Expanding the range of lifestyle migrants and related populations: effectiveness of vocational training in a rural community

This study aims to clarify the kind of awareness and change that vocational training in the community can bring about and how this impacts the emergence of migrants and related populations. Multiple interviews were conducted with trainees at Kamiyama Juku, a vocational training program in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, over a two-year period to discuss their changes and involvement in local revitalization. The results revealed the following two points: First, trainees were able to obtain inspiration for future work through interactions with residents, and their trust and appreciation for residents led to settlement and the emergence of a related population. Second, because vocational training does not require participants to settle after completion, a wide range of people can easily participate, and even those who have little interest in local revitalization have the potential to become migrants or members of the related population. Vocational training in the community can contribute to expanding the range of migrants and related populations.