Kyoto City x Article Inc. (formerly Harch Inc.) Collaborate to Launch "Circular Business Design School Kyoto 2026"

Article Inc. (formerly Harch Inc., Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Yu Kato) has been commissioned by Kyoto City for the "FY2026 Foundation Building for a Circular Economy" project. As part of this initiative, starting August 2026, we will be implementing "Circular Business Design School Kyoto," a program for businesses and other entities in the city. This program includes a learning program (Basic and Advanced Courses) to acquire knowledge on the circular economy and foster circular business models, a business development support program aimed at social implementation, and networking events.

Official Website for Circular Business Design School Kyoto

This year, building upon the circular ecosystem, knowledge, and network generated through last year's (FY2025) project, we are evolving into a more practical and comprehensive support system, covering everything from the creation of circular business models to their commercialization.

Background of the Program

In recent years, there has been a global shift from a linear economy characterized by mass production, consumption, and disposal, to a circular economy (CE) that efficiently and cyclically utilizes resources in a sustainable manner to create added value. Governments are also accelerating their efforts, positioning CE realization as a national strategy.

Kyoto City has been working on "waste reduction" and "resource circulation" in collaboration with citizens and businesses. While leveraging these strengths, we are also accurately grasping global and national trends and striving to transition to a circular economy to achieve a "society that can develop sustainably while promoting healthy economic development with a low environmental impact" through the efficient use of limited resources.

In the first year of this program, held in FY2025, 20 businesses from Kyoto City participated and completed a six-session program, from prototyping circular business models to final presentations. A circular business ecosystem was formed by the participants. Building on these achievements, FY2026 will further accelerate Kyoto City's CE transition through enhanced phased learning programs and the establishment of new business development support.

Program Concept

Decode Culture, Design Future

Kyoto possesses enduring assets cultivated over 1200 years of history, including the spirit of "shimatsu no kokoro" (the spirit of thrift and careful use), cyclical living, and craftsmanship. Realizing a circular future requires the creativity to utilize these wisdoms in the present and connect them to the future.

This program is a place for learning and creation where participants can study advanced practices in Kyoto City, cutting-edge circular design, and circular business models, re-examine their own strengths from new perspectives, and generate new innovations together with their peers. By combining the cyclical wisdom rooted in Kyoto with future-oriented thinking based on cutting-edge circular economy knowledge, we aim to draw and realize the future we desire together. We encourage those interested to apply.

Program Overview

Name

Circular Business Design School Kyoto

Period

August 6, 2026 (Thu) - December 2026 (scheduled)

Program Structure

1 Learning Program "Circular Business Design Program" (Basic Course: 3 sessions, Advanced Course: 3 sessions + final presentation) 2 Business Development Support Program "Circular Business Acceleration Program" (New in FY2026) 3 Networking Event "Circular Gathering Kyoto"

Capacity

Basic Course: Approx. 20 participants (selection may apply if many apply)

Advanced Course: Approx. 12 participants (selection may apply if many apply)

Business Development Support Program: 2 companies (application and selection)

Participation Fee

Free

Eligibility

- Companies and sole proprietors with headquarters or business offices in Kyoto City (including those planning to start or relocate to Kyoto City in the future).

- Students and researchers belonging to universities, graduate schools, or research institutions in Kyoto City (Basic Course).

- Individuals or companies aiming to develop businesses, products, or services with a focus on the circular economy, or those already engaged in such efforts and seeking to solve challenges.

- Participants must be able to attend all sessions of each course, in principle.

Organizer

Kyoto City, Environmental Policy Bureau, Environmental Planning Department, General Environmental Affairs Division (Operated by Article Inc.)

Application Period

[Basic Course & Business Development Support Program]

July 2, 2026 (Thu) - July 22, 2026 (Wed) 5:00 PM

[Advanced Course]

August 24, 2026 (Mon) - September 14, 2026 (Mon) 5:00 PM

* It is possible to apply for both the Basic and Advanced Courses.

Official Website & Application URL

https://cbdskyoto.jp/

Program Details

The following programs will be held from August to December 2026.

1 Learning Program "Circular Business Design Program"

The learning program is divided into two stages: a Basic Course (beginner level) aimed at acquiring fundamental concepts and the latest trends in CE, and an Advanced Course (intermediate to advanced level) for designing circular business models and prototyping products/services, culminating in a final presentation.

▶ Basic Course (3 sessions total) Capacity: Approx. 20 participants

This program consists of 3 sessions held from August to September 2026. Participants will deepen their learning step-by-step, from acquiring basic CE concepts, the latest domestic and international policy trends, and advanced case studies, to a workshop interpreting the essence of Kyoto's traditional culture from a circular design perspective, and hands-on understanding through fieldwork.

Session

Date and Time

Theme/Content

Session 1

August 6, 2026 (Thu)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Introduction to Circular Economy ~The Forefront of CE and Kyoto's Potential~

Lecturers:

- Yu Kato (Representative Director, Article Inc.)

- Isao Kitabayashi (Representative Director, COS KYOTO Inc. / Edonomy® Researcher)

Session 2

August 25, 2026 (Tue)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Kyoto's Tradition/Culture x Circular Design Workshop ~Thinking about Circular Business Ideas~

Workshop Coordinator:

- Yu Kato (Representative Director, Article Inc.)

Session 3

September 7, 2026 (Mon)

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Fieldwork in Kyoto City ~Learning about Kyoto's Circular Practices in the City~

Field Coordinator:

- Isao Kitabayashi (Representative Director, COS KYOTO Inc. / Edonomy® Researcher)

[Application Period] July 2, 2026 (Thu) - July 22, 2026 (Wed) 5:00 PM

▶ Advanced Course (3 sessions + final presentation) Capacity: Approx. 12 participants

This program consists of 3 sessions and a final presentation held from October to December 2026. Participants will work on designing circular systems, business models, and prototyping products/services with expert advice throughout the 3 sessions, and present their achievements at the final presentation. While prior participation in the Basic Course is not a mandatory requirement for the Advanced Course, it is intended for those with basic knowledge of CE.

