#Japan #Osaka #Social Business #Waccel #The HIDEAWAY

The 7th Waccel Conference: A Creative Gathering in Osaka

On April 6, 2025, the 7th Waccel Conference took place in Osaka, organized by the social business community Waccel, which is located in Shibuya, Tokyo. Waccel, founded by Yoshihiro Shimamura and under the overall production direction of Tomoaki Sumitani, aims to continuously inspire people through collaboration.

The conference included a variety of engaging activities designed to foster learning and networking among participants. With over 60 attendees, the event provided a unique platform for social entrepreneurs and business creators from various fields to exchange information and ideas.

About Waccel

Waccel is not just a business community; it is a vibrant environment where individuals dedicated to learning, challenging themselves, and achieving goals come together. The community collaborates with renowned figures from various sectors to produce diverse content and initiatives. By facilitating interactions and knowledge sharing, Waccel aims to achieve its vision of empowering others through dreams and aspirations.

Special Guest Lecture

The first part of the conference featured a special guest lecture by Naoya Morishita, the representative of The HIDEAWAY FACTORY, one of the largest restaurants in the Kansai region. Morishita shared his insights into the diverse businesses he oversees, including interior design, furniture import, and apparel, engaging audiences with his dynamic approach to entrepreneurship.

As an Instagrammer with over 280,000 followers, he highlighted the importance of leveraging personal interests and creativity in driving business success. His lecture provided valuable takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs, focusing on the key principles he prioritizes in his multifaceted business endeavors. Attendees were treated to a Q&A session, allowing them to interact and learn directly from Morishita’s experiences. The session was recorded and will be available on the Waccel Channel as a digest.

Collaborator Talk Session

The second part of the conference featured a talk session led by Koji Yoshikawa, the representative of Abend LLC. Yoshikawa previously served as the head of the public relations department at Felissimo Corporation, where he managed major initiatives such as new listings and crisis communications, notably contributing to the launch of the Felissimo Chocolate Museum.

After retiring from Felissimo in 2021, Yoshikawa embarked on an entrepreneurial journey to promote the significance and excitement of public relations. His recent projects include publishing books and a free paper focused on themes of community, emphasizing the importance of connections in public relations.

Previous Guest Speakers

The Waccel Conference has boasted a series of distinguished guest speakers over its history. Notable past speakers include:

• - Shigekazu Nagamatsu, CEO of Human Resource Development JAPAN, at the first conference.
• - Tokuzou Munetsugu, founder of Curry House CoCo ICHI, at the second.
• - So Taguchi, a former major league baseball player, at the third.
• - Kunio Ichinose, founder of Ikinari Steak, at the fourth.
• - Mitsuru Kuramoto, a television writer and creator, at the fifth.
• - Osamu Egami, a financial planner specializing in wealthy clients, at the sixth.

Future Plans

Waccel, under the leadership of Tomoaki Sumitani, will continue to hold regular conferences in Tokyo and Osaka, providing ongoing opportunities for learning and collaboration among social entrepreneurs. The community remains committed to its mission of fostering business growth and inspiring creativity.

For more information about Waccel and its initiatives, visit Waccel’s Official Website.

Waccel is dedicated to bringing together dreamers and doers, creating a platform where ideas flourish and collaborative successes are born. Join the movement of innovative minds shaping the future of social business!

Stay connected with Waccel through their YouTube channel and follow them on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.