#Japan #Okinawa #Elephant Stone #And Force

Enhancing Local Branding: A New Collaboration in Okinawa

In a significant move towards fostering local pride and enhancing branding efforts in Okinawa, Elephant Stone and And Force have announced a strategic partnership set to launch operations with an office in Okinawa by July 2025. This collaboration aims to bolster the creative landscape of the region, marrying Elephant Stone's expertise in video production with And Force's branding prowess.

Background of the Partnership

Elephant Stone, led by CEO Kazutaka Tsurume, has a long history of utilizing the power of visual media to cultivate pride among communities, businesses, and individuals. Their impactful projects in areas such as Minamisoma in Fukushima and Choisai in Chiba have seen them successfully promoting local attractions through compelling visual storytelling. Notably, their promotional film for Choisai won the Best Film Award in the tourism category at the Kadoma International Film Festival. These endeavors not only enhance media exposure but also contribute positively to local pride through community viewing events.

And Force, under CEO Yukimasa Takiguchi, has positioned itself as a leading branding company that emphasizes the mission of turning brand strength into corporate power. Since opening its Okinawa branch in 2021, the company has worked to provide branding services to local enterprises. Their success is highlighted by the launch of Motomu's Curry Bread, which has achieved significant sales and recognition, including three consecutive Gold Awards at the Curry Bread Grand Prix. This track record underscores the company's ability to create a strong brand presence in the competitive Okinawan market.

Recognizing that Okinawa faces challenges in brand enhancement and talent acquisition for local businesses, both companies seek to address these gaps—Elephant Stone through visual media and And Force via its comprehensive branding strategies. By fusing their strengths, they aim not only to elevate the brand value of Okinawan companies but to attract and retain young talent from both within and outside the prefecture.

Details of the Collaboration

Through this partnership, Elephant Stone and And Force will enhance their capabilities to address branding and recruitment challenges facing enterprises and municipalities in Okinawa.

• - Elephant Stone will gain access to And Force's extensive network of local enterprises, municipalities, and creators in Okinawa. The goal is to integrate practical branding knowledge and advanced marketing insights to further extend their impact in the region.

• - Meanwhile, And Force will leverage Elephant Stone's innovative video creative services and the advertising operation platform OTAKEBI, adding a valuable video component to its existing brand support services.

Specific Initiatives Include:

1. Formation of Joint Project Teams: A dedicated team will be established to handle everything from planning to video production and advertising operations, ensuring a seamless and consistent service delivery.
2. Collaborative Proposals for Client Companies: They will present integrated solutions that combine recruitment promotional videos with branding campaigns to effectively tackle underlying business challenges.

Leadership Insights

In expressing his thoughts on this partnership, Kazutaka Tsurume stated, "We are excited to embark on this new journey with And Force, marking a significant step toward enhancing Okinawa's corporate and regional value through the power of visual storytelling. Our collaboration embodies our commitment to fostering sustainable growth in this vibrant community."

Yukimasa Takiguchi added, "Strengthening design capabilities is essential for businesses to compete, making this alliance with Elephant Stone a crucial step for our clients seeking to enhance their creativity and branding content. We aim to support the economic growth of local enterprises in Okinawa while addressing recruitment and branding strategies."

About Elephant Stone

Since its inception, Elephant Stone has prioritized understanding and realizing the unexpressed desires of clients, establishing itself as a trusted partner in visual storytelling across various sectors, be it B2B or B2C. The company's recent establishment of an overseas office in Thailand reflects its commitment to meeting diverse client needs effectively.

About And Force

And Force is dedicated to transforming brand strength into corporate power. It operates with the understanding that every business can engage in branding efforts that lead to self-sustaining strategies, bringing creativity to the forefront of corporate identity.

This partnership marks not just a commitment to enhancing branding capabilities in Okinawa but a broader mission to foster local pride and economic vitality through collaborative efforts.