Session

Date and Time

Theme/Content

Session 1

October 8, 2026 (Thu)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Circular System Design Workshop ~Designing the Circular Ecosystem You Want to Realize~

Lecturer:

- Nobuaki Miyahara (Representative Director, Amita Corporation)

Session 2

October 22, 2026 (Thu)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Circular Business Design Workshop ~Translating CE into Business Models~

Lecturer:

- Akihiro Agui (Representative, Circular Initiatives & Partners Inc.)

Session 3

November 5, 2026 (Thu)

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Circular Product/Service Design Workshop ~Visualizing Solutions Through Prototyping~

Lecturer/Workshop Coordinator:

- Kosuke Kinoshita (Brand Manager, FabCafe Kyoto)

- Natsumi Tabusa (Representative Director, Commoning Studio Inc.)

Final

Presentation

Mid-December 2026

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Final Presentation & Networking Event (Open to the public / Online simultaneously)

Part 1: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Part 2: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Advanced Course participants will receive mentoring from program mentors (2 participants per mentor) and online advice from circular business advisors (4 participants per advisor) during the program.

[Program Mentors]

Isao Kitabayashi (Representative, COS KYOTO Inc., Edonomy® Researcher)

Hiran So (Co-Representative, ROOTS Inc., Social Design)

Mariko Sugita (Representative Director, General Incorporated Association for Cities)

Masayuki Terai (Representative, Gomi no Gakko Inc.)

Kosuke Kinoshita (Brand Manager, FabCafe Kyoto, Loftwork Inc.)

Natsumi Tabusa (Representative Director, Commoning Studio Inc., Transformation Designer)

[Circular Business Advisors]

Yosuke Konaka (Lead Research Officer, Circular Economy Lead, Sustainability Promotion Department TBF Team, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited)

Akihiro Agui (Representative Director, Circular Initiatives & Partners Inc., Kyoto City Appointed Growth Strategy Promotion Advisor, Author of "Practical Circular Economy")

Kiyokazu Nasu (Representative Director, Circle Design Inc.)

[Application Period] August 24, 2026 (Mon) - September 14, 2026 (Mon) 5:00 PM

* It is possible to apply for both the Basic and Advanced Courses.

* Advanced Course participants are generally required to attend the networking event "Circular Gathering Kyoto" (details below), held on October 1st, which also serves as the kickoff.

2 Business Development Support Program "Circular Business Acceleration Program" <New in FY2026>

This is a newly established business development support program starting this fiscal year. Two companies from Kyoto City with circular business model ideas that contribute to CE transition will be selected through an application and review process, and will receive approximately five months of tailored support to commercialize their ideas*.

* Refers to the process of establishing new technologies, ideas, products, or services as actual sales/offerings in the market and making them commercially viable.

[Main Support Contents]

Support for conceptualization and concretization of circular businesses (support for research, strategy development, prototyping/demonstration).

Matching for value chain construction (introduction to potential customers and co-creation partners, etc.).

Financial support (sharing information on public support, creating connections with financial institutions/investors, etc.).

Public relations and PR support (multi-faceted information dissemination and cooperation through company media, etc.).

Visualization of social and environmental impact (support for building logic models, etc.).

Mentoring (continuous advice from CE experts and practitioners in various fields).

[Support Period] August 2026 - December 2026 (scheduled, approx. 5 months)

[Support Partners] Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited / Amita Corporation

[Application Period] July 2, 2026 (Thu) - July 22, 2026 (Wed) 5:00 PM

3 Networking Event "Circular Gathering Kyoto"

This networking event aims to foster Kyoto City's CE transition ecosystem and create opportunities for the development and creation of circular business models. It will bring together not only learning program participants but also a wide range of attendees including businesses, financial institutions, universities, and support organizations from within the city. Diverse content is planned, including keynote talks, presentations by local practitioners, group work, and exhibitions.

Date (scheduled): October 1, 2026 (Thu) 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

* Details will be announced later on the official website (participation is mandatory for Advanced Course participants of the learning program).

Introduction to Program Partners

Circular Business Design School Kyoto is seeking companies, organizations, investors, and media who wish to collaborate as program partners in fostering business creation, investment, and ecosystem building in the circular economy field within Kyoto City. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in program collaboration.

About IDEAS FOR GOOD "Kyoto City Circular Economy Special Feature"

In conjunction with the launch of this program, the web magazine "IDEAS FOR GOOD," operated by Article Inc. (formerly Harch Inc.), is continuously publishing special content related to Kyoto's CE, including reports on last year's CBDSK and case studies of businesses promoting the circular economy in Kyoto City.

Publication Name: IDEAS FOR GOOD

Special Feature URL: https://ideasforgood.jp/kyotoce/

About IDEAS FOR GOOD

IDEAS FOR GOOD is a web magazine that gathers ideas to make society "better." From cutting-edge technologies with the potential to significantly change the world, to advertisements and art that raise awareness of social issues, and small designs that change people's behavior, we deliver socially good ideas from around the world to you.

URL: https://ideasforgood.jp/

Company Profile

Company Name: Article Inc. (formerly Harch Inc.)

Representatives: Yu Kato, Hideyuki Aribuki, Daikoro Kakehi (Representative Directors)

Location: 107-0051 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Motoakasaka 1-7-18 Motoakasaka East Building 3F, 302

Established: December 2015

URL: https://artiql.jp/ ( https://harch.jp/ )