Seminar Dialogue: 'Co-creation and Transformation with a Japanese Essence – Integrating Business Practice and Cutting-Edge Academic Theory from a Global Perspective'

Envision Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; Representative Director: Daisuke Inoue; hereinafter "Envision") will host a special dialogue seminar on Thursday, July 16, 2026, welcoming Mr. Akihiro Nagaya, Representative Director and President of Yanmar Brand Asset Design Co., Ltd., and Professor Dairo Muto of Kyoto Institute of Technology.

Japanese companies are facing increasingly complex challenges, including population decline, environmental issues, and intensified global competition. Growth can no longer be achieved simply by extending traditional manufacturing strengths. What is now needed is future-oriented design that emphasizes relationships with local communities, society, and the environment. This unique seminar brings together academia at the forefront of design theory and practitioners who have been actively implementing 'design in society' within manufacturing industries. Experience a dynamic, 2.5-hour dialogue packed with insights—from the essence of branding and broader design principles to the possibilities of Japanese-style transformation and the democratization of design.

Speakers

Mr. Akihiro Nagaya Representative Director and President, Yanmar Brand Asset Design Co., Ltd.

Mr. Nagaya served approximately 30 years at Toyota Motor Corporation, holding key positions including General Manager of Lexus Brand Planning and Head of Toyota Design. He later moved to Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., serving as Executive Officer and Head of the Creative Division, overseeing all product design development and global branding for eight years. Following similar demands, he transferred to Yanmar, where he served as Director and Chief Branding Officer at Yanmar Holdings before assuming his current role in April 2025. He established the company as a specialized entity focusing on design consulting and content business.

Mr. Dairo Muto Professor, Future Design and Engineering Organization, Kyoto Institute of Technology

Born in Tokyo in 1979, Mr. Muto moved to the UK after high school and completed his master's and doctoral studies at the Royal College of Art before returning to Japan. His expertise lies in design research. He has served as a visiting lecturer at Kyoto University Design School, Associate Professor at Keio University's Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, and specially appointed professor at Keio University's Graduate School of Media and Governance. He has led numerous industry-academia collaborative research projects and consortiums. He is the author or translator of several books, including 'Circular Design,' 'What is Critical Design?,' and 'Design for a Plural World.'

Isao Fujimaki Executive Officer, COO and CBO, Envision Co., Ltd.

After completing graduate studies, Mr. Fujimaki began his career as a planner at a major domestic advertising agency. He later became Strategic Director at Interbrand Japan, the world's largest brand consultancy, leading large-scale projects across diverse industries, including global markets. He subsequently held leadership roles overseeing branding at Rakuten Group and branding and marketing at KPMG Consulting. Since 2024, he has been with Envision, actively driving initiatives to create Japan-born brands that accelerate social change, develop creative solutions to social issues, and promote the democratization of branding.

Event Details

· Date and Time: Thursday, July 16, 2026, 15:30–17:30 (followed by a brief networking session) · Venue: QUINTBRIDGE, 4-15-82 Higashinodacho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka. Access information here · Capacity: 100 participants

Registration: https://peatix.com/event/5017114

About Envision Co., Ltd.

Under the purpose of 'Doing what we can for the future,' Envision Co., Ltd. is a creative company dedicated to solving social issues through branding, creative consulting, and marketing communications. Anchored on three core businesses—'envision CREATIVE,' 'JOINT PROJECT,' and 'PROJECT'—the company strives to create creative solutions that improve not just individual organizations but society as a whole.

Headquarters: 1-7-13 Azuchimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0052

Representatives: Representative Director Daisuke Inoue; Executive Officer, COO and CBO Isao Fujimaki

Established: March 14, 1981

URL: https://envision-inc.jp

Business Activities:

envision CREATIVE A creative consulting business that links partner companies' management, business, and organizational challenges with social issues, resolving them through branding and creativity.

JOINT PROJECT A collaborative business that co-creates new ventures and services to solve social challenges by generating synergies between Envision's owned initiatives and partner companies' business objectives.

PROJECT An owned initiative focused on proposing and conducting research and development to address social challenges, as well as planning, proposing, and operating products and services that realize a better future.

Inquiries regarding this event

Envision, Client & Marketing, Nishii, Hashimoto