~ Aiming for the frontier of “New Cool Japan” ~　

The “New Cool Japan Strategy” was announced by the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters (Head: Prime Minister Kishida) on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, with the goal of “increasing the size of the overseas market for Japanese content from 4.7 trillion yen in 2022 to 10 trillion yen by 2028 and 20 trillion yen by 2033.” Image of a Juwari Soba

Store

We, SEED Co., Ltd. (CEO: Hidehiro Nishijima, hereinafter “SEED”) and CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. (CEO and COO: Ryo Noguchi, hereinafter “CULTURE LINK”), along with “Juwari Soba,” a representative Japanese cuisine, aim to export “a space where you can deeply experience Japanese culture and enjoy it with all five senses” to Malaysia and become the frontier of “New Cool Japan.”

Malaysia’s first* 100% soba noodles, genuine “Gannendou” directly managed store
*According to our research A 100% soba noodle

store opened by a Japanese person The store concept is “Japanese “experience” and “sensitivity” that can only be experienced here”

Interior image

From origami and tea to anime and manga. Developing a space where you can deeply experience Japanese culture and enjoy it with all five senses
“A space where you can deeply experience Japanese culture and enjoy it with all five senses” provides a space and content where you can feel Japanese intelligence beyond genres, from traditional cultural experiences such as origami, Japanese tea, and kimono to anime and manga that have attracted attention from around the world in recent years, and we will do our best to contribute to a new reboot of Cool Japan.

Interior image

<Business content>
1. Direct store business / Culture Store Department
(1) Operation of a direct store of “Gannendou” 100% soba noodles
Gannendou, which operates two stores in Shizuoka Prefecture serving 100% soba noodles, has landed in Malaysia for the first time.
Gannendou’s 100% soba noodles are characterized by their aroma, crispness, and chewy texture.
In addition to 100% soba, they also serve Japanese food such as tempura and sake.
Planned to open in early September 2024 in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
( https://gannendo.com/ )

(2) Holding special exhibitions
Special exhibitions on Japanese culture and content will be held every month at the store entrance.

Image of special exhibition space

The special exhibitions will be produced by the Bunkitsu team of Hiraku Co., Ltd. (CEO: Takuro Someya, hereinafter referred to as “Hiraku”), a subsidiary of Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd. (CEO: Keiji Okumura).
Hiraku’s release contents ( https://www.nippan.co.jp/news/hiraku_20240701/ )

Bunkitsu Roppongi, a bookstore for discovering books

Bunkitsu Hanare, a social experiment in Nagaizumicho

We will shine a spotlight on the products, content, and services of Japanese companies, local governments, and organizations, and create a place where you can introduce and experience their stories and appeal. For example, “origami,” “tea,” “sake,” etc.
In the special exhibition, we convey the history and origins of products and services, as well as the thoughts of the creators, to provide a deep experience of Japanese culture. There are many cultures in Japan that have “do” (way) in their names, such as “sado,” “ikebana,” and “kendo.” These ways aim to train one’s mind and body, and emphasize the learning process rather than the results. We believe that by conveying this process and story, one can experience the real Japanese culture.
*The contents of the first special exhibition will be announced in a release in late August.

2. Overseas expansion support business / Culture Consulting Department
Marketing support, planning, store opening, expansion, company establishment support, and other comprehensive consulting for expansion into Southeast Asia, mainly Malaysia. We
will accompany and support you to maximize the potential of attractive content in Japan and the region. We
can also conduct minimal test marketing for customers and business partners of “Gannendou,” a 100% buckwheat soba restaurant.

<The thoughts behind the logo>

Checkered pattern: A traditional Japanese pattern. The image of the logo continuing without interruption up, down, left and right and never ending represents “eternity,” “prosperity,” and “business expansion.”

Through this business, we will achieve the following three points.

1. Role as a cultural bridge :
By conveying Japan’s rich culture to the world and deepening mutual understanding and empathy between different cultures, we will become a cultural bridge in the international community.
2. Creation of economic value :
Through a business model that utilizes Japanese culture and traditions, we will achieve revitalization and sustainable growth of the local economy.
3. Promotion of innovation and innovation :
While preserving the charm of traditional culture, we will incorporate new technologies and ideas to create and disseminate new value of Japanese culture.

Japanese culture to the world
CULTURE LINK was established on April 1, 2024, with Seed as its parent company, whose main business is the development and operation of shopping centers based on the concept of urban development, mainly in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, and increased its capital on June 12, 2024 with investment from a total of four companies, including Seed. Based on the concept of “exporting Japanese culture,” we will develop a “direct store business” that will be the first in Malaysia to serve 100% buckwheat soba noodles, and an “overseas expansion support business” that includes marketing.

<CULTURE LINK Executive Committee>
HIDEHIRO NISHIJIMA

CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. CEO/Representative Director
Born in 1980, from Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Seed Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President
AdAM Co., Ltd. Representative Director and Vice President, etc.
After working in sales at a media company, he joined Seed in 2012. He has been in his current position since 2019.

Ryo Noguchi

COO/CEO of Culture Link Malaysia Sdn.Bhd.
Born in 1988 in Koshigaya City,
Saitama Prefecture Coordinator of the Corporate Planning Department at Seed Co. , Ltd.
Director of Seed Plus Co., Ltd. Advisor of
the Platform Creation Business Headquarters at Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd.
Joined Seed in 2022 after moving to Shizuoka Prefecture.

GO OISHI,
Adviser/Director of CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD.
Born in 1969, from Tokyo
Chairman and CEO of Shizuoka Shimbun and Shizuoka Broadcasting Company CEO
of FUJIYAMA BRIDGE LAB Co., Ltd.

KENICHI HIRAOKA,
CMO/Director of CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD.
Born in 1979, from Shizuoka City
CEO of A Marketing LLC
CMO of Seedplus Co., Ltd.
Previously served as COO of AXIS Co., Ltd. Marketing advisor to 25 companies in Japan and overseas
Published work: Basic Web Analyst, etc.

<Partner>
CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. Project Manager
Kai Nagao (KAI NAGAO) / CEO of Nagao Sogyo
( https://nagaosogyo.jp/ )

CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. Accounting Advisor
Kosuke Hiura (KOUSUKE HIURA) / PHOENIX CORPORATE ADVISORY MALAYSIA SDN. BHD.
( https://my.px-acc.com/ )

CULTURE LINK MALAYSIA SDN.BHD. CCO (Chief Culture Officer) / External Advisor
Kengo Takeda (KENGO TAKEDA) / Director of Hiraku Co., Ltd.
( https://hiraku.info/ )

Contact For
inquiries regarding this matter, please contact the following:
Seed Co., Ltd. ( https://www.seedinc.co.jp/ )
Public Relations Office Okamura
Email: kouhou@seedinc.co.jpTelephone
: 055-988-0777 (main office)

Company press release details