Announcement of Transition to a New Organizational Structure

The Kamakura Ethical Lab is pleased to announce that effective May 1, 2026, we have transitioned our organizational structure from the conventional co-representative system to a Board of Directors system. This transition aims to further enhance the continuity and transparency of our activities while strengthening our initiatives toward achieving a sustainable society.

Background of the Transition

Since our establishment in May 2023, the Kamakura Ethical Lab has driven public awareness and educational activities in collaboration with citizens, businesses, and the local government, with the primary goal of achieving Fair Trade Town certification for Kamakura City (certified in March 2025).

Having reached this major milestone of Kamakura City's Fair Trade Town certification in March 2025, we are now moving to the next stage. To maintain our momentum as a Fair Trade Town and to promote sustainable community development through ethical consumption on a long-term, stable basis, we decided to transition to a Board of Directors system to clarify decision-making and strengthen governance. Under this new structure, we will work as one to further solidify ethical living rooted in our local community.

New Board of Directors (As of May 1, 2026)

The new structure will be managed by a total of six members—one Representative Director, four Directors, and one Auditor—to deepen expertise in each business area and execute more agile and effective activities.

Title	Name	Remarks
Representative Director	Akiko Hirano	General Oversight
Director	Yuki Ozawa	Project Promotion
Director	Toshihito Sawado	Project Promotion
Director	Rika Sueyoshi	Project Promotion
Director	Yusuke Tanaka	Project Promotion
Auditor	Nobuo Matsumoto	Auditing

About Kamakura Ethical Lab

The Kamakura Ethical Lab is a community organization that views Kamakura—a city where rich history, culture, and human connections thrive—as a "living laboratory." Through the promotion of fair trade and ethical consumption, we aim to realize a society where both current and future generations can live with hope. Addressing modern societal challenges such as mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal, we contribute to sustainable community development based on empathy and coexistence.

Key Project Plans for Fiscal Year 2026

Under the new structure, the Kamakura Ethical Lab will advance its FY2026 operations centered around the following three pillars. Through these activities, we aim for sustainable development as a Fair Trade Town and the revitalization of our local community through ethical consumption.

1. Public Awareness and Educational Activities

To promote the understanding of ethical consumption and nurture the next generation, we will conduct regular study sessions and campaigns. In particular, we will promote the introduction and expansion of fair trade ingredients in local elementary and junior high school lunches in Kamakura, creating opportunities for children to experience ethical consumption firsthand.

・Hosting regular Ethical Lab study sessions

・Participating in the "Million Actions Campaign" in May

・Promoting the introduction and expansion of fair trade ingredients (such as white sesame) in city elementary and junior high school lunches

2. Event Hosting and Participation

We will deepen ties with local communities and provide spaces to experience ethical consumption. Through seasonal events and markets, we will increase opportunities for citizens and visitors to connect with ethical lifestyles.

3. Wide-Area Collaboration and Effective Public Relations

We will strengthen collaboration with diverse stakeholders both inside and outside the region to widely share the message of ethical consumption. In addition to disseminating information through media and social channels, we will promote ethical branding that leverages regional resources, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

Contact Information

Kamakura Ethical Lab Secretariat Email:info@kamakura-ethical-lab.org