Background
In 2014, Sabae City established the JK (Joshi Kousei/High School Girl) Division at City Hall as a citizen collaboration promotion project where local high school girls freely share ideas and participate in community development. Local high school girls actively propose ideas and collaborate with various citizens, organizations, local businesses, universities, and regional media to plan and implement activities that help them enjoy their hometown.
Additionally, the civil engineering field faces challenges including its perception as a male profession, low female employment rates, and the persistent “3K” image (kitsui/hard, kitanai/dirty, kiken/dangerous).
Initiatives
As part of the JK Division’s activities, Sabae City has implemented a civil engineering promotion project led by high school girls.
Painting Activities in Stylish Work Clothes
Local high school girls designed and created fashionable work clothes and wore them while painting the roof of a bicycle parking facility.
School Visits
JK Division graduates (JKOG Division) collaborated with local construction industry associations to visit elementary schools and conduct hands-on lectures about civil engineering careers.
Information Sharing
The project shares activity updates through social media and newspaper coverage.
Outcomes
Through actual site experiences and interactions with working female engineers, participants came to feel “I could do this too” and “This looks fun,” contributing to improving the image of the civil engineering industry. Interest in civil engineering work is growing not only among women but also among younger generations.