Inheriting the 5-Year Journey of "DX NEXT TOHOKU," "EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU" Launches Anew
General Incorporated Association EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU (ENT) launched on January 1, 2026, inheriting the philosophy and initiatives of DX NEXT TOHOKU, which led DX promotion in Tohoku for five years. ENT will expand its scope to include Corporate Transformation (CX) and regional human resource development, with a kick-off event scheduled for May 22 in Sendai.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 21:10
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 12:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 00:18 (11h 45m after Collected)
General Incorporated Association EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture / Co-Representative Directors: Tomoya Hamano, Tatsuya Ichikawa / hereinafter, ENT) announced that it launched on January 1, 2026, with a new name and new structure, inheriting the philosophy and initiatives of General Incorporated Association DX NEXT TOHOKU (hereinafter, DNT), which has led DX promotion in Tohoku for five years.
ENT will build upon the knowledge and human network for DX promotion cultivated by DNT, expanding its scope to Corporate Transformation (CX)* and regional human resource development, aiming to contribute to the sustainable development of the Tohoku region.
Additionally, a kick-off event to unveil ENT's launch to the people of Tohoku will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 16:00, at the Enspace 2nd floor main plaza in Sendai City.
* CX (Corporate Transformation): A term meaning "corporate transformation" in Japanese. In recent years, its use has increased in the context of strengthening the competitiveness of Japanese companies, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry publishing a report on "CX Research Group for Strengthening Global Competitiveness" in June 2024. ENT aims to implement this concept in the context of transforming companies in the Tohoku region.
■ Developmental Dissolution of DX NEXT TOHOKU after 5 Years and Succession of its Will to ENT
DNT was established in February 2021 with the mission of "creating a rich and happy society even with a declining population and connecting a better future to the next generation," aiming to fundamentally promote DX (Digital Transformation) in Tohoku. From its inception, it started as a challenge with a set operating period of five years. During this time, it accumulated numerous community-based initiatives with companies, local governments, and experts within the Tohoku region, such as DX consultation services, a DX coordinator system, and various seminars and events.
Then, in January 2026, DNT reached a milestone of developmental dissolution*, completing its five-year operating period as initially planned. EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU, which we are reporting today, is restarting with a new name and new mission, with a refreshed board of directors, as the recipient that inherits its will and assets.
* The legal entity is maintained, and the name has been changed from "DX NEXT TOHOKU" to "EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU," with a refreshed board of directors. In this press release, the term "developmental dissolution" is used to respect the intent of a developmental reorganization as an organization.
■ Comment from Former Representative
Former Representative Director Yoshio Abe
Yoshio Abe, Former Representative Director, General Incorporated Association DX NEXT TOHOKU
"We have run for five years since establishing DNT. We have various feelings about what we left undone and what we couldn't achieve, but we believe we did our best to establish DX in Tohoku. The advent of generative AI and other technologies has further accelerated the pace of change. We sincerely hope that the new ENT will boldly tackle the remaining challenges in Tohoku, leveraging youth as strength."
■ What EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU Inherits and Expands
ENT inherits the foundation of DX promotion that DNT built over five years—trust relationships with companies, local governments, and experts in Tohoku, DX consultation and diagnostic know-how, and community-rooted practical knowledge. Building on this, ENT will expand its scope of activities to address the challenges Tohoku currently faces.
> Tohoku's Challenges Surrounding ENT
Tohoku is currently facing complex structural challenges simultaneously: population decline, difficulty in recruiting human resources, and a gap in information and AI utilization compared to the Tokyo metropolitan area. ENT believes that overcoming these challenges requires not just DX investment by individual companies, but a holistic approach that integrates corporate transformation (CX) and the development of human resources to drive that transformation, thereby elevating the entire region.
> What ENT Aims For
ENT will inherit DNT's cherished aspiration to "fundamentally promote DX in Tohoku," while aiming to become a regional transformation platform that integrates DX and CX, companies and human resources.
