Hachi Hachi, Nikken Sekkei, and Loftwork—these three companies
have jointly established "Q0," a new company aimed at creating new relationships between rural and urban areas

Hachi Hachi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Chiaki Hayashi), Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu),Loftwork Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: President and CEO: Mitsuhiro Suwa) will establish Q0 Inc. (hereinafter “Q0”) on Friday, September 9, 2022, with the aim of “creating new relationships between rural and urban areas.”

The name of the newly established Q0 is a combination of the initials of “Question”—representing inquiry—and “Zero (0),” which signifies the transition to zero energy.Based in several regions, we will collaborate with local companies and creative leaders to plan and implement experimental projects aimed at a sustainable future, with the goal of designing “regions that will be passed down to future generations”—regions that epitomize our era.

Japan’s rural areas face many challenges—such as an aging population, depopulation, and the decline and hollowing out of industry—long before these issues emerge in urban areas. At the same time, much of Japan’s culture, which is highly regarded around the world, is also found in these rural regions.
Chiaki Hayashi (CEO of Hachi Hachi), who has led design-driven solutions grounded in the perspective of everyday people; Nikken Sekkei, which has created social value through community development;and Loftwork, which has carried out projects with creators to unlock the potential of local resources and people—by combining the experience and expertise of these three companies, Q0 turns its gaze toward the “space between” rural and urban areas to seek solutions to various social challenges, including environmental issues and sustainability.Furthermore, through practical initiatives, we aim to build scalable businesses and unlock the potential of regional communities.
We will move forward with our initiatives not merely by “proposing solutions” or “discovering business opportunities,” but by identifying the “people” who can chart a path to solutions, creating “spaces” for experimental activities that bridge cities and regions, and fostering “communities” that grow by engaging a wider audience.

“Listen”
Visiting local communities, listening to voices that haven’t been heard before, asking questions, and engaging in dialogue

“Design”
Engage people, places, and activities to design vibrant communities that will endure for generations

“Zero Energy”
Consider energy balance and implement environmentally friendly measures

Q0 primarily carries out two activities.

1. Implementing Projects in Local Communities
We support the planning, implementation, and management of projects that help solve local challenges, thereby building new relationships between rural and urban areas. We plan to begin by using Akita and Toyama as our bases and launching projects in four areas: Akita City, Nikaho City, Toyama City, and Nanto City.

2. Coordinating Regional Projects and Disseminating Information via the Web and Events
We will launch the Q0 Membership program, where members will share insights and discuss new processes and guidelines for regional revitalization.

Chiaki Hayashi (Representative Director, Hachi Hachi Co., Ltd.)
When we call it “the countryside,” it suddenly feels distant. But when we describe it as “the region,” the smiling faces of the older women and men you’d want to greet with a “Good morning” every day, the waves and the sea surging back and forth with white foam, and the divine white snow that blankets the landscape in the dead of winter—all of these suddenly vanish, leaving the concept lacking in concreteness.
As we enter an era of population decline, Japan faces the challenge of how to maintain its population and keep its economy running. The ‘provinces’ are at the forefront of these issues. Yet it is also true that the charm of the provinces—or the countryside—remains unchanged. I would like to redefine the appeal of these regions and, by interpreting them in relation to cities, design communities that can be passed down to future generations.

Atsushi Omatsu (Representative Director, Nikken Sekkei Ltd. President and CEO)
Nikken Sekkei is evolving into a social and environmental design platform. To achieve this, we must continually refine our sensitivity to social issues—something that is surprisingly difficult when working in the city. We can sometimes become so preoccupied with optimizing specific parts of large-scale projects that we inadvertently lose sight of the bigger picture.
The appeal of regional areas lies in the environment that allows us to value our own perspectives while tackling local social challenges. It was precisely because of this environment that we were able to envision a path toward zero energy in certain projects. By immersing ourselves in the local environment and stimulating our five senses through interactions with a diverse range of people, we can envision the big picture of solving social challenges as ordinary residents.Q0 aims to create many such opportunities and serve as a hub where people are born and connect.

Mitsuhiro Suwa (Representative Director, Loftwork, Inc. President and CEO)
Programs supporting design-driven management for regional companies; developing campus concepts for regional universities; the Ibaraki Art Festival; initiatives with local governments such as Suwa City; and “Hida no Mori de Kuma wa Odoru Co., Ltd.,” a public-private partnership with Hida City now in its seventh year.Before I knew it, Loftwork had become involved in numerous regional projects.
What this has made me realize is that there is no “surefire formula” for success. Every region has people who serve as its core and raw talent, as well as unique charms—but these often go unnoticed.Who are the people we should be reaching out to? How can we polish these raw gems? What kind of community is needed? “That place has been really nice lately, hasn’t it?” I hope this Q0 will become an initiative that inspires people all across Japan to think that way.

Company Name	：	Q0, Inc.
LOCATION	：	8F, Palace Side Building, 1-1-1 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0003
Date of Incorporation	：	September 9, 2022
CAPITAL	：	45 million yen
Member of the Board, Senior Executive Officer	：	Chiaki Hayashi, Kiyoshi Okumori, Mitsuhiro Suwa
URL	：	https://Q0.io

Waseda University He graduated from the School of Business and the Graduate School of Journalism at Boston University. After working at Kao Corporation, he founded Loftwork, Inc. in 2000 and served as Representative Director and Chairman until 2022.After stepping down, he established Q0, Inc. with the goal of “creating new relationships between rural and urban areas.” Based in regions such as Akita and Toyama, the company plans and implements collaborations and projects with local businesses and creative leaders, aiming to design “regions that will be passed down to future generations” that epitomize the spirit of our times.His major professional roles have included serving as a judge for the Good Design Award, a member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Industrial Structure Council, and a member of the “Study Group on Industrial Competitiveness and Design.” He also serves as a director of Hida no Mori de Kuma wa Odoru Co., Ltd. (commonly known as Hidakuma; Chairman), which aims to create regional industries through forest regeneration and manufacturing.

A professional services firm engaged in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services.For 120 years since its founding, the firm has been committed to creating value through “social and environmental design,” which seeks solutions to both apparent and latent social issues, in order to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of its clients. In March 2021, the firm issued a “Climate Emergency Declaration” and is now promoting projects that serve as new models for a decarbonized society.

A creative company that believes in the creativity inherent in everyone and designs the web, content, communication, spaces, and more through open collaboration.We operate communities and platforms such as “FabCafe,” a global digital fabrication community; “MTRL (Material),” which explores new possibilities for materials; and “AWRD (Award),” which promotes co-creation with creators through online open calls and juried competitions. By collaborating with a diverse range of talents, we provide a wide array of creative services.

Founded in August 2022 by Chiaki Hayashi, who led Loftwork, Inc. for 22 years. Drawing on her experience working with corporations and local governments to apply various creative methodologies and ways of thinking—including project management, design research, and design-driven management—Q0 focuses on creating new relationships between rural and urban areas.