Professor Muhammad Yunus join hands with Yoshimoto Kogyo a leading entertainment company in Japan to form yunus-yoshimoto Social Action (yySA)

In April 2011 Yoshimoto Kogyo, a leading entertainment company in Japan, initiated the “Living in Your Local Community Project” dispatching comedians and staff to 47 prefectures of Japan. The goal is the revitalization of these areas facing demographic decline, by living and working in those areas.

This project combines Yoshimoto local comedians and staff and other local stakeholders who work together to improve the social and economic challenges and to make life better for the residents. In some areas, comedians are appointed as “Tourism　Ambassadors” to boost local tourism and some comedians have also started their shows at local TV stations. The comedians work hard towards developing and selling of local products.
 
Since the comedians of the “Living in Your Town Project” have already been engaged in many initiatives for many years, Yoshimoto decided their role could be elevated to solve social problems. Yoshimoto’s link with Yunus Social Business model in the setting up of “yunus-yoshimoto Social Action” a joint venture, is aimed to add laughter to the of attaining sustainable economic business models in Japan. Currently “yySA” has various ongoing projects　and some of those projects will be introduced on Social Business Pedia in the near future.

Yoshimoto Kogyo is a leading Japanese entertainment company with 109 years of history.　Yoshimoto Kogyo’s business in the entertainment field, with talent management being the core, has expanded to theatre management, content production, management of entertainment schools, film production, organizing film festivals, promotion and many more business areas both locally and internationally. Yoshimoto has 16 live comedy theaters and manage over 6,000 performers including comedians, actors, musicians, athletes, and so on.

Japan has the third largest economy in the world but that does not mean the country does not grapple with many social problems. YYSA in cooperation with local governments throughout the country has launched sustainable social businesses supported by the brand value and network of Yoshimoto Kogyo. The vision is to play a vital role in solving social problems and revitalizing local areas in a creative manner unique to Yoshimoto, keeping up to the 7th principle of social business by Professor Muhammad Yunus, “..do it with joy” in Japan and Asia and beyond in the future.

Compiled by Suvendrini Kakuchi - yunus-yoshimoto Social Action (yySA)