Innovative Proposal for a 'Hands-Free Economy' Connecting Regions and Cities

Introduction
Kuuan Inc., based in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, is spearheading revitalization efforts through tourism, education, and entrepreneurship support. Set to launch in late July 2025, Kuuan is hosting an experiential digital product exhibition in two venues in Tokyo. This initiative aims to solve local issues and redesign regional industries by tackling themes like food waste, disaster preparedness, and the revival of primary industries.

Connecting Local Producers and Consumers
Traditional regional exhibitions often struggle to inform producers about who buys their products, leading to missed opportunities for repeat purchases and communication. Kuuan's solution incorporates an e-commerce function combined with a check-in system, effectively connecting buyers directly with local suppliers. Visitors can interact with products and stories in the venue, placing cashless orders via their smartphones. As such, they can enjoy a seamless purchasing experience, especially beneficial for those on a tight schedule. All products will be delivered directly to their homes, allowing attendees to participate without carrying items. Moreover, the exhibition will only showcase samples, significantly reducing transportation, refrigeration, and inventory management costs, paving the way for a flexible model that can easily introduce regional products nationwide, even in small and short-term settings.

Fostering Regional Innovation through Collaboration
The showcased products will primarily derive from collaboration with the roadside station 'Kisaiya Hiroba,' highlighting local products they currently offer. Additionally, Kuuan will unveil its new project focusing on 'disaster preparedness × food waste,' featuring prototypes of tasty, disaster-ready food products made from often-wasted game meat and soybeans cultivated on abandoned farmland. Multisensory experiences through videos will showcase other regional initiatives such as agritourism and experience tours utilizing abandoned crop fields, developed in partnership with J-sol at 'Beach Village KOKUBO' in Uwajima City.

Event Details
The exhibition will take place in two parts:
1. Aoyama Farmers' Market
- Date: July 27, 2025 (Sunday)
- Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Location: UN University Plaza, Shibuya, Tokyo
2. Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate – Kowa Hitotsubashi Building
- Date: July 30-31, 2025 (Wednesday and Thursday)
- Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Location: Basement 3, 3-7-1 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Visitors who check in at the events will be among the first to receive special products from Uwajima, along with a lottery for an accommodation voucher for the historic Kiyariya Ryokan.

Endorsements from Partner Companies
Multiple partner companies, including JSOL and the Japan Post, have expressed their support for this initiative. JSOL’s Co-Director Koji Miho commented on the significance of developing a model that resonates deeply with the philosophy of 'food waste and regional revitalization.' Japan Post emphasized its commitment to bridging regional producers and consumers through its extensive network.

Conclusion
By utilizing the event as a platform to highlight local products, Kuuan’s initiative not only addresses food waste and disaster preparedness but also fosters collaboration between cities and regions. This innovative model seeks to establish new connections, ultimately contributing to a thriving future for local economies.