Expansion of Existing Services and Launch of New Businesses with Different Concepts

「As part of our other business activities, we opened a new base, “Hobonoeki AKAGI,” at Torii Pass on Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture as part of our initiatives with various communities. We began trial operations in November 2025 and plan to hold the grand opening on 24 April 2026.」

「During the fiscal year, we also focused on developing the “Hobonichi Techo App” and launched the service in October 2025.」

「In addition to "Hobonichi Shimbun," the Company has launched "Hobonichi Gakko," "Seikatsu no Tanoshimi-ten" and "Hobonichiyoubi" as "places." It aims to become a company that operates multiple "places" with the approach of "Kind, strong and interesting," continuing to develop these "places," launch new ones and broaden its range of appealing original content.」

「Other business activities include the video service "Hobonichi Gakko," offered through an app and the web. Based on the concept "Meet people, listen to their stories," it aims to create a new "place" for learning and streams classes by instructors from a range of fields, regardless of whether they are well known. Recently, in addition to video streaming, the Company has stepped up its live events, holding a film screening with a three-way discussion involving the creator of the manga "BLUE GIANT," a talk show with a mini-workshop held in collaboration with the stage production "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle," based on a work by Haruki Murakami, and a discussion between talent Ijuin Hikaru (伊集院光) and Itoi Shigesato (糸井重里).」

「By the end of May 2023, the Company had released more than 290 videos, including classes by actor Nakai Kiichi (中井貴一) and music producer Kameda Seiji (亀田誠治). Outside the app and website, it held a live recording of "Hobonichi Gakko Special Classes at Seikatsu no Tanoshimi-ten" as an associated event. The event provided an opportunity to experience six special classes in person and enabled many more people to learn about "Hobonichi Gakko."」

「By the end of February 2023, the Company had released more than 270 videos, including classes by TV producer Sakuma Nobuyuki (佐久間宣行) and hair and makeup artist Kusaba Taeko (草場妙子), providing an opportunity for many more people to learn about "Hobonichi Gakko." In addition to the app and website, the Company continues to provide video content to ANA customers through its business partnership with ANA.」

「Other business activities include the video service "Hobonichi Gakko," released in June 2021 and offered through an app and the web. Based on the concept "Meet people, listen to their stories," it aims to create a new "place" for learning unconstrained by existing educational and institutional frameworks and streams classes taught by instructors from a range of fields, regardless of whether they are well known. By the end of August 2022, more than 200 videos had been released, including classes by actor Issey Ogata (イッセー尾形) and economic journalist Takai Hiroaki (高井浩章), as well as conversational classes featuring musician Yano Akiko (矢野顕子) and singer-songwriter Onuki Taeko (大貫妙子), providing an opportunity for many more people to learn about "Hobonichi Gakko."」

「Other business activities included the release of the web version of "Hobonichi Gakko" in October 2021, in addition to the app released in June 2021. The Company also formed a business partnership with All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) and plans to begin providing video content to ANA customers through its in-flight entertainment system on international flights from 1 January 2022 and domestic flights from 1 February 2022, under the theme "Learn in the Sky!"」

「The Company released the app for "Hobonichi Gakko," which had been under development, on 28 June 2021. Based on the concept "Meet people, listen to their stories," it aims to create a new "place" for learning unconstrained by existing educational and institutional frameworks. By the end of August, it had published more than 50 classes taught by instructors from a range of fields, including writer Banana Yoshimoto (吉本ばなな) and food researcher Doi Yoshiharu (土井善晴), regardless of whether they were well known.」

「On 28 June 2021, the Company released the app for "Hobonichi Gakko," which had been under development. Based on the concept "Meet people, listen to their stories," it aims to create a new "place" for learning unconstrained by existing educational and institutional frameworks.」

「Other business activities include preparations for the new app-centered "Hobonichi Gakko," scheduled for release in 2021.」

「At "Hobonichi School," the fifth term, "Re-shuffling Osamu Hashimoto," ended successfully after classes were postponed because of COVID-19, and preparations are under way for a new app-centered "Hobonichi Gakko," scheduled to launch in spring 2021.」

「The Company aims to become an operator of multiple "places," continuing to develop these "places" and launch new ones in order to broaden its range of appealing original content, while maintaining the approach of "Kind, strong and interesting."」

「Other business activities included launching the fifth term of "Hobonichi School," titled "Re-shuffling Osamu Hashimoto," a place to learn about classics, and holding the second term of the small-group "Tomohiro Maeda's Classic Magic Laboratory." In December, the Company also held an off-site class in Fukuoka, "Shakespeare at a Noh Theater!?", with the support of local partners.」

「In November, the Company opened stores at the renovated Shibuya PARCO. It operates two stores: "Hobonichi Culturen," which introduces things that Hobonichi finds interesting as a "Tokyo cultural information center," and "Hobonichiyoubi," an event space for exhibitions, live performances, shopping and other activities.」

「The Company aims to become an operator of multiple "places," continuing to develop these "places" and launch new ones in order to broaden its range of appealing original content, while maintaining the approach of "Kind, strong and interesting."」

「In addition, from 17 to 21 April 2019, the fourth "Seikatsu no Tanoshimi-ten" was held in Marunouchi, Tokyo, under the theme "Tokyo and the World."」

「During the cumulative second-quarter period, in addition to the second-term kabuki courses at "Hobonichi School," a place to learn about a range of classics, the third-term courses on the Man'yoshu continued to progress steadily, with a series of courses led by various outside instructors. The paid service for streaming recorded courses also began distributing the second-term kabuki courses, increasing the number of courses available.」

「During the first quarter, in addition to the second-term kabuki courses at "Hobonichi School," a place to learn about a range of classics, the third-term courses on the Man'yoshu began, with a series of courses led by various outside instructors. The number of courses available through the paid service for streaming recorded lectures also increased.」

「For the third event, the Company expanded the range of experiences beyond shopping, including workshops, attractions and mini live performances, and is broadening its vision for the venue from a "temporary shopping district" to a "festival in the city." In addition, it launched a paid service in June to stream recorded courses.」

「The Company established "Hobonichi School" in January 2018 as a place to learn about a range of classics. The first term consisted of a 14-part series of courses on Shakespeare led by various outside instructors.」

「In January 2018, we launched Hobo Nikkan School as a place to study a range of classics. The first course, themed around Shakespeare, was scheduled to consist of 14 consecutive lectures led by various external instructors.」

「In addition, the second "Seikatsu no Tanoshimi-ten" was held at Roppongi Hills Arena from 15 to 19 November. Compared with the first event held in March 2017, the number of stores was doubled and the event was extended from 3 days to 5 days.」

「Over the medium to long term, the Company aims to operate multiple "places" with different concepts and generate revenue through business models suited to each "place."」

「In addition, this fiscal year the Company launched "Seikatsu no Tanoshimi-ten" as a new business and held the first event at Roppongi Hills from 24 to 26 March 2017.」

「The funds are planned to be allocated to personnel expenses required to expand existing services and launch new businesses with concepts different from those of existing services, as well as personnel expenses, or outsourced service fees, for external collaborators such as systems developers and creators, and other related expenses.」