Exploring New Possibilities in Business Succession with Relay and Setagaya City

On July 29, 2026, the Open Name Business Succession platform 'Relay,' operated by Light Right Co., Ltd., will host a seminar in collaboration with Setagaya City, focusing on business succession for small business owners and sole proprietors. The event aims to connect those wishing to transfer their businesses with potential successors through shared values and empathy.

Japan is currently facing a significant issue known as the 'Great Business Closures Era,' where approximately 50,000 businesses shut their doors each year. Alarmingly, about 60% of these closures occur due to a lack of successors, even while these businesses remain profitable.

In Setagaya, a region rich in beloved shops and craftsmanship nurtured over many years, the aging of business owners and the absence of successors have resulted in an increasing number of closures. This trend not only threatens the vibrancy of local economies but also the livelihood of communities and employment. It is crucial to address the problem of succession planning seriously to bridge the gap of lost knowledge, skills, and personal connections built by small business owners over the years.

During the seminar, practical initiatives and services that support business succession will be presented alongside real-life case studies of successful handovers. A guest speaker from 'Tsukiya Sake Shop,' which has been in operation for 96 years, will share insights into taking over the family business as the fourth-generation owner, describing the passion and legacy he intends to pass on to future generations.

Whether you are a business owner contemplating your future or someone interested in entrepreneurship through business succession, we invite you to join us and gather valuable information from support organizations.

Seminar Overview

- Date: July 29, 2026 (Wednesday) from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM (Doors open at 1:00 PM)
- Admission: Free (Limited to 30 participants)
- Location: Setagaya Industrial Plaza, Meeting Room (2-16-7 Taishido, Setagaya, 3rd Floor)
- Conducted by: Setagaya City
- Managed by: Light Right Co., Ltd. (Operator of the Open Name Business Succession platform, Relay)

Session Content

- Explanation of third-party succession and presentation on Relay's initiatives
- Keynote address by an expert
- Talk session with experienced successors
- Q&A session

Keynote Speaker

Satoru Nagayama / Business Succession Consultant, Real Estate Transaction Specialist at Light Right Co., Ltd.
A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering, he moved to Rikuzentakata City following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake to contribute to urban revitalization efforts. Since joining Relay in April 2023, he has been actively supporting various third-party succession projects in the Tohoku region.

Guest for Talk Session

Chikari Hashira / Fourth Generation of Tsukiya Sake Shop
Having discovered a passion for sake at the age of 20, he initially worked as a physical education teacher before stepping into the family business during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he took over 'Tsukiya Sake Shop,' celebrating almost a century of operation.

Join Us

For those interested in municipal collaboration with Relay or business succession support, please feel free to inquire about our collaborative programs.

About Relay

The Open Name Business Succession 'Relay' offers an innovative platform for matching business successors while narrating the stories behind each business. This approach enables entrepreneurs to openly share their intentions and attract passionate successors, giving birth to a new model of business succession based on empathy. Since its launch in 2020, Relay has successfully matched approximately 180 successors among over 890 applications, achieving the top ranking in the business matching platform sector in Japan for five consecutive years.

For more information, please visit Light Right's official website.