#Japan #Sapporo #Umee Technologies #Front Agent

Walking Meeting in Sapporo: A Creative Experiment

On September 25, 2026, Umee Technologies will partner with NEULO Inc. and the Sapporo City NoMaps Committee to present an eye-opening event titled WALKING MEETING in SAPPORO. This unique experiment aims to delve into how physical movement can transform thought processes and communication styles, setting the stage for a refreshing approach to workplace dialogue.

Background of the Event
Research indicates that walking can stimulate creative thinking and foster different dynamics compared to sitting face-to-face conversations. The premise revolves around observing how an environment conducive to walking can alter interpersonal relationships and dialogues. Despite these findings, there has been a limited framework to empirically assess how these changes manifest in conversations. This event aims to bridge that gap by giving participants the chance to engage with one another while strolling through one of Sapporo's scenic locations.

Umee Technologies, based in Chofu, Tokyo, is on a mission to usher in an era focused on interpersonal conversations. With their development of the Deep Insight Engine™, a tool capable of analyzing psychological tendencies through dialogue, Umee aims to capture and quantify the effects of walking meetings on communication.

Sapporo's Vision
The event will unfold in Sapporo, a city that has embraced a vision known as Well-Moving City SAPPORO 2045. This initiative is aimed at transforming Sapporo into a walkable urban environment that promotes not only mobility but also community interaction. By holding the walking meeting in Sapporo, organizers hope to highlight the city’s commitment to creating spaces that encourage walking and active engagement among residents and visitors alike.

Event Details

Name: WALKING MEETING in SAPPORO
Date: September 25, 2026 (Friday)
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Meeting Point: Asty 45 Open Lounge, Sapporo
Disbanding Point: SAPPORO CULTURE FARM / anaBa

Organizer/Planning: NEULO Inc.
Co-Organizer: Umee Technologies, Sapporo City, NoMaps Committee
Participation: On-site attendance
Cost: Free
Capacity: 30 participants
Registration: Available via Peatix here.

Schedule:

• - 11:00 AM: Gather and Welcome
• - 11:10 AM: SITTING MEETING Begins
• - 11:20 AM: WALKING MEETING Begins
• - 11:45 AM: Arrival at anaBa; Reflection
• - 12:00 PM: Networking (open conclusion) with food stalls available

Participants will have the opportunity to switch to NEULO shoes and embark on a 25-minute walk from Sapporo Station to anaBa, engaging in thematic discussions about work and interaction. This combination of indoor and outdoor experiences will allow attendees to observe firsthand how their thinking, conversation, and proximity to one another shifts in a dynamic environment.

Meet the Organizers

• - Yuta Funase - CEO, NEULO Inc.
• - Takuya Fujii - Business Development, NEULO Inc.
• - Keisuke Nakagawa - Business Development, Umee Technologies Inc.
• - Yushi Abe - Policy Planning, Sapporo City
• - Takeshi Hirose - NoMaps Committee

About the Companies

NEULO Inc.:
NEULO is a Japanese shoe brand advocating that a change in footwear can innovate walking styles, leading to altered thinking processes. Set to launch its first product, PathOne, in mid-September 2026, NEULO is committed to enhancing the urban experience from the ground up. Official Website

Well-Moving City SAPPORO:
With a goal for 2045, the city of Sapporo is diligently working towards becoming a walkable city through comprehensive urban planning initiatives. Details

NoMaps:
This event is part of the NoMaps 2026 collaborative project. Official Website

Front Agent:
The Front Agent AI tool is designed to capture the unfiltered sentiments of customers through recorded conversations, driving organizations towards necessary transformations. Equipped with the patented Deep Insight Engine™, it enables organizations to derive critical insights from both in-person and virtual dialogues.

For more information about Umee Technologies and their mission focused on interpersonal dialog, visit their official site.