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The 6th 'Atotsugi Koshien' Chubu Regional Tournament Concludes

The 6th 'Atotsugi Koshien' regional tournament held on January 23 showcased the innovative pitches from successors of small and medium-sized enterprises, who presented new business ideas leveraging their existing resources. The Chubu block was bustling with talent and creativity, leading to the selection of three finalists who will advance to the finals scheduled for February 27, hosted at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo.

Award Winners and Finalists

The winners of the Chubu regional tournament include:
1. Shingo Nakamura from Nakamura Co., Ltd. (Aichi Prefecture) – Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award.
- Theme: "Challenge not just as a candy shop"
2. Shogo Takikawa from Takikou Sewing Ltd. (Aichi Prefecture) – Excellence Award.
- Theme: "Transforming skills and passion into brand power - The sustainable revolution initiated by a sewing factory"
3. Ryota Inagaki from Inagaki Stone Store Ltd. (Aichi Prefecture) – Excellence Award.
- Theme: "Delivering the value of stones to everyone - A stone merchant creating a Stone World"

The final event will bring together a total of 18 outstanding successors across six regional blocks: Hokkaido-Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku-Shikoku, and Kyushu-Okinawa.

In addition to the finalists, special awards were also given, such as the Enco Award to Yuko Takashita from Kanamori Alloy Co., Ltd. (Ishikawa Prefecture) for their theme on the circular metal ecosystem derived from metal refining techniques passed down since 1714.

Event Overview

The 'Atotsugi Koshien' pitch competition is designed to provide successors of small businesses an opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of distinguished judges. Each presentation lasts four minutes, followed by a six-minute Q&A session, ensuring a dynamic and rigorous evaluation process. The local tournaments are critically assessed by experts to select three representatives from each block for the final round.

Finals Details:

• - Date: February 27, 2026, Friday
• - Location: Otemachi Mitsui Hall, Tokyo

Awards and Recognition

During the finals, awards will be presented not only for the respective categories, including:

• - Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
• - Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner Award
• - Innovation and Environmental Bureau Director's Award (newly established this year)

An expert panel comprising prominent figures from various sectors — including Hirokuni Kuroda, CEO of Kokuyo Co., Ltd., and Professor Hiroaki Sugita from Waseda University — will adjudicate the final presentations.

Participation

The event is open for on-site and online viewing. Interested attendees are encouraged to register via the designated link before the closing deadline on the eve of the tournament at 23:59. On-site participation is limited to those who register early.

Register for the 'Atotsugi Koshien' Final Tournament – This is a unique platform where the successors can showcase their aspirations for future developments and create meaningful dialogues around intrapreneurial opportunities.

The event is organized under the auspices of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's initiative for supporting successors, administered by audit firm Deloitte Tohmatsu and the General Incorporated Association for Venture Business Succession.