#Japan #Tokyo #Urban Development #Ballista #CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO

Ballista and CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO: Partnering for Innovative Urban Development

On August 2025, Ballista Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, led by President Takato Nakagawa, announced a collaboration with CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO LLC, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, and headed by Yasunori Sugimoto. This partnership aims to blend their strengths and philosophies in the realm of strategic urban and regional development, focusing on shaping a better future for Japanese society.

A Shared Vision for Urban Revitalization

The collaboration is designed to deliver opportunities to regions that have faced insufficient expert support, aspiring to bring value to every urban and rural area. Japan's cities are currently grappling with multiple societal challenges, including population overconcentration and climate change. Moreover, community fragmentation and uniform development practices have diminished the attachment residents feel towards their cities. In rural areas, issues like declining populations and aging communities have intensified, signaling an urgent need for genuine revitalization. Smaller municipalities and local businesses often grapple with financial constraints and information disparities, limiting their access to necessary expert assistance, resulting in a struggle within their confined resources.

While traditional consulting often involves isolated strategy formulation or objective advisories, Ballista has consistently partnered with local governments and enterprises to proactively tackle these challenges. CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO operates under the principle of 'designing circulation,' engaging in everything from architectural design to business planning at the community level. This partnership flourished from a shared resonance of their philosophies and an appreciation for each other’s strengths. The objective of this collaboration is to fill gaps in support and offer practical solutions for co-creating a thriving future with urban and regional partners.

Practical Engagement Beyond Theoretical Concepts

Since its inception, Ballista has upheld a commitment to actionable community development, steering numerous projects grounded in practical engagement. For instance, in collaboration with Hokkaido Airport Company, Ballista has been expediting new business creation by devising strategies for airport revitalization and tourism. This initiative seeks to generate new value at airports—critical gateways for regional identity—addressing complex issues such as population decline and shifting tourism demands. The potential impact of such a project stretches beyond Hokkaido, promising benefits throughout Japan.

Integrating Strategy and Experience Design for Urban Support

Yasunori Sugimoto, the head of CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO, hops between Tokyo and Shiga, where his dual roles include supporting the opening of foreign hotel chains and operating a renovated traditional inn. He has driven regional revitalization leveraging 'experience design' as a core focus. With a wealth of on-ground experience, he has developed mechanisms whereby people and industries circulate based on spaces and environments. CDS is dedicated to designing these 'circulations' through architecture and business planning, striving for sustainable regional development.

In a groundbreaking approach, Ballista and CDS propose a local development solution that encompasses everything from strategy formation to spatial design and operations. Ballista identifies local challenges and formulates action plans, while CDS materializes these plans through architectural and experiential design. This integrated support allows municipalities and businesses to develop their regions dynamically.

A Vision for Collaborating with Communities

Through this partnership, both companies aim to deliver 'accompanying-oriented' support to locations across Japan, especially to regions lacking professional assistance. By closely collaborating through planning and execution, they plan to develop partnerships with:

• - Real estate and infrastructure companies (Urban Strategy and Development Departments)
• - Town development businesses and organizations (regional development corporations, third sector, etc.)
• - Municipalities (regional promotion departments of prefectures and cities)
• - Local businesses (SMEs and startups rooted in their communities)
• - Universities and research institutions (regional collaboration centers of local universities, research projects)

In partnership with these stakeholders, they plan to promote projects tailored to each community's needs, focusing on creating new industries, redesigning public spaces, and enhancing tourism resources. Ballista and CDS already have numerous successful projects targeting aging regions and marginal cities, including strategic urban planning, development along railway lines, and collaborating on new business initiatives with local enterprises. By marrying their experiences with CDS's creative strategies, they provide customized solutions for each community.

Impactful Execution Rather Than Empty Promises

For Ballista, this partnership is an immense opportunity to embody their company philosophy. Through this collaboration, they aim to showcase their capability as a team of professionals with the 'execution power' to bring real change—not mere theoretical endeavors. Ballista is devoted to deeply engaging with communities, sharing joys and struggles while shaping the future, fostering moments where stakeholders feel the genuine commitment to transform regional futures. Together, CDS and Ballista strive to ignite a flame of hope in Japanese communities, boldly swinging open the doors to new futures. With their innovative partnership, they promise to invigorate regional revitalization initiatives and herald a brighter future for society at large.

Looking Ahead: Building Diverse and Vibrant Communities

Sugimoto emphasizes that their commitment is to design sustainable, diverse, and vibrant urban and regional communities. CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO has undertaken numerous projects, directly engaging with communities. In this partnership with Ballista, they will merge strategy and experience design to sketch a future that resolves regional challenges. This collaboration is set to create socially rich and diverse urban spaces.

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About CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO

Founded on the philosophy of 'designing circulation,' CIRCULATION DESIGN STUDIO integrates architectural design with business planning to advance urban and regional development. Yasunori Sugimoto, a certified architect, leads the team and has a strong record in enhancing local values, from revitalizing traditional architecture to designing luxury hotels nationwide. They aim for sustainable and attractive community development from conception to operation.

Location: Ebisu 1-7-13, Shibuya, Tokyo, 7F Mani Building
Representative: Yasunori Sugimoto
Website: circulationdesignstudio.com

About Ballista Corporation

Ballista is a professional firm dedicated to transforming the world by supporting individual and corporate challenges through consulting, freelance services, and business development.
In their consulting arm, they redefine the consultant role, supporting companies and society in resolving complex issues. Their freelance services challenge traditional practices, fostering a work-friendly environment for professionals. In business development, they cultivate ecosystems that will nurture tomorrow's leaders.

Location: 2-7-14 Kaji-cho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 6F CIRCLES Kanda Station Front Building
President: Takato Nakagawa
Website: ballista.co.jp

Contact:
PR Contacts: Tsuchida, Sakai
Email: [email protected]
Contact Form: ballista.co.jp/contact