Hachi Inc. and Future Sessions Inc. to Merge on June 30, Launching as Artiql Inc.

Hachi Inc. (headquartered in Minato City, Tokyo; CEO: Yu Kato; hereinafter "Hachi") and Future Sessions Inc. (headquartered in Minato City, Tokyo; CEOs: Hideyuki Arifuku, Hironobu Kakei; hereinafter "Future Sessions") will merge on June 30, 2026, launching anew as Artiql Inc.

Background of the Merger

Hachi has operated under the mission of "Rewrite Our Futures," running digital media platforms such as IDEAS FOR GOOD—an ideas magazine that creatively addresses social challenges—and providing sustainability and circular business (city) design services for corporations and local governments.

Future Sessions has advanced numerous co-creation projects with corporations and local governments through "Future Sessions," creative dialogue forums aimed at achieving social innovation, focusing on urban development, civic collaboration, talent development, sports utilization, and future creation.

Over the years, the two companies have collaborated closely, leveraging their respective strengths in sustainability × media and social innovation × Future Sessions. Their joint initiatives include co-developing the Circular Design Sprint (a circular design learning program) and Facilitating Sustainable Futures (a future design learning program), jointly participating in Kanazawa University's COI-NEXT (a JST program supporting collaborative space creation), and founding the Shigigijutsu-sha (Society of Social Art). Since January 2026, both companies have operated from a shared office, deepening discussions on the evolving roles of media and co-creation in the face of climate crisis and the AI era.

Through these collaborations, both companies have reaffirmed their strong complementary relationship—using media to generate empathy and co-creation processes to facilitate transitions toward better futures. Recognizing that integrating their strengths into a single organization would enable them to accelerate and deepen social change beyond mere complementarity, they have decided to merge.

Going forward, as Artiql Inc., the company will further strengthen its global and local business foundation with bases in Japan, Asia, and Europe, advancing efforts together with partners and readers toward a sustainable future.

About Artiql Inc.

Following the merger, Artiql Inc. will uniquely integrate three core businesses—media, futures design, and place-based initiatives—working collaboratively with partners across Japan and worldwide to drive creative initiatives in sustainability and social innovation through media, co-creation process design, and physical hubs.

1. Media Business

Driving empathy through media platforms such as "IDEAS FOR GOOD," "Circular Economy Hub" (a specialized circular economy media), and "Zenbird" (sharing Japan's sustainability stories globally), while pursuing new reader experiences that enrich people in the AI era.

● Flagship Initiative: IDEAS FOR GOOD 2.0—Media Reboot

Since its launch in 2016, "IDEAS FOR GOOD" has showcased creative solutions to global social challenges. Building on the support received through a crowdfunding campaign in late 2025, the platform will undergo a major relaunch. The new concept: "From a media that publishes, to a media that co-creates together." Moving beyond simply delivering articles, it will evolve into a platform that raises questions about better futures and facilitates dialogue, co-creation, and action together with its readers.

IDEAS FOR GOOD: https://ideasforgood.jp/

IDEAS FOR GOOD

2. Futures Design Business (Futures Design Lab)

Integrating Future Sessions' co-creation projects with corporations and local governments, and Hachi's sustainability and circular business (city) design services delivered through IDEAS FOR GOOD Business Design Lab, to design and execute transition processes toward sustainable futures.

● Flagship Initiative: "RETOTYPE"—A wisdom succession and organizational culture co-creation program powered by dialogue and AI

Developed in response to generational shifts and DX initiatives in large enterprises, this program transfers the "intentions and mindsets behind procedures" cultivated by experienced staff to the next generation. Through interviews and dialogue, tacit knowledge embedded in the workplace is structured and transformed into shareable narratives. By disseminating and embedding this living wisdom across organizations, it co-creates the organizational culture of the next era.

Future Sessions project examples:

https://www.futuresessions.com/projects/

3. Place Business

Implementing circular experience and service design through physical hubs such as "Sta.R," and developing place-based media.

● Flagship Initiative: Opening of "Sta.R (Station R)," a hub for circular culture creation

In collaboration with Yokohama City, "Sta.R," a hub themed around Creativity × Circularity × Culture, will open in August 2026 at a direct-access space connected to Seihama Station on the Sagami Railway Main Line. Designated as a "Creative District Hub" under Yokohama's Creative City initiative, this will be the first such hub located in a suburban area. "Sta.R" will permanently feature a Material Library, Art Gallery, and Shop, aiming to nurture a circular culture where everyone and every resource is valued through encounters with materials, ideas, and people.

Circular Culture Creation Hub "Sta.R (Station R)": https://stationr.yokohama/

Circular Culture Creation Hub "Sta.R (Station R)"

Statements from Leadership

Yu Kato (CEO)

"As climate crisis accelerates and AI advances, uncertainty about the future grows. We believe the value media should provide is shifting—from 'broadcasting' to 'receiving,' from 'solutions' to 'questions,' from 'products' to 'processes,' and from 'digital' to 'real.' As Artiql, a new organization embodying these transformations, we will strive together with stakeholders toward a future where everyone can live authentically, embraced by hope and kindness."

Hideyuki Arifuku (CEO)

"Until now, we have created future possibilities through dialogue. As Artiql, by combining media and expanding into physical hubs, we will evolve into an organization that drives initiatives from conception to societal implementation. We will continue advancing the transition toward sustainable futures together with our co-creation partners."

Hironobu Kakei (CEO)

"We believe the future ahead should not follow someone else's answers, but be woven collectively by each individual raising their own questions. Having long fostered dialogue across diverse perspectives, we at Artiql will unify empathy and co-creation, growing together with you a society where everyone supports one another as creators of the future."

Merger Overview

Type of Merger: Absorption-type merger (Continuing entity: Hachi Inc. / Dissolved entity: Future Sessions Inc.)

Effective Date of Merger: June 30, 2026

New Company Name: Artiql Inc. (Artiql Kabushiki-gaisha) ※Trademark application pending

Head Office Address: 3F, Motoakasaka East 302, 1-7-18 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051, Japan (no change)

Representative Directors: Yu Kato, Hideyuki Arifuku, Hironobu Kakei

Directors: Takahiro Amano, Yuko Nagano, Yu Hara

Company Profiles

Hachi Inc.

Founded: December 2015

Head Office: 3F, Motoakasaka East 302, 1-7-18 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051, Japan

Business Activities: Digital media operations; sustainable and circular design services for corporations and local governments

Future Sessions Inc.

Founded: June 2012

Head Office: 3F, Motoakasaka East 302, 1-7-18 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051, Japan

Business Activities: Co-creation consulting, facilitation, and design and execution of co-creation projects