Pass The Baton Market's Creator Discovery Project "ECOHIIKI" to be Held Again This Year! Applications Open July 1, 2026 (Wed)!

SMILES Co., Ltd. will hold "ECOHIIKI (Eco Hiiki)" again this year, a project that was well-received last year at "Pass The Baton Market," a flea market featuring companies and brands from diverse genres such as interiors, fashion, and food.

Applications for this project will begin on July 1, 2026 (Wed) (application deadline: July 19 (Sun)), and the "ECOHIIKI" project is scheduled to be held at "Pass The Baton Market Vol. 22" in October 2026.

We sincerely look forward to applications from creators who say, "I'm the one!"

◎ ECOHIIKI Details Page: https://market.pass-the-baton.com/topics/2783/

Supporting Creators' Challenges! "ECOHIIKI" Project

The "ECOHIIKI" project was first held in October 2025. Brands with dazzling, standout points that made us at Pass The Baton want to give them special treatment were invited to exhibit. These included a brand making baby boxes from Enshu textiles, a traditional industry in Hamamatsu; a product unit based in Kumamoto that makes accessories from igusa (rush grass), using igusa from relatives who are igusa farmers; and a seal engraving shop that accepts custom orders for original designs on-site. A wide variety of creators colored the ECOHIIKI zone, making it a project full of new discoveries and excitement for visitors. We at Pass The Baton also look forward to meeting new creators through the "ECOHIIKI" project and await applications from creators.

Exhibitors will be selected after interviews with all applicants. This project aims to provide full support with Pass The Baton's unique "special treatment" to those who are selected to exhibit.

First, if you are interested in the "ECOHIIKI" project, please feel free to apply.

Tell us your passion for making things.

― We are looking for applications from people such as these ―

・ We can't make many items because each one is handmade, but we want to convey our passion.

・ Our products might be too niche and appeal to a select few, but we are meticulous about our craftsmanship.

・ We don't have inventory in our warehouse because we produce on demand, but we have an abundance of passion.

・ We have a lot of passion and commitment, but we don't know how to express it. etc.

"ECOHIIKI" Overview

【Pass The Baton Market Vol. 22 Event Overview】

Date & Time: October 10 (Sat) - 11 (Sun), 2026, 11:00 - 19:00 (Closes at 18:00 on the final day)

Location: KOKUYO Tokyo Shinagawa Office "THE CAMPUS" (Indoor/Outdoor) Address: 1-8-35 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Admission Fee Options: [Standard Admission Fee] 500 yen [Support Admission Fee] 800 yen, 1000 yen *Free for elementary school students and younger

URL: https://market.pass-the-baton.com/

Organizer: PASS THE BATON Co-organizer: KOKUYO Co., Ltd.

Operator: SMILES Co., Ltd.

【Application Requirements】

Must be able to attend the venue for three days, including the setup day.

Must have a passion to convey about their products or services.

Must not have exhibited at PASS THE BATON MARKET before.

【Selection Schedule】

~ July 19 (Sun) 19:00: Application Deadline

~ July 31 (Fri): Interviews ■ ~ August 10 (Mon): Final Results Notification

For details regarding applications, please visit the ECOHIIKI page below. Applications can also be made through this page.

https://market.pass-the-baton.com/topics/2783/

ECOHIIKI Project: Comments from Previous Exhibitors

Here are some comments from exhibitors who participated in the ECOHIIKI project at PASS THE BATON Vol. 19.

Yoshimi Kawabuchi, Designer, ICHIRIN

The ECOHIIKI project provided a valuable opportunity to introduce our natural stone jewelry themed "Drops of Light" to new customers, showcasing the unique character of each stone and the charm of handmade craftsmanship. I am delighted that many people were able to see the one-of-a-kind jewelry, polished one by one by artisans in Yamanashi, and that SMILES carefully conveyed the background of the creators. Furthermore, through our connection with Horikin箔株式会社, who exhibited next to us, a new collaborative project in Kyoto is underway. I look forward to seeing who will be "eco-hiiki-ed" next! ・ Brand Site: https://ichirintokyo.theshop.jp/ ・ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichirin_jewelry

Miho Katsuragawa, Representative, BABYBOX Project

In the spirit of "EKOHIIKI," we received generous "special treatment" from the meeting stage through to the event day. Their objective perspective in promoting the BABYBOX Project allowed customers to appreciate the high quality and value of products made in textile regions. Many customers returned to our booth after touring the venue, and the "EKOHIIKI" project itself, with its communication power and credibility, helped foster connections with customers. It was a fulfilling two days, greatly inspired by the staff's attitude of creating the event while enjoying themselves more than anyone else.

・ Brand Site: https://hamamatsu-babybox.com/ ・ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babybox_project.hamamatsu

Yuko Hori, Chief, and Wakana Horie, Staff, Gold Decoration Laboratory (within Horikin Powdered Metal Co., Ltd.)

Congratulations on the upcoming ECOHIIKI vol.2!

At that time, we had just formed a team to spread the joy of transforming objects with gold decoration, and I remember being so excited about such a wonderful opportunity! Every word of encouragement we received at the venue was a treasure, and it was truly joyful when we were able to undertake work we had wanted to do thanks to the connections made. We are grateful for the special first step you gave us. We are very much looking forward to seeing what kind of ECOHIIKI will be showcased this year!

・ Brand Site: https://www.horikin.co.jp/ ・ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksks_kyoto

About SMILES Co., Ltd.

SMILES Co., Ltd. is a company that engages in "real business and production/consulting." Starting with the soup specialty store "Soup Stock Tokyo," we have developed businesses that propose new ways of living, such as the tie specialty store "giraffe" and "PASS THE BATON," without being bound by conventional ideas or industry frameworks. In recent years, as the value consulting and production firm "Smiles: PROJECT & COMPANY," we have utilized our own business knowledge to create "value that didn't exist" by having all functions from business development, design, PR, operation coordination, space design, to web construction, and by leveraging "N=1" experiences and sensibilities.

▶ Smiles: Official Website http://www.smiles.co.jp/ ▶ Smiles: Creative Archives https://creative.smiles.co.jp/