Towards a "Hokkaido Spaceport City" Centered on the Spaceport

Mr. Odagiri's main goal is to attract companies from both Japan and abroad that want to launch rockets and to provide them with a safe and comfortable launch environment. Attracting new companies will create jobs in the region, and an increase in population can be expected to lead to the development of new services. Mr. Odagiri draws a parallel to the history of railway companies building stations, around which restaurants, hospitals, and shops emerged, leading to regional growth. "The spaceport has the potential to play a similar role. Taiki Town has the potential to become a space version of Silicon Valley," he says passionately.

The Biggest Challenge for Realization is "Securing Human Resources"

The space industry requires cutting-edge technology and knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to attract talented individuals to the region. This might make many people feel that it is not relevant to them. However, Mr. Odagiri emphasizes that any industry has the potential to be related to space. Currently, almost everything needed in space is manufactured on Earth. From food and toilets to clothing, if you change your perspective, you can see the connection to space.

To attract talent, it is important to foster companies that provide employment within the region and to provide information to people with expertise in space-related fields. Collaborating with schools and universities to develop human resources utilizing the spaceport will also contribute to regional revitalization. The current population of Taiki Town is about 5,400, but Mr. Odagiri says, "It is not impossible to aim for the peak population of 10,000 through the vitalization of the space industry."

A Treasure Trove of Possibilities! The Space Business is Just Getting Started!

The history of space exploration spans over 60 years, but the private-sector space business has only recently begun in earnest. Mr. Odagiri compares it to the "dawn of a new era, like when the Wright brothers first flew their airplane."

Humanity, which dreamed of the sky, developed the airplane, and through the wisdom of many, diverse applications were created. One can imagine that the speed characteristic of the private sector will drive the future of the space business. On the other hand, the domestic employment in the space industry is said to be only about 9,000 people, and increasing labor mobility, such as the entry of talent from other industries, is an urgent task. However, the development of the space business still holds many possibilities.

Mr. Odagiri says with anticipation, "The space business is still a world of challenges. There are mountains of conceivable ideas and business opportunities, such as business development utilizing information from satellites. I want young people who are interested in space to explore new possibilities."

＜Images courtesy of＞SPACE COTAN

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