SET
SET is a certified Japanese NPO based in Iwate Prefecture that runs youth-rural exchange programs — including homestay school trips, university internships, and the Change Maker Study Program — connecting urban youth with disaster-affected communities through a network of 300+ host households.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersRikuzentakata (陸前高田市), Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SET does
SET (認定特定非営利活動法人SET) is a certified non-profit corporation headquartered in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, established on March 11, 2011 in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and formally incorporated as an NPO in June 2013. The organization operates three program pillars: Interact Activities (youth-rural exchange including the Change Maker Study Program, Change Makers' College, and university student internships), Living Activities (regional lifestyle and food initiatives), and Research Activities (impact surveys and academic publications). Its flagship commercial program is the Rikuzentakata Homestay Program, which hosted 2,884 student overnight stays in 2025 with ~100 active host households and generated 18,136,500 yen in local economic circulation through 23 partner businesses, with cumulative host household gratitude payments exceeding 100 million yen since program inception in 2016.
The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-mediated through three physical locations in Rikuzentakata (HQ), Iwate Town (north Iwate regional hub at Iwate Youth Center Miraito), and Kuzumaki Town, supported by a 113-member base. Revenue is assembled from school/Board of Education fees for homestay programs, government subsidies (including auto race subsidies for regional revitalization), individual donations via a monthly supporter program starting at 500 yen, and corporate/government training fees. Cumulative program reach includes 16,531 exchange participants, 17,000+ homestay students since 2016, 500+ university alumni, and 600+ local resident interactions annually. In 2025, SET achieved Certified NPO status (held by only ~1,300 of Japan's 50,000+ NPOs), spun off NPO miraito to specialize in northern Iwate child and youth support, and established 株式会社仁藝 as a for-profit affiliate. The organization received the Prime Minister's Award at the 20th Ohrai! Nippon Award in November 2025 for its sustainable 'relationship population' (関係人口) model linking urban youth with disaster-affected rural communities.
SET firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SET
- Legal name
- 特定非営利活動法人SET
- Website
- https://nposet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SET is a certified Japanese NPO based in Iwate Prefecture that runs youth-rural exchange programs — including homestay school trips, university internships, and the Change Maker Study Program — connecting urban youth with disaster-affected communities through a network of 300+ host households.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SET industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development and Regional Revitalization Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homestay Placement & Host Family Management (EDAIALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM)
Keywords
Where SET is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rikuzentakata (陸前高田市)
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
SET business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Homestay Program Revenue: SET generates revenue through homestay program fees from schools and educational institutions. In 2025, the homestay program generated 18,136,500 yen in local economic circulation through approximately 100 participating households hosting students.
- Government Subsidies and Grants: Receives government funding including auto race subsidies (オートレース補助事業) for regional revitalization activities. The 2023 fiscal year grant was 2,466,664 yen for disaster recovery support programs.
- Donations and Supporters: Operates a monthly supporter program (マンスリーサプライザー) starting from 500 yen/month. Received certified NPO status in October 2025, enabling tax-deductible donations. Over 100 individual donors contribute annually at 3,000+ yen.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Per program | Homestay Program Fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SET product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SET operates human-centered community programs in Iwate Prefecture that connect urban youth with rural communities through structured exchange experiences. Its flagship offering is the Rikuzentakata school trip homestay program, supplemented by university student internships, the Change Maker Study Program, Change Makers' College, and corporate/government staff training. Programs are funded through participant fees, government grants, and individual donations rather than software or product sales.
Product overview
SET is a certified NPO that operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on youth development and regional revitalization in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The core offerings include three main activity pillars: (1) Interact Activities - exchange programs connecting youth with local residents including the Change Maker Study Program, Change Makers' College, and university student internships; (2) Living Activities - regional lifestyle initiatives focusing on production, food, and community lifestyle; and (3) Research Activities - impact surveys, academic publications, and reports on community development. The flagship initiative is the Rikuzentakata Homestay Program, a school trip homestay initiative combining disaster prevention education with rural lifestyle experiences, hosting 2,884+ visitors annually. Additional offerings include a Podcast/web radio program and administrative/corporate staff training. The organization also spun off NPO法人miraito in 2025 for specialized children and youth support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Change Maker Study Program: A program for youth to learn important life skills and engage with local communities
- Change Makers' College
- 陸前高田民泊
- いわてユースセンターミライト
- Podcast（webラジオ）
Products and services
- Rikuzentakata Homestay Program (陸前高田民泊) School trip homestay program hosting student groups in Rikuzentakata, combining disaster prevention education with rural lifestyle experiences. Approximately 2,884 visitors annually (2025), supported by ~100 active host households, with student satisfaction ratings of 9.1/10 (spring) and 9.3/10 (autumn). 17,000+ cumulative students hosted since 2016.
- University Student Internship Program 6-month structured internship program placing university students from across Japan into SET's community engagement operations in Iwate, with 500+ alumni completing the program since 2013. Covers community activities, youth support, and disaster recovery engagement.
