#Hokkaido #Imajina #Inner Branding

Sapporo DXPO Seminar: Attracting Local Entrepreneurs with Cutting-edge Strategies

On July 10, 2026, Imajina Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based consulting firm specializing in brand development and organizational growth, hosted a highly successful inner branding seminar in Sapporo. Taking place at TKP Garden City PREMIUM near Sapporo Station, the event quickly reached full capacity, drawing numerous local business leaders and HR personnel.

This seminar was motivated by the overwhelming response to the Sapporo DXPO, a large-scale exhibition held from June 30 to July 3 at Access Sapporo, which saw around 1,000 executives and HR leaders attending. Many who visited Imajina's booth and attended the seminar provided significant feedback indicating a strong demand for insights into management challenges faced by Hokkaido companies.

Identifying Key Issues Facing Hokkaido Businesses

A staggering 58.3% of companies in Hokkaido are experiencing a shortage of full-time employees, with a net outflow of approximately 5,162 young workers each year moving to the mainland. In addition, 63.6% of local companies report a lack of successors and reliable support personnel, raising concerns about their future viability. The voices of executives collected at the Sapporo DXPO revealed that the problems stem beyond simple workforce shortages and delve into deeper organizational dysfunctions.

Among the pressing issues are high turnover rates among young managers, widespread ad-hoc management practices, and a shortage of inspiring role models within the workplace. Young staff members are abandoning their career passions, often disillusioned by overwhelmed supervisors who fail to lead effectively. Moreover, the absence of aspirational leaders further exacerbates these challenges, as there are few figures for employees to emulate.

During the seminar held on July 10, Imajina introduced a roadmap to develop self-sustaining organizations through