Teleworked side jobs could provide key to boosting local economies

Aging populations and the outflow of young people to Tokyo and other metropolises from rural Japan have long made it difficult to revitalize regional economies.But a new "side job" website and a wider use of teleworking sparked by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus could propel hope for change.The city of Hida in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, has put a call out for people through the website -- named "Furusato Kengyo" -- to help rice farms expand sales of locally produced premium rice.Furusato Kengyo, which roughly translates as "side jobs for hometowns," recruits company employees and…READ FULL ARTICLE