#Japan #Tokyo #TRANBI #Business Succession #Kokohore Japan

Introduction

In a significant move to bolster local business succession efforts, TRANBI, a leading business succession and M&A matching platform in Japan, has announced a strategic partnership with Kokohore Japan. This collaboration, effective from July 10, 2025, aims to promote regional development through mutual cooperation in business succession and local business support.

Background of the Partnership

A pressing issue facing Japan's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the alarming statistic that approximately 52% of these businesses lack an identified successor. Furthermore, projections indicate around 63,000 companies in Japan are expected to cease operations in 2024. The necessity for support aimed at SMEs has never been more urgent, particularly as rural and regional businesses grapple with the succession crisis. It's vital not only to ensure the continuation of these businesses but also to preserve employment and maintain community ties.

Kokohore Japan operates the "Nihon Keigyo Bank," which functions as a unique business succession bank akin to a housing bank. This platform actively recruits successors for small yet valuable local enterprises by creating an ecosystem of support that connects local businesses in need of succession with potential successors nationwide. Through collaboration with local governments, Kokohore Japan fosters a culture of business handover that contributes to both the local economy and community well-being.

Meanwhile, TRANBI has established itself as one of Japan's largest business succession and M&A matching platforms, having launched its services in 2011. The platform aims to connect sellers and buyers of businesses while maintaining privacy through anonymous postings, effectively addressing the growing concern of a shortage of successors. The blending of TRANBI's anonymous platform with Kokohore Japan's open-name approach will greatly enhance the opportunities available for local business owners seeking successors.

Objectives of the Collaboration

This partnership is particularly focused on expanding opportunities for business owners in search of successors by leveraging the strengths of both organizations. Kokohore Japan operates with transparency as it collaborates with local municipalities, using real names for information sharing. This aims to bridge the gap between local industries lacking successors and job seekers wishing to relocate, thereby offering a holistic approach to addressing the challenges posed by business succession.

On the other hand, TRANBI's structure allows for anonymous postings, providing a flexible option for business owners who may feel more comfortable not revealing their identities in initial stages. Therefore, by working together, these two platforms can offer a broad range of options for business succession, catering to varying preferences and privacy levels.

Insights from Company Leaders

Commentary from Kokohore Japan's CEO, Katsutoshi Asai

Katsutoshi Asai expresses the necessity for a support system that values the social and regional importance of small businesses, rather than just their economic potential. He believes that traditional fee-based models do not sufficiently support these enterprises, thus they chose to partner with TRANBI to enhance service offerings. Asai sees the collaboration as a way to utilize TRANBI's extensive matching platform to ensure that precious local jobs and community enterprises endure through effective succession strategies.

Commentary from TRANBI's COO, Daichiro Katayama

TRANBI's Daichiro Katayama acknowledges that the decline of businesses due to a lack of successors is a critical societal issue that must be urgently addressed. He emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts among businesses sharing the same vision, merging strengths to create efficient solutions rather than tackling this challenge individually. Katayama firmly believes that their partnership with Kokohore Japan will produce substantive results in aiding local businesses navigate their succession challenges with support from TRANBI's platform.

Conclusion

Both TRANBI and Kokohore Japan are committed to resolving the complex issues surrounding business succession and supporting local industries in Japan. Their combined efforts will undoubtedly lead to more cohesive and sustainable solutions, helping to nurture the future of small and medium-sized enterprises while fostering economic growth and community vitality. The partnership demonstrates how localized strategies coupled with innovative platforms can bring about effective change in business ecosystems across the nation.

For more information about their services, please visit TRANBI and Kokohore Japan.