Iwaya Giken Begins Additional Recruitment of Co-Creators for Realization of World's First Space Tourism Flight
Iwaya Giken announced it is seeking additional co-creators—pilots, partners, and passengers—for its "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT" to achieve the world's first commercial space tourism flight using balloons. Recruitment starts on April 28, 2026, aiming to democratize space.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:39 (7 min after Collected)
Iwaya Giken Inc. (Headquarters: Ebetsu City, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Keisuke Iwaya; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") announced that it will begin additional recruitment for co-creators for its "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT" (hereinafter referred to as "the Project"), a co-creation project aimed at democratizing space, starting from April 28, 2026 (Tuesday).
The Project is a "democratization of space" initiative that aims to develop the space industry from Japan and make space accessible to everyone, by utilizing the Company's technology to realize "space tourism accessible to all" via balloons, in co-creation with partners from various industries.
WEB: https://open-universe-project.jp/
Summary of Additional Co-Creator Recruitment
Under "CALLING CO-CREATORS 2026," the Project will additionally recruit co-creators as follows, who will work together to achieve the world's first (according to the Company's research) commercial operation of "space tourism flights" and the "democratization of space."
WEB: https://open-universe-project.jp/join-us
(1) Recruitment of Pilots
We are recruiting pilots to operate the Company's self-developed high-altitude gas balloons for "space tourism flights." This is a unique position to achieve a world first with our customers.
Recruitment Period: Starts from April 28 (Tuesday)
Details: https://iwaya.biz/recruit/pilot
Flight scene with a pilot on board
(2) Recruitment of Co-Creation Partners
We are recruiting co-creation partners to create "world-first" businesses together, such as technology/product development utilizing space tourism flights, development of new services born from flight experiences, franchising to expand space tourism business overseas, and utilizing flights as a highlight for PR and campaigns.
As of April 2026, JTB Corporation and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. are participating as co-creation partner companies.
Recruitment Period: Ongoing
Details: https://open-universe-project.jp/co-creation/
(3) Recruitment of Passengers
We are recruiting passengers for "space tourism flights" scheduled to be conducted from fiscal year 2027 onwards. Details regarding recruitment conditions will be announced around August 2026.
First commercial flight vehicle "Kazabune"
Remarks:
Each recruitment has its own conditions.
Please check the recruitment page or contact the OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT secretariat for details.
About This Announcement
This announcement was made at the "SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026" Future Experience Pavilion.
This event is Asia's largest global innovation conference, held at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, Tokyo, from April 27 (Monday) to April 29 (Wednesday), 2026.
The press conference for this matter, titled "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT Calling Co-Creators 2026," was held on the second day of the event, April 28 (Tuesday), from 13:10.
WEB: https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.jp/
Company Overview
Company Name: Iwaya Giken Inc.
Representative: Representative Director Keisuke Iwaya
Location: 26-22 Oasa Nakamachi, Ebetsu City, Hokkaido
Overview: Iwaya Giken is a startup company engaged in the technology development and research of space balloons capable of reaching the stratosphere, as well as stratospheric and space-related equipment. Together with various co-creation partners, the company plans and operates the "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT" which aims to achieve the "democratization of space" through "space tourism flights" using balloons.
WEB: https://iwaya.biz/
Space Tourism Flight
Window view (image)
This is an experiential service that allows passengers to fly in the stratosphere at an altitude of 18,000 to 25,000m using the Company's self-developed high-altitude gas balloon, and enjoy a scenic tour of the blue Earth below and the space above from inside the cabin. No special training or equipment such as a spacesuit is required, allowing anyone to easily enjoy space tourism.
Currently, the Company aims to realize commercial operations carrying passengers, which would be the world's first commercial flight to the stratosphere by balloon (according to the Company's research).
List of Our Press Releases
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/88928
The Project is a "democratization of space" initiative that aims to develop the space industry from Japan and make space accessible to everyone, by utilizing the Company's technology to realize "space tourism accessible to all" via balloons, in co-creation with partners from various industries.
WEB: https://open-universe-project.jp/
Summary of Additional Co-Creator Recruitment
Under "CALLING CO-CREATORS 2026," the Project will additionally recruit co-creators as follows, who will work together to achieve the world's first (according to the Company's research) commercial operation of "space tourism flights" and the "democratization of space."
WEB: https://open-universe-project.jp/join-us
(1) Recruitment of Pilots
We are recruiting pilots to operate the Company's self-developed high-altitude gas balloons for "space tourism flights." This is a unique position to achieve a world first with our customers.
Recruitment Period: Starts from April 28 (Tuesday)
Details: https://iwaya.biz/recruit/pilot
Flight scene with a pilot on board
(2) Recruitment of Co-Creation Partners
We are recruiting co-creation partners to create "world-first" businesses together, such as technology/product development utilizing space tourism flights, development of new services born from flight experiences, franchising to expand space tourism business overseas, and utilizing flights as a highlight for PR and campaigns.
As of April 2026, JTB Corporation and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. are participating as co-creation partner companies.
Recruitment Period: Ongoing
Details: https://open-universe-project.jp/co-creation/
(3) Recruitment of Passengers
We are recruiting passengers for "space tourism flights" scheduled to be conducted from fiscal year 2027 onwards. Details regarding recruitment conditions will be announced around August 2026.
First commercial flight vehicle "Kazabune"
Remarks:
Each recruitment has its own conditions.
Please check the recruitment page or contact the OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT secretariat for details.
About This Announcement
This announcement was made at the "SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026" Future Experience Pavilion.
This event is Asia's largest global innovation conference, held at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, Tokyo, from April 27 (Monday) to April 29 (Wednesday), 2026.
The press conference for this matter, titled "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT Calling Co-Creators 2026," was held on the second day of the event, April 28 (Tuesday), from 13:10.
WEB: https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.jp/
Company Overview
Company Name: Iwaya Giken Inc.
Representative: Representative Director Keisuke Iwaya
Location: 26-22 Oasa Nakamachi, Ebetsu City, Hokkaido
Overview: Iwaya Giken is a startup company engaged in the technology development and research of space balloons capable of reaching the stratosphere, as well as stratospheric and space-related equipment. Together with various co-creation partners, the company plans and operates the "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT" which aims to achieve the "democratization of space" through "space tourism flights" using balloons.
WEB: https://iwaya.biz/
Space Tourism Flight
Window view (image)
This is an experiential service that allows passengers to fly in the stratosphere at an altitude of 18,000 to 25,000m using the Company's self-developed high-altitude gas balloon, and enjoy a scenic tour of the blue Earth below and the space above from inside the cabin. No special training or equipment such as a spacesuit is required, allowing anyone to easily enjoy space tourism.
Currently, the Company aims to realize commercial operations carrying passengers, which would be the world's first commercial flight to the stratosphere by balloon (according to the Company's research).
List of Our Press Releases
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/88928