Jiji Press and 物語運輸 Enter into a Capital and Business Alliance

Jiji Press announced that it will enter into a capital and business alliance with Monogatari Unyu, and that Jiji Press President and Representative Director Sakai Katsuhiko (境 克彦) will become an outside director of Monogatari Unyu. The two companies aim to build a new system for conveying the value of Japanese culture and traditional crafts both in Japan and overseas.

The alliance is rooted in the limited opportunities for traditional cultures and master craftsmanship from across Japan to reach global audiences. Monogatari Unyu has developed an integrated business spanning the discovery and planning of products through to their validation and sale in overseas markets. Jiji Press, meanwhile, has long-standing information-distribution capabilities and regional networks. By combining their strengths, the companies aim to create a cycle linking experiences to purchases and the passing down of traditions.

The two companies aim to implement a new “cultural distribution” model in which Japanese culture continuously generates value, rather than simply selling traditional crafts. Monogatari Unyu will support overseas marketing, e-commerce and product planning, while Jiji Press will leverage its information-distribution capabilities and regional partnerships.

The initiative is also connected with “Denken,” the Japan Traditional Culture Certification Association, a general incorporated association established by Jiji Press in December 2023. The companies are also considering strengthening cultural outreach in conjunction with the certification program.

Sakai Katsuhiko (境 克彦) has stressed that the initiative will help develop new businesses that raise the profile of Japanese culture and pass it on to the next generation. In connection with Monogatari Unyu’s mission, the companies aim to create a chain of “learn about it → study it → experience it → buy it → pass it on.”