CIC Fukuoka Celebrates Its First Anniversary at Thursday Gathering #68
Join a special anniversary edition of Venture Café Fukuoka’s Thursday Gathering, featuring conversations on inclusive mobility, cross-sector leadership, and the future of accessible urban design. Alongside thought-provoking sessions, enjoy an evening of networking and new connections with the local innovation community.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 16:00 to 20:00
Location: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 6F SKY LOBBY
Admission: Free (registration required)
Registration & details: Event website (Japanese)
Event Highlights (In-person only):
16:00 – 20:00
Networking
Thursday Gathering’s networking time runs throughout the event, offering opportunities for business connections and collaboration. Participants can enjoy up to three complimentary beers or soft drinks in a relaxed setting designed to encourage conversation. It is also a valuable chance to meet session speakers and guest presenters directly, continue discussions after the sessions, and discover new connections.
16:00 – 16:50
How Can We Build a Society That Makes People Want to Go Out? Designing Kind and Inclusive Mobility Together
When people lose the freedom to move, they can also lose their connection to society. In Japan, issues such as maintaining transport infrastructure in depopulated areas and securing mobility options for older adults have become pressing social challenges. This session looks at why Kyushu is gaining attention as a leading field for implementing resident-friendly mobility solutions. Drawing on global trends, cross-company MaaS development, and the work of a social entrepreneur addressing elderly driver’s license return, the discussion explores practical keywords for co-creation that can be applied from tomorrow.
17:00 – 17:15
How to Enjoy Thursday Gathering
This interactive session introduces Thursday Gathering, Venture Café Fukuoka’s weekly signature event. Learn about the community’s mission, how the event is organized, and why meaningful human connection is at the heart of the experience. Held every week, this is an ideal introduction for anyone curious about joining the community.
17:30 – 18:20
Leadership Across Boundaries: How to Build the Ultimate Portable Skillset
Public policy, startup management, and city leadership each operate on different principles, but what leadership qualities remain effective across them all? In this session, special guest Hidehiko Yuzaki joins the conversation to examine what it means to lead across sectors. Topics include the essence of organizational management, how to develop portable skills that work anywhere, and how experience in government policy and startup speed can be brought into local administration to drive organizational change and improve quality of life.
18:30 – 19:20
Redefining the City: DiversMap and the Future Beyond Freedom of Mobility
Barrier-free design is often discussed in terms of individual buildings, but real accessibility only works when homes, cities, and communities function together. This session brings together perspectives from architecture and housing, urban development, and lived-experience-based practical projects to explore why barrier-free initiatives have not progressed far enough, and what is needed to make them work in practice. Looking beyond physical infrastructure, the discussion also focuses on people, relationships, and systems as essential elements of future inclusive citymaking.
Organized by Venture Café Fukuoka
Languages: Japanese and/or English (varies by session)
All sessions are in-person only. Pre-registration required via the event website.