Amekaze Taiyo

Amekaze Taiyo Inc., a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth market since December 2023, is fundamentally focused on revitalizing Japan by bridging the divide between urban and rural areas. The company's genesis is deeply rooted in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Its founder, Hiroyuki Takahashi, then a member of the Iwate Prefectural Assembly, witnessed the profound connections forged between urban volunteers and rural producers in the disaster-stricken regions. This experience convinced him that reconnecting these separated segments of society could address the challenges of urban alienation and rural decline simultaneously.

Born in 1974 in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, Takahashi's journey from politics to social entrepreneurship shapes the company's mission. After serving two terms in the prefectural assembly, he retired from politics and established the NPO Tohoku Kaikon in 2013, which launched the food-focused magazine "Tohoku Taberu Times". This initiative evolved into the establishment of the company in February 2015, initially named KAKAXI Co., Ltd. The firm's core business revolves around creating and expanding what Takahashi terms the "Connected Community"—a network of people actively involved with rural areas beyond mere tourism or residency.

The company's flagship product is "Pocket Marché" (Pokemaru), a C2C platform launched in September 2016 that allows consumers to buy produce directly from approximately 7,900 farmers and fishers across Japan. This app facilitates direct communication, enabling users to understand the stories behind their food and producers to receive direct feedback. Revenue is generated through this platform, alongside several other interconnected services. These include "Pokemaru Furusato Nozei," a hometown tax donation service that directly links donors with producers, and "Taberu Times," a subscription-based food magazine bundled with items from featured regions. The business portfolio also extends to travel with "Pokemaru Oyako Local Study Abroad" programs, and even local matchmaking services. Amekaze Taiyo also partners with local governments to support producers, expand sales channels, and foster its vision of a Connected Community.

Keywords: direct-to-consumer, agritech, rural revitalization, community building, food e-commerce, producer-consumer connection, sustainable agriculture, Japanese economy, local sourcing, farm-to-table app, hometown tax, social enterprise, impact investing, Pocket Marché, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Tohoku, Great East Japan Earthquake, regional development, food subscription, C2C platform