たんばささやまアカデメイア

Rediscover the foundation of your work, company, and way of life.

Lifestyle | Company Direction | A Gaze Into the Future

What is Tamba Sasayama Academia?

Adhering to past “common sense” will not pave the way for an organization’s future. What we need is the development of “next-generation leaders” who can take risks and bring about the winds of change in an uncertain future.

Tamba Sasayama Academia is a program that aims to cultivate the ability to discern the essence of things by touching upon their origins, and to produce inquiry-based leaders who can take action to solve social issues while maintaining economic practicality.

Three key points for becoming a leader in inquiry-based learning…

The ability to formulate “essential questions”

By opening our five senses and connecting with the origins of things, we formulate essential questions on how to navigate social responsibility while balancing economic practicality.

Breaking away from our “common sense”

Common sense is not so common. Our perceived common sense can blind us. In the extraordinary environment of Tamba Sasayama, we will break away from our everyday life, and the assumptions we form within it. Free from our mental constraints, we can cultivate new values from a blank slate.

Fostering a sense of ownership

Through deep reflection on our own way of life, we can find alignment with the company’s vision. By integrating personal values with company vision, individuals can evolve into bringers of change who can lead the organization.

Tamba Sasayama Academia provides learning experiences to cultivate inquiry-based leaders who can tackle social issues.

２０２６ Schedule

1st Period　　05.21(Th) – 05.23(Sa)

2nd Period　　07.02(Th) – 07.04(Sa)

3rd Period 　　09.17(Th) – 09.19(Sa)

4th Period (International Academia)　　11.05(Th) – 11.07(Sa)

5th Period　　12.03(Th) – 12.05(Sa)

Program

By escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and immersing themselves in the extraordinary environment of Tamba Sasayama—a place rooted in nature, tradition, and culture—participants will sharpen their senses. Through dialogues with those actively involved in community development and fieldwork, they will connect with the origins of things and confront essential questions.

Day 1
Circular Economy

Day 2
Tradition and Succession

Day 3
Present and Future

Participant Feedback

The phrase “Sustainability is not economic” particularly struck a chord with me. I’ve always had this deeply ingrained belief that economic prosperity is the only measure of wealth, so the farmers seemed incredibly impressive to me. I know it’s important to think long-term, but I never imagined there were people who were working with the future beyond their own death in mind.

The idea of ”unifying our thoughts” in the dialogue was very helpful. My company is so focused on short-term gains that we’re all fragmented, and this made me realize that we need a concept similar to Shintoism and festivals.

I thought it was wonderful that there was no structured training program or predetermined output, and that there was a lot of time to focus on feeling and thinking.

I was surprised by how dirty the shrine was when I wiped it down, but this made me realize that there are things you can’t see until you actually do them, as you only find out when you touch and clean it.

I realized the importance of honestly pursuing what you want to do without thinking about whether it will be profitable or not. In this program, It felt like you chose your field of work of your own volition. It was a very valuable time.

I realized that even if you find out someone’s workplace or job title at the end, those things don’t change the time you shared or the relationship you built. What truly matters is how much you engage with people and the environment, and I was struck by how much I’ve been caught up in titles and status.

Although I was familiar with the term “unlearning,” I realized I hadn’t truly grasped its specifics. This program, in particular, was a firsthand experience of what unlearning actually entails.

I’ve come to realize once again that I’m still lacking in the ability to “become involved” and “take action,” even in small ways. If I think something is a good idea, I’ll try it without thinking about the reasons later. That’s where I want to start.

I realized that until now, I had been so engrossed in the work in front of me that I had hardly had the time to pay attention to the local community. This realization is one of the biggest lessons I learned from this training.

Participating Companies

About Tamba Sasayama

Exploring the wisdom for the future in Japan’s quintessential landscapes.

Tamba Sasayama City is located in the central-eastern part of Hyogo Prefecture. Although it is only about an hour’s drive from major cities like Osaka and Kyoto, this basin, surrounded by mountains on all sides, still retains the rich character of a 400-year-old castle town and beautiful rural landscapes.

This area, which has flourished since ancient times as a key transportation hub to Kyoto, is enveloped in “Tamba fog,” a phenomenon created by the extreme temperature difference between day and night. A lifestyle in which people and nature are closely intertwined thrives here, with abundant agricultural resources such as the local specialty Tamba black soybeans, and historic townscapes that have fostered a unique aesthetic sense.

However, what you’ll find here isn’t a nostalgic glimpse into “the good old Japan.” It’s a “living place of tradition” where food, agriculture, and handicrafts continue to evolve with the times, including tea ceremonies that have been practiced for 1200 years and pottery (Tamba ware) that has been shaped and molded for 850 years.

The struggles of those who take on the baton of tradition, the silence of a misty morning, and the never-ending cycle of life. Here lies a stage for learning that shakes up existing “common sense” within a grand timeline that looks 50 or even 100 years into the future.