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Pasona Data & Design: Revolutionizing DX in Japan

On January 5, 2026, Pasona Data & Design officially launched, emerging from Pasona Group's Smart Style subsidiary. The company aims to enhance businesses' digital transformation (DX) efforts by integrating talent development and AI data utilization. With its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, and led by President Kazuhiro Kono, Pasona Data & Design seeks to address the critical challenges inhibiting effective DX in Japanese companies, namely the structures surrounding talent, data, and decision-making.

Japan is currently facing significant hurdles in its DX journey. Many companies find themselves merely replacing legacy systems with newer technologies, unable to fully embrace DX as a core business strategy. This lack of comprehensive implementation often leads to inadequate outcomes. Compounding this problem, the shortage of skilled talent capable of driving DX, along with the inability to leverage accumulated data meaningfully, hinder real transformation. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has long warned about the looming risk known as the “2025 cliff,” which could result in annual economic losses of up to 12 trillion yen for Japanese businesses if substantial progress is not made in their DX initiatives.

As DX is no longer just an IT project but a crucial element of business transformation, cultivating skilled personnel who can implement and utilize DX solutions effectively has become an urgent priority for companies. Pasona Group has cultivated considerable expertise in DX-related education and training through its initiatives to foster DX talent both internally and externally. Moreover, Smart Style has amassed valuable insights through its work in database implementation and operational support.

With these strengths in mind, Pasona Data & Design was created to not only formulate strategies but also support the execution and embedding of DX within organizations. The company will primarily focus on cultivating DX talent among top to mid-level management, while also providing support for the promotion of data and AI usage within organizations. From shaping DX strategies to training talent and implementing data and AI in business processes, Pasona Data & Design is committed to driving genuine DX and facilitating continuous organizational change and business growth for Japanese companies.

The concept of the “2025 cliff” was introduced in METI’s 2018 DX Report, highlighting the potential for significant economic decline should Japanese firms continue to underutilize their existing systems and data, along with a lack of organizational understanding regarding DX.

Overview of Pasona Data & Design

• - Company Name: Pasona Data & Design (formerly Smart Style)
• - Headquarters: 3-1-30 Minami-Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
• - Established: October 2, 1987
• - CEO: Kazuhiro Kono
• - Business Focus: Facilitate corporate transformation to address management challenges through DX and AI utilization.

1. Supporting the development of DX talent, particularly among top and middle management.
2. Offering workshops for business strategies, AI integration, and more.
3. Providing consulting, operational support for databases and cloud services, and developing applications mainly in the HR domain.

For more information, please visit Pasona Data & Design or contact them at their Future Design Department via email at [email protected].