Reconsidering "What is a Company" - Business Leaders, Workers, and Researchers Gather Beyond Roles for 'ZEBRAHOOD 2026' on November 27 in Home Work Village, Tokyo

Zebras and Company Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Azabu Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representatives: Yohei Azagami, Yoshitaka Tabuchi; hereinafter referred to as Z&C) and Tokyo Zebras Unite (hereinafter referred to as TZU) will host 'ZEBRAHOOD 2026,' a one-day event to consider "what a company is" and its diverse roles and values in society, on Friday, November 27, 2026, at Home Work Village in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo.

This press release announces the event date and basic information. Detailed programs, speakers, participation methods, and other information will be released sequentially in the future.

## Why reconsider "What is a company" now?

The existence of a company now encompasses multiple meanings.

It is an entity that conducts business, a foundation that supports local communities, a place where people work and live, a vessel that takes on natural capital and culture, and a vehicle for investors. The role played by Japanese corporate communities after the war has changed, and the significance of a company's existence can no longer be fully explained by a single measure like "growth" or "efficiency."

Business succession, human capital management, corporate governance, sustainability, regional revitalization, new capitalism — although the names differ, at their root is the common question: "For what purpose and for whom does a company exist?" The need to confront this question is now growing, transcending size and industry, from small and medium-sized local businesses to listed companies.

'ZEBRAHOOD 2026' is a day for people who genuinely hold such questions to gather beyond their positions and think together, looking back at the origins, history, and social roles of companies. The practices of zebra companies, which attempt to reconcile social impact and economic viability, are positioned as one of the clues.

## Positioning of this event

The movement to reconsider the nature of companies is not happening only within individual companies. It is progressing simultaneously in management, policy, finance, and research.

'ZEBRAHOOD 2026' is a place where business owners, practitioners, workers, researchers, government officials, and financial professionals who actually hold these questions gather for a day, transcending their positions.

The aim is not limited to knowledge input and networking but also to engage in direct dialogue with people who share the same concerns and to create perspectives and relationships that can be taken back to their respective fields.

## Program Structure (Planned)

This event consists of the following five elements:

- Research Book (pre-distributed)
A booklet that serves as the foundation for discussions on the day. It organizes the origins of companies, the history of their relationship with finance, labor, and the state, issues created by industry, and new forms of companies in modern times.
- Keynote & Talk Session (morning/overall)
A part where all participants share the day's discussion points. It re-examines the roles companies have played from multiple perspectives: society, citizens, administration, capital, natural culture, and knowledge.
- Workshops (afternoon/breakout sessions)
Six themes are planned to be held concurrently:
- Regional Finance
- Transition of Management
- Future of Organizations
- Next-Generation Development by Large and Medium-Sized Companies
- How to Create a Sustainable Society
- Regional Management
- Marche (all day)
A place where exhibiting companies and participants can meet directly and converse. 15-20 companies are scheduled to exhibit. Regardless of buying or selling, people from the field will stand and interact primarily through conversation.
- Closing (evening)
A closing session to reflect on the day and share thoughts among participants.

## Event Outline

