Zenbird to hold Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tour 2024: Building a circular neighborhood

Zenbird, our online magazine that introduces Japan’s sustainable initiatives to the world, will organize the “Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tourism 2024” on October 8, an event that will bring together businesses, startups, and sustainability leaders to explore the future of circular cities. The event, held entirely in English, aims to position Tokyo as a global leader in circular economy practices, with a focus on corporate initiatives and community-driven projects.

The conference seeks to highlight the potential for Tokyo, specifically Akasaka, to serve as a beacon for international collaboration on the circular economy. Akasaka, known for being an international hub of economic activity and home to numerous corporate headquarters, embassies, and foreign-affiliated companies, is seen as an ideal location to explore how Japan can share its circular economy innovations with the world.

Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tourism 2024

In the first half, we will hold a conference aimed at deepening the understanding of circular economy practices by Japanese companies. The event will provide a multi-dimensional view of domestic circular projects and services, from initiatives by major corporations based in Akasaka to realize a circular neighborhood in the city center, to pitches by circular startups that will shape Japan’s sustainable future.

In the second half, the location will shift to Kuramae, a circular economy hotspot in Tokyo known for its community-based circular urban development practices. Here, you will take part in a tour as an active participant, experiencing uniquely Japanese circular projects. *This event will be conducted in English.

If you are exploring the future of Tokyo’s circular urbanism, interested in networking for circular urban development in Tokyo, especially in the Akasaka area, learning about the current state of circular economy practices across Japan from local businesses, startups or large corporations, or exploring global collaboration on circular economy themes, we encourage you to join us on October 8 at Akasaka, Tokyo.

Event details

• Event Title: Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tourism 2024
• Date: 2024.10.08 (Tue)
• Time: Conference 09:00 ~ 12:00, Tour 13:00 ~ 18:30
• Location: Conference: Akasaka Intercity Conference Center, Tour: Kuramae Area
• Participation fee: Conference: Free, Tour: JPY 14,000
• More details: AKASAKA CIRCULAR CITY CONFERENCE & TOURISM
• Register： through Peatix
• Organizer: Harch Inc.
• Sponsor: Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Akasaka Place Design Projects)
• Planning & Operations: ATTIQUE Inc.

CONFERENCE (First half) : How can we build a “circular neighborhood” in central Tokyo?

For the first part of the conference, our three esteemed speakers will include:

Nami Inoue from Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings (TBS Holdings)

“Making SDGs and Circularity Accessible: TBS’s Communication to Change Society”

TBS, a major media company that started broadcasting in 1955, was one of the first Japanese commercial TV stations to join the United Nations’ ‘SDG Media Compact’ and has been actively working toward the achievement of the SDGs. Specifically, they have incorporated SDG elements into many of their programs during the campaign ‘Make the Earth Smile WEEK’ and have continued to engage the public with events like ‘Make the Earth Smile Plaza,’ held at TBS’s headquarters in Akasaka, focusing on circularity and the SDGs.

Hidenori Kondo from UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY

“Tokyo Urban Farming: Cultivating a Regenerative Urban Lifestyle”

UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY is a research institute launched by Japan’s major advertising agency Hakuhodo, headquartered in Akasaka. It focuses on researching, educating, and implementing creativity as a technology for future creation. The institute began the Tokyo Urban Farming project in 2021 under the slogan ‘Let’s Make Tokyo an Edible Forest,’ aimiung to revitalize individuals, communities, and the city itself through agricultural activities, promoting a circular and regenerative way of living.

(THIRD SPEAKER COMING SOON!)

CONFERENCE (Second half) : the following startups pitching their innovative work

In addition to the corporate discussions, five Japanese circular startups will present their circular solutions to different issues in Tokyo.

iKasa

Japan’s first umbrella-sharing service, available in 12 prefectures, primarily in Tokyo and surrounding areas. With over 1,600 spots and 600,000 registered users, iKasa offers a subscription plan for ¥280/month, aiming to transition society from buying convenience store umbrellas to a sustainable and convenient alternative. (Presenter: Terushi Marukawa, CEO of Nature Innovation Group)

Megloo

A reusable container-sharing service that reduces disposable containers in takeout and delivery by allowing users to borrow shared containers and return them to participating stores. This service reduces waste and CO2 emissions by over 90%. (Presenter: Shingo Yoshizumi, CEO of Kaman Co., Ltd.)

digglue

A startup with a mission to implement a sustainable world through technology. They support circular economy initiatives by providing consulting, creating resource loops, and offering digital solutions like “MateRe-Visualization” to visualize resource circulation and “CiReta!” to foster consumer behavioral change. (Presenter: Hideyuki Hara, CEO of digglue Co., Ltd.)

RECOTECH

A Climate Tech startup aiming to create a society where waste can be sourced. Their circular economy data platform, “pool,” digitizes waste and enhances resource recovery efficiency, connecting manufacturers and waste generators to design circular supply chains. (Presenter: Tomoe Sakauchi, Executive Officer at RECOTECH Co., Ltd.)

Afternoon tour: Circular Economy Tour in Kuramae

In this circular economy tour, you will gain exclusive access to three locations in Kuramae, where you will be able to speak with the key persons who are driving a Circular Economy from Kuramae. You will see and hear first-hand the processes and difficulties these businesses face developing their work, and will have the opportunity to ask questions directly.

ELAB

The tour will open with participants enjoying a vegan lunch at ELAB! ELAB is a collaborative laboratory that explores circularity in the essential aspects of daily life, such as clothing, food, and housing. The lab involves consumers, companies, experts, and academics in their research and puts it into practice. Their cafe is a plant-based that sources seasonal vegetables from local urban farms practicing urban agriculture, including their own rooftop garden.

En no Ki

En no Ki leads the “KURAMAE Model,” which is a circular economy project in Kuramae. This project focuses on transforming waste materials, particularly from the coffee industry, into new, valuable products. It does so by leveraging connections with local businesses and collaborations, while also partnering with welfare facilities to create an inclusive community.

Rinne.bar

ツアーの最後に訪れるのは、お酒やソフトドリンクを飲みながら、気軽に廃材のアップサイクル体験を楽しめる大人のエンタWith the concept of “CRAFT x DRINK x UPCYCLING,” Rinne.bar is a bar where anyone can easily enter and experience making things over a drink. The materials used for crafts come from existing craftspeople who have disused or scrap materials. It’s also the reason behind the name “Rinne,” which means “reincarnation” in Japanese, referring to reusing waste materials to make items of meaningful value.

Akasaka Place Design Projects

The “Akasaka Place Design Projects” (APDP), led by Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate, is a project launched in the summer of 2024 to make Akasaka a more “meaningful city.” Rather than offering things that can be found anywhere, the aim is to create a city filled with opportunities to discover, share, and nurture what is truly valuable to each individual.
The “circular economy” is one of the valuable concepts cherished by the Akasaka area, and thus, this event has received their support.

[Reference page] PR Times「東京・赤坂からサーキュラーシティの未来像を模索するカンファレンス＆ツアー「Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tourism」を2024年10月8日（火）に開催」(Japanese)
[Reference page] Akasaka Circular City Conference & Tour 2024: Building a circular neighborhood | Zenbird
[Reference page] Akasaka Place Design Projects