#Japan #Imajina #Ehime #Matsuyama #Inner Branding

Imajina's Seminar on Inner Branding in Ehime

On June 27, 2026, Imajina Inc., led by CEO Yoshiki Sekino, will host an important seminar titled "Inner Branding for Business Leaders" at the Ehime Prefectural Culture Hall in Matsuyama. This event will delve into the paradox of technological excellence versus workforce retention in Ehime—an area renowned for its manufacturing prowess yet facing mountains of challenges.

Ehime Prefecture is celebrated for its robust industrial production, which includes shipbuilding, papermaking, food processing, and citrus farming. Despite this, voices of concern echo among local business leaders who lament, "We make great products, but young people just don’t stay." The seminar will tackle this conundrum head-on by identifying the root cause: a lack of pride among employees in their own companies.

A recent survey found that the working-age population in Ehime has decreased by about 80,000 individuals over the past decade. This trend is particularly alarming among the youth, who are increasingly leaving the prefecture for opportunities elsewhere. Imajina believes that creating a positive organizational culture where employees feel the significance of their work is crucial for reversing this trend, rather than relying solely on recruitment ads or raising salaries.

Unraveling the Message of the Seminar's Timing

The timing of the seminar, scheduled for Saturday evening, is intentional, aimed at signaling a sense of urgency for local business owners. By choosing this slot, Imajina encourages attendees to prioritize learning and evolving their businesses, embodying the message that the region cannot afford to wait until Monday morning to seek solutions.

Leading the seminar will be Yoshiki Sekino, who has a wealth of experience facilitating organizational transformation for over 3,000 companies. He will share actionable methods tailored for local enterprises, addressing their unique challenges.

The Core of the Seminar: Building the Foundation Before Skills

Through years of assisting businesses, Imajina has arrived at a clear conclusion: "No matter how well established an organization’s systems are, if the personal foundation of its employees isn’t nurtured, the organization cannot function effectively." The seminar will focus on three key points:

1. Transforming Ideals into Actionable Guidelines: Techniques for managers to articulate the company’s philosophy in their own words and move beyond mere decoration on the walls.
2. Harnessing Emotional Intelligence to Reduce Turnover: With people-related issues often cited as top reasons for employee exit, teaching Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to management can be transformative. Sekino will provide insights based on his bestselling methodologies aimed at revamping leadership.
3. Utilizing Scientific Assessments for Optimal Talent Placement: By employing the Cambridge University-backed OBPI assessment tool, companies can significantly enhance their hiring and training processes through data-driven decisions.

Seminar Details

• - Date: June 27, 2026 (Saturday) from 16:30 to 18:00 (Doors open at 16:15)
• - Venue: 2nd Floor, Room 1, Ehime Prefectural Culture Hall, 2-5-1 Dogocho, Matsuyama
• - Fee: Free (Prior registration required)
• - Audience: Business leaders, executives, HR representatives, and managers
• - Instructor: Yoshiki Sekino (CEO of Imajina)
• - More information and registration: Imajina Seminar
• - Attendance Bonus: Free individual consultation with a specialist on topics like philosophy transmission, recruitment, and training.

Speaker Profile

Yoshiki Sekino is the CEO of Imajina Inc. After moving to the United States at 15, he founded Imajina in New York when he was 26. He is a pioneer in bringing the concept of inner branding to Japan, deeply believing that successful companies excel in employee development. His contributions have transformed over 3,000 organizations, and his books have amassed over 600,000 copies in sales, including his latest title, "Designing Empathetic Value." He is known for introducing the OBPI psychological assessment tool in Japan in partnership with the University of Cambridge.

About Imajina Inc.

Imajina operates with the philosophy that "brands are created by the employees who work there," specializing in organizational transformation and human resource development centered around inner branding. With over 3,000 successful cases across various industries—including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare—they provide unique methods to instill corporate values within organizations.