■ ENT's Mission, Vision, and Values
▶ MISSION ~New Power for Tohoku.~
EMPOWER = Power / NEW = New / TOHOKU = For Tohoku.
Our name itself is our mission.
▶ VISION ~Tohoku where one person's challenge inspires the next step for someone else~
A chain of challenges creates a ripple that moves the region. One person's first step encourages the next, bringing newness to all of Tohoku.
ENT will build upon the knowledge and human network for DX promotion cultivated by DNT, expanding its scope to Corporate Transformation (CX)* and regional human resource development, aiming to contribute to the sustainable development of the Tohoku region.
Additionally, a kick-off event to unveil ENT's launch to the people of Tohoku will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 16:00, at the Enspace 2nd floor main plaza in Sendai City.
* CX (Corporate Transformation): A term meaning "corporate transformation" in Japanese. In recent years, its use has increased in the context of strengthening the competitiveness of Japanese companies, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry publishing a report on "CX Research Group for Strengthening Global Competitiveness" in June 2024. ENT aims to implement this concept in the context of transforming companies in the Tohoku region.
■ Developmental Dissolution of DX NEXT TOHOKU after 5 Years and Succession of its Will to ENT
DNT was established in February 2021 with the mission of "creating a rich and happy society even with a declining population and connecting a better future to the next generation," aiming to fundamentally promote DX (Digital Transformation) in Tohoku. From its inception, it started as a challenge with a set operating period of five years. During this time, it accumulated numerous community-based initiatives with companies, local governments, and experts within the Tohoku region, such as DX consultation services, a DX coordinator system, and various seminars and events.
Then, in January 2026, DNT reached a milestone of developmental dissolution*, completing its five-year operating period as initially planned. EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU, which we are reporting today, is restarting with a new name and new mission, with a refreshed board of directors, as the recipient that inherits its will and assets.
* The legal entity is maintained, and the name has been changed from "DX NEXT TOHOKU" to "EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU," with a refreshed board of directors. In this press release, the term "developmental dissolution" is used to respect the intent of a developmental reorganization as an organization.
■ Comment from Former Representative
Former Representative Director Yoshio Abe
Yoshio Abe, Former Representative Director, General Incorporated Association DX NEXT TOHOKU
"We have run for five years since establishing DNT. We have various feelings about what we left undone and what we couldn't achieve, but we believe we did our best to establish DX in Tohoku. The advent of generative AI and other technologies has further accelerated the pace of change. We sincerely hope that the new ENT will boldly tackle the remaining challenges in Tohoku, leveraging youth as strength."
■ What EMPOWER NEW TOHOKU Inherits and Expands
ENT inherits the foundation of DX promotion that DNT built over five years—trust relationships with companies, local governments, and experts in Tohoku, DX consultation and diagnostic know-how, and community-rooted practical knowledge. Building on this, ENT will expand its scope of activities to address the challenges Tohoku currently faces.
> Tohoku's Challenges Surrounding ENT
Tohoku is currently facing complex structural challenges simultaneously: population decline, difficulty in recruiting human resources, and a gap in information and AI utilization compared to the Tokyo metropolitan area. ENT believes that overcoming these challenges requires not just DX investment by individual companies, but a holistic approach that integrates corporate transformation (CX) and the development of human resources to drive that transformation, thereby elevating the entire region.
> What ENT Aims For
ENT will inherit DNT's cherished aspiration to "fundamentally promote DX in Tohoku," while aiming to become a regional transformation platform that integrates DX and CX, companies and human resources.
■ ENT's Mission, Vision, and Values
▶ MISSION ~New Power for Tohoku.~
EMPOWER = Power / NEW = New / TOHOKU = For Tohoku.
Our name itself is our mission.
▶ VISION ~Tohoku where one person's challenge inspires the next step for someone else~
A chain of challenges creates a ripple that moves the region. One person's first step encourages the next, bringing newness to all of Tohoku.