#Japan #Tokyo #Houtoku Hub #Imagiate #Japan Agricultural News

Imagiate and Japan Agricultural News Collaborate to Launch Houtoku Hub

Imagiate Inc., based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has signed a reselling partnership with Japan Agricultural News, headquartered in Taito, Tokyo, aimed at enhancing generative AI solutions for agricultural cooperatives across Japan. By combining Japan Agricultural News' extensive network and influential outreach with Imagiate's technological expertise and consulting services, this partnership seeks to accelerate digital transformation (DX) and operational efficiency in the agricultural sector.

The Collaboration's Background

Faced with increasing labor shortages and operational loads, agricultural cooperatives, or JA, are prioritizing digital transformation and efficiency. Japan Agricultural News has already been supporting many JAs in their initial steps towards generative AI through their membership service, J Partners, along with offerings like the generative AI service “Ninou AI Kinjirou” and training materials.

On the other hand, Imagiate has developed the “Houtoku Hub,” a generative AI platform in collaboration with JA Yokohama, focusing on co-creating applications that address real on-the-ground challenges and ideas. This approach necessitates a more profound engagement with generative AI, beyond mere exposure, to genuinely integrate practical benefits and solutions into the work environment.

Both companies recognize the growing demand to effectively utilize generative AI for real-world problem-solving and have therefore committed to supporting JAs across Japan with a comprehensive approach that combines AI utilization with tangible issue resolution.

Overview of Houtoku Hub

Houtoku Hub is a generative AI platform specifically designed for the JA group. The platform's name is inspired by the “Houtoku Philosophy” of the Japanese thinker Ninomiya Sontoku, emphasizing mutual assistance and shared contribution. Houtoku Hub positions generative AI as an infrastructure to support co-creation and inter-assistance among JAs.

The platform offers a secure environment for each JA, allowing access to multiple advanced generative AI models. It features various applications tailored for JA’s practical needs, such as meeting minutes generation, outreach support, conversation starters for member engagement, financial statement analysis, image generation, and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).

Additionally, Houtoku Hub hosts a “Houtoku Community” comprising participating JAs that convene monthly to discuss case studies and new application ideas. This community fosters a continued expansion of functionalities based on feedback from the field.

For more details on the Houtoku Hub service, visit: Houtoku Hub

Roles of Both Companies

Japan Agricultural News

Japan Agricultural News plays a crucial role by leveraging its extensive network within the JA group and its communication capabilities to handle the contract queries for Houtoku Hub. It acts as the primary point of contact for inquiries from JAs nationwide and supports implementation in collaboration with Imagiate. Moreover, the platform is committed to providing information on Houtoku Hub and generative AI utilization based on its accumulated expertise in hosting seminars and promoting digital transformation.

Imagiate

Imagiate is responsible for the development and operation of Houtoku Hub as well as the management of the Houtoku Community. The company will continually enhance applications based on feedback from JA representatives and will offer consulting services to assist JAs with their digital transformation and AI utilization. This support includes operational restructuring, application design, and training to ensure successful adoption at the grassroots level.

Comment from Houtoku Hub's Operations Executive

Yuu Tsukita, COO of Imagiate, remarked:

"Through our collaborative efforts with the JA group, we’ve observed that the value of generative AI lies not in choosing the right tools but in effectively connecting the insights and challenges from the field to drive organizational change. Houtoku Hub is not just a simple SaaS but a mutual support platform where JAs can share successes and failures and co-create new applications."

He added that partnering with Japan Agricultural News is considered a significant turning point in accelerating DX for agricultural cooperatives across the nation. He intends to persistently support the deployment of generative AI and operational transformation starting from the field.

Contact Information

For more details regarding this partnership and Houtoku Hub or to request a trial, please reach out using the contact information below. Japan Agricultural News will serve as the initial contact point, collaborating with Imagiate for responses.

Contact for Partnership and Introductions (Initial Contact):
Japan Agricultural News
E-mail: [email protected]

Contact for Houtoku Hub Functions and Technical Inquiries:
Imagiate Inc.
E-mail: [email protected]

Service Page for Houtoku Hub: Houtoku Hub

Company Overview

Japan Agricultural News, Co., Ltd.

• - Headquarters: 2-3 Akihabara, Taito, Tokyo
• - President: Kazushiro Tamiya
• - Established: March 20, 1928
• - Capital: 100 million yen
• - Business Activities: Publishing a nationwide daily newspaper specialized in agriculture, offering a variety of media and promotional services, and managing digital ventures like the Agriculture Database.

E-website: Japan Agricultural News

Imagiate Inc.

• - Headquarters: 3F, PORTAL POINT SHIBUYA, 1-11-3 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo
• - CEO: Kousuke Tsuda
• - Established: January 4, 2023
• - Business Activities: Developing and operating generative AI platforms like Houtoku Hub, and providing training for AI/digital personnel and business improvement consulting services.

E-website: Imagiate