PR × Local Contexts in Japan
1-Week PR Thinking & Strategy Workshop in Shimoda
How Stories Shape Decisions Across Cultures
A 1-week intensive workshop exploring how PR works in real-world contexts — using Shimoda and Nomad Experience as living case studies.
What this workshop is
PR is often described as “telling a story.”
But in reality, PR shapes how decisions are made, which voices are amplified, and how places, people, and projects are understood.
This workshop is not about promotion or execution.
It focuses on PR thinking and information design —
how stories are framed, translated, and received across cultures.
You will analyze, question, and design PR strategies based on real local contexts in Japan.
Why this workshop — and why now?
We live in an uncertain world.
News travels faster than context, and information is often shaped before it reaches us.
Understanding how news is made, how PR influences what becomes visible, and whose voices are amplified is no longer optional.
This workshop is designed to help you understand the structure behind information —so you can choose what to trust, and design how you communicate, with intention.
What you’ll work on
In just one week, you will understand:
- How news and public narratives are actually created
- Where PR sits behind media, reputation, and decision-making
- How to read information without being driven by headlines
- How to design communication others can understand across cultures
You will not just analyze PR.
You will design one concrete PR output.
Case studies used in the workshop
Case 1: TADAIMA SHIMODA
A long-term local initiative based in Shimoda, Japan, exploring how places are understood through relationships, stories, and repeated encounters — rather than tourism or promotion.
TADAIMA SHIMODA serves as a living case for observing how local narratives are formed, translated, and received globally.
Case 2: Nomad Experience
An international program used as a program-level case study.
You will be asked to consider:
- Research PR landscape in your country
- How do you use “public relations” to promote?
- How would you tell this program in your own country?
About Nomad Experience: https://nomadnia.net/nomadexp
What you’ll leave with
- A PR strategy draft (structured as a working hypothesis)
- One portfolio-ready PR output
(PR concept sheet / short pitch / article draft / SNS concept, etc.) - A sharper lens for cross-cultural communication and decision-making
About Shimoda
Where History Meets the Horizon
Shimoda is a historic port town where Japan first opened to the world.
It has long been a place where local stories meet global perspectives,
making it an ideal environment to observe how stories shift as they cross borders.
Program details
WHEN
Feb 20 (Fri) – Feb 26 (Thu), 2026
7 days / 6 nights
WHERE
Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
Approx. 2.5 hours from Tokyo
FORMAT
Field observation & community immersion
PR research and strategy design sessions
Cultural experiences (including Sushi Master Experience)
Output creation & presentation
Schedule overview
Day 1 – Feb 20 (Fri)
Welcome & Arrival
Check-in and community dinner
Day 2 – Feb 21 (Sat)
Explore Shimoda & PR Foundations
Orientation, city walk, and PR thinking basics
Day 3 – Feb 22 (Sun)
Research & Context
Analysis of existing narratives + Sushi Master Experience
Day 4 – Feb 23 (Mon)
Analysis & Strategy
Issue setting and PR strategy drafting
Day 5 – Feb 24 (Tue)
Career & Real-World Perspectives
Career workshop with international professionals + networking
Day 6 – Feb 25 (Wed)
Creation & Presentation
Finalize output and present your PR strategy
Day 7 – Feb 26 (Thu)
Reflection & Wrap-up
Certificate of completion / Check-out by noon
Who this workshop is for
This workshop is especially recommended for:
- People who have a product, service, or idea,
but don’t know how to communicate it to the world - Those who feel unsure which news or information to trust
- Creators, founders, and aspiring digital nomads
working across languages and cultures - Anyone who wants to regain agency
over how they read and share information
Understanding PR changes how you see the world.
7 Days Program
Only 5 spots
7 Days（Feb 20th – Feb 26th）
Digital Nomads & Local Community.
What’s Included
7 days program included 1 month coliving (Shared room)
Only 2 spots
7 Days Program（Feb 20th – Feb 26st）
+ 1 month coliving (Feb 20th～Mar 20th)
※Shared room (shared bathroom)
Access to coliving in Shimoda + Digital Nomads & Local Community.
What’s Included
7 days program included 1 month coliving (Private room)
Only 1 spots
7 Days Program（Feb 20th – Feb 26st）
+ 1 month coliving (Feb 20th～Mar 20th)
※Private room (shared bathroom)
Access to coliving in Shimoda + Digital Nomads & Local Community.
What’s Included
FAQ
- Do I need PR experience?
- No. This workshop focuses on PR thinking, not execution. Beginners are welcome.
- What language is the workshop in?
- The workshop is conducted mainly in English?
- Is this a paid job or work activity?
- No. This is an educational program, not paid work.
- Do I need to join Nomad Experience?
- No. Nomad Experience is used only as a case study.
- Is accommodation included?
- Accommodation is not included in the workshop-only plan. Coliving options are available separately.
Organizer
Empowering Local Voices, Creating Global Impact
Elena (Elena Tsukada)
Co-Founder of TADAIMA SHIMODA / Digital Nomads Tokyo
After working at a global PR agency, I found ELENTO LLC in 2020. Based in Shimoda, leading Global PR and Regional Co-Creation projects. My company supports global firms and NGOs, and connects Shimoda with the world as a board member of Japan Digital Nomad Association. I’m the co-founder of Digital Nomads Tokyo and TADAIMA SHIMODA.
What I love about Izu–Shimoda
The people — friends who face forward with me, and the warmth of being gently watched over.
Why we do this ?
PR has the power to shape how the world understands people, places, and possibilities.
If you’ve ever felt that information around you is noisy, biased, or incomplete,
learning how PR actually works inside real contexts is one of the most practical ways to regain agency.
Get Shimoda updates on WhatsApp
Access the Shimoda channel within the Digital Nomads Japan (DNJ) network —
a place where digital nomads share local updates, events, and connections related to Shimoda, one of Japan’s coastal hidden gems.
- Events & local updates from Shimoda
- Casual connections with nomads & locals
- Insights from other nomad-friendly areas in Japan
