Imaginna Hosts Special Seminar on Brand Strategy in AI Era at Shibuya QWS

Imaginna's Special Seminar on Brand Strategy

On January 20, 2026, Imaginna Inc., a branding and consulting firm headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, held a significant seminar at Shibuya QWS titled "A Special Seminar on Brand Strategy for Becoming a Unique and Selectable Company." The event aimed to guide business leaders through the evolving landscape of branding in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on the role of collaboration between regions and businesses.

Event Background: The Shift in Value in 2026

In 2026, the maturity of AI technology has dramatically changed how businesses derive value from vast amounts of data, making the traditional notion of finding the "correct answer" less impactful. In this uncertain market, possessing skills like "hypothesis construction" and emotional intelligence (EQ) has become critical for business survival. The seminar was conceived to equip participants with these AI-resistant perspectives by integrating the latest branding theories rooted in behavioral economics and practical models of regional collaboration pioneered by Yamanashi Prefecture.

Event Overview

- Date: January 20, 2026, 18:15 - 20:45
- Location: SHIBUYA QWS, Shibuya Scramble Square 15th Floor
- Organizer: Imaginna Inc. (co-organized with Yamanashi Prefecture)
- Participants: Approximately 80 executives and aspiring entrepreneurs
- Objective: Share essential insights on becoming select companies and individuals in the AI era by enhancing skills in hypothesis construction and empathy.

Event Highlights

1. Yamanashi's Serious Support for Startups

The seminar kicked off with an enlightening overview from the Yamanashi Prefecture's Department of Industrial Policy, featuring the startup support center, "CINOVA YAMANASHI." They presented various multifaceted support programs targeting local issues, including financial assistance of up to 2 million yen for startups and 20 million yen for research and development. The presentation highlighted the innovative "Yamanashi Model," which supports entrepreneurs through both tangible resources and intangible connections.

2. Understanding the Identity of Selectable Brands Through Behavioral Economics

Imaginna's CEO and Deputy Executive Director of YNIB, Yoshiki Sekino, delivered a keynote on the significant divide between knowledge and purchasing decisions. He explained how 90% of human perception stems from memory and context, as evidenced by visual perception research. This points to the need for building a structure around brand memory rather than relying solely on factual statements.

Moreover, he argued that businesses should focus on the psychological attributes of their target audience instead of demographic characteristics, particularly in the AI age. The emphasis was placed on the importance of emotional understanding in marketing and branding, especially when it comes to tapping into subtle human emotions that data may not convey.

3. Preventing Organizational Collapse Through Brand Ideals and EQ

In the second half of the presentation, the importance of internal branding was examined. Sekino pointed out that the low employee engagement levels in Japan are largely due to superficial satisfaction surveys. He emphasized that psychological safety doesn't stem from a comfortable environment but rather from a shared language within a team, enabling constructive debate. Discussing the implications of the "1:29:300 rule" in relation to EQ, he concluded that investing in education for young employees in envisioning ideal futures is the only pathway to reducing turnover rates and increasing a company's future value.

Participant Feedback

Post-event surveys revealed a keen interest among the attendees. One participant, a representative from an IT firm, commented on the realization of how expenditures on brand recognition have been a waste, pledging to review their advertising budget. Another realized the impressive support available from Yamanashi, discovering new business avenues during the seminar. A third participant acknowledged their fears of AI taking over job roles were assuaged, understanding that hypothesis construction and EQ would be their strengths.

Future Directions

Imaginna plans to continue hosting seminars focusing on branding and human capital management in its quest to enhance the corporate value of Japanese enterprises. Upcoming courses aimed at improving EQ for university students are also on the horizon, underscoring their commitment to cultivating next-gen leaders.