- Change Maker Study Program Youth development program enabling young people to learn important life skills and engage in regional community activities in Iwate. Targets university students and young professionals seeking meaningful rural engagement experiences and personal growth.
- Change Makers' College Intensive collaborative program bringing together youth participants (including international participants from countries such as Mexico) with local residents and SET staff for joint learning and community development activities.
- Administrative/Corporate Staff Training (行政・企業職員研修) Training programs for government and corporate employees focused on regional engagement, community development, and work-life integration in rural settings. Targeted at adult professionals seeking new perspectives on regional issues and community involvement frameworks.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17,000+ students have experienced Rikuzentakata homestay programs since 2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SET
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SET technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SET partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- 株式会社仁藝（にんげい）minorNew company emerging from SET ecosystem following miraito spin-off. Represents SET's continued organizational evolution and new ventures in regional development.
- NPO法人miraitocoreSpin-off organization created from SET's north Iwate operations. Specializes in inclusive youth center services for minoritized youth. SET maintains shared mission alignment while miraito operates independently. Youth center business (ユースセンター事業) transferred from SET to miraito.
- 日本NPO学会minorAcademic partnership for impact research. SET presents annual research findings at Japan NPO Society conferences. Published papers on youth-community exchange program effects on participant well-being and awareness.
- レバレジーズ株式会社（ハタラクティブ）minorHR company featuring SET's activities on their hataractive.jp platform to increase awareness among job-seeking youth about rural challenge opportunities.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SET competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NPO法人カタリバ: Japanese NPO providing educational support to youth in disaster-affected areas and underserved communities, including their 'Collabo-School' program. Directly comparable to SET for youth engagement in post-disaster regions and commitment to community-based education.
- 認定NPO法人Teach For Japan: Japanese non-profit recruiting and training recent graduates to teach in underserved areas, with strong emphasis on youth development and community impact. Comparable to SET's internship-driven model for placing motivated young people in regional communities.
- 一般社団法人Soi: Japanese organization running community-based rural-urban exchange programs connecting urban youth with rural regions. Operates similar short-term and longer-term homestay-style programs to SET's Change Maker Study Program and Change Makers' College.
- Aspect Foundation: Non-profit international exchange organization operating student exchange programs including homestay-based cultural immersion experiences in multiple countries. Comparable to SET's Rikuzentakata Homestay Program for cross-cultural student exchange with host families.
- Cultural Homestay International (CHI): Non-profit specializing in homestay placement services for international students and au pair programs. Comparable to SET's homestay placement and host family management operations as a dedicated homestay coordination organization.
- NPO法人ETIC: Tokyo-based NPO focused on social entrepreneurship and regional revitalization in Japan. Direct peer to SET as both organizations work on rural revitalization, youth engagement, and operate in overlapping social enterprise ecosystems (ETIC's DRIVEキャリア platform is even used by SET for staff recruitment).
- WWOOF Japan: Japanese branch of the global World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms network, connecting volunteers with organic farms for homestay-style work exchanges in rural areas. Comparable to SET's Change Maker Study Program and youth-rural exchange initiatives focused on rural lifestyle immersion.
- Nacel International: International educational organization specializing in student exchange programs and homestay placements across multiple countries. Directly comparable to SET for cross-border homestay coordination and study abroad program delivery.
- NPO法人Learning for All: Japanese NPO providing educational support to children facing difficult circumstances, including after-school programs and learning support. Comparable mission to SET's youth-focused community development work, particularly the miraito spin-off's focus on marginalized children.
Broad incumbents
- 一般社団法人新公益連盟: Japanese federation supporting Certified NPOs and promoting social innovation across Japan. SET's Representative Director Shunsuke Mitsui serves as the Hokkaido/Tohoku Block Representative, indicating direct institutional overlap and comparable role in the Japanese non-profit ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SET social profiles
Digital presenceSET compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SET financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SET leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SET subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SET funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SET M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SET
What does SET do?
SET operates human-centered community programs in Iwate Prefecture that connect urban youth with rural communities through structured exchange experiences. Its flagship offering is the Rikuzentakata school trip homestay program, supplemented by university student internships, the Change Maker Study Program, Change Makers' College, and corporate/government staff training. Programs are funded through participant fees, government grants, and individual donations rather than software or product sales.
Is SET a public or private company?
SET is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SET founded?
SET was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SET based?
SET is headquartered in Rikuzentakata (陸前高田市), Japan, in the Asia region.
How does SET make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Homestay Program Revenue is the primary driver. The others are government Subsidies and Grants and donations and Supporters.
Who are SET's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NPO法人カタリバ, 認定NPO法人Teach For Japan, 一般社団法人Soi, Aspect Foundation, Cultural Homestay International (CHI), NPO法人ETIC, WWOOF Japan, Nacel International and NPO法人Learning for All. 一般社団法人新公益連盟 is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does SET have an API?
No public API is recorded for SET.
What industry is SET in?
SET's product category is Community Development and Regional Revitalization Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAC, Homestay Placement & Host Family Management, with a secondary code of EDAIAGAM, In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.