Ureshino Campus, established within the premises of Wataya Besso, a long-standing hot spring inn in Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture.
The ICA International Conversation Academy Ureshino Campus officially opened in April 2025 and is operated by ICA Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of Link Staff Co., Ltd. The school adopts a “job-linked” human resource development model aimed at enabling international students to work and settle in the region. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. A total of 41 students from five Asian countries, including India and Uzbekistan, are scheduled to enroll, with an average age of 25.9.
This project was planned in response to the nationwide labor shortage in tourist areas and aims to support the acceptance and local integration of foreign human resources. While studying Japanese, students are expected to engage with the local community through part-time work at inns and, upon graduation, pursue full-time employment with local businesses. The establishment of an educational institution within a lodging facility is a rare model in Japan, aiming to build an integrated system that combines accommodation, education, and employment by utilizing inns as regional assets. The project seeks to promote the settlement of young people in the area and serve as a model case for regional revitalization.
In this project, Innovation Partners served as the implementation partner, overseeing the conceptual planning for the school’s establishment, site coordination, and the development of collaborative frameworks with related organizations. Through redefining the use of space and introducing new social functions, the company played a central role in bringing the project to life.