WIA

We connect social entrepreneurs in Japan with global citizens looking to invest in Japan’s potentiality for addressing global issues. We believe that empowering the entrepreneurial spirit in Japan will lead to redefinition of the value of its resources, ideas, and technologies and catalyze the next innovation in other parts of the world. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the sustainable, lasting impact that social entrepreneurs from Asia create to solve global challenges.

WIA (World in Asia) is an non-profit organization founded after the 3.11 Japan earthquake. Founded by social enterprise consulting professionals in Japan, Asia and the US, WIA assists social entrepreneurs in the earthquake-struck Tohoku area through global community based incubation and crowdfunding.

Since September 2011 Minamisanriku, Miyagi
We support Togura Fukkou Ouendan:
“Rise above the tsunami damage: community development for the rebirth of Togura through volunteer tourism.”
Tetsuo Kato is providing support for Katsuyoshi Kuriya as an Incubation Coordinator in the “Social Entrepreneurship Incubation Initiative” by ETIC.

Since August 2011 Ishinomaki and Kesennuma, Miyagi
We support Guruguru Ouendan:
“Community bus: a new transportation system that brings back social ties.”

Since August 2011 Aizu, Fukushima
We support Meiten, Inc.:
“Developing social ties with displaced citizens through cultural heritage conservation.”

Since July 2011 Miyagi
We support Wakatsuku:
“Leadership development to take on the rebuilding of Tohoku”

Since June 2011 Miyagi
We support Dunamis, Inc.:
“Revitalization of local industries through the Internet”

November 2011
We are currently coordinating a collaboration between Guruguru Ouendan and Open Street Map Foundation Japan, the organization leading “sinsai.info”

September 2011
The collaborative project between Guruguru Ouendan and Community Taxi, Inc. has been selected as one of the “Social Business Know-How Replication Projects” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

August 19th, 2011
Tetsuo Kato gave a seminar on social business development in Sendai, Miyagi.

July, 2011
Tetsuo Kato published Creativity of “The Bottom”: Innovations from the Developing Countries, a series of case reports on social entrepreneurs in Asia.

October 2011
Tetsuo Kato wrote a web series “What outsiders learn from the Japan earthquake: a report on entrepreneurs building the future of Tohoku” on Diamond Online.

July 2011
Tetsuo Kato wrote a web series “Creativity of “The Bottom”: traveling Asia to meet social entrepreneurs” on Diamond Online.

May 2011
Tetsuo Kato wrote a web series “Innovations born in times of adversity: overcoming the Japan earthquake” on Diamond Online.

Although WIA is currently a pro-bono organization, we are moving forward with the help of many people.

Do you have skills like translation (JP-EN), web marketing, business development, non-profit management and publicity?
If you empathize with our vision, please join us for a shared step toward Tohoku’s recovery.

Together we get one step closer to recovery from the earthquake - and to the solution of global issues.