Turning Japan’s Hawaii into a remote island workspace

The Japanese archipelago has a number of remote islands, many of which face very harsh conditions due to depopulation and the decline of the tourism industry.

One such island, Hachijo-jima, part of the Tokyo-administered Izu Islands, was once known as “Japan’s Hawaii.” It is blessed with a rich natural environment, climate and volcanic hot springs, while still easily accessible from the capital. However, in recent years, it has been struggling with severe challenges such as an aging population, a remarkably low birthrate, and lower employment opportunities because of a decrease in tourism.

Shibuya-based marketing consultancy agency ZEO became aware of the problems that Hachijo-jima has been facing during their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused research. They decided to harness the company’s real-world/digital balanced approach to creativity to do something to help the island.

In March 2021, the company will open Tennei, a new geothermally powered “Sustainable Field” base on Hachijō-jima as part of their Clean Island initiative. The hope is that, through digital transformation and the establishment of a “remote island workplace,” they can start a new circular economy on the island and improve the quality of life.

By opening Tennei, ZEO aims to achieve Goal 8 and Goal 11 of the SDGs, “Decent Work and Economic Growth” and “Sustainable Cities and Communities” respectively. Once the Tennei base is in operation, they will continuously monitor the project from various angles. They will also work together openly with other SDG-focused companies to help create new jobs on the island.

In addition, to address potential problems arising from the construction of the base, including transportation costs and industrial waste disposal, ZEO plans to build compact housing units from the waste materials generated on the island. The company will also recruit CAD designers to develop interior furniture using 3D printers, contributing further to creating new employment opportunities and establishing a circular economy and sustainable society for Hachijō-jima.

The ZEO Sustainable Field announcement comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the introduction of remote work in Japan and opened up the possibility of relocation. The emergence of teleworking and distance learning has accelerated a trend to move away from the densely populated capital and enjoy a new work-life balance in a cheaper yet more spacious home.

In a bid to economically revitalize depopulated parts of the country, the Japanese government recently announced that a subsidy of up to 1 million yen will be offered to people who move to the countryside while continuing to work remotely for their Tokyo-based companies. On top of this, a further 3 million yen will also be offered to people who set up new IT businesses in such rural areas.[ML4]

ZEO’s commitment is inspiring, using the power of creativity to solve social problems faced in rural areas against a backdrop of increasing awareness of such issues will. Hopefully, others will join in to address the challenges facing other remote islands, helping realize a more sustainable and better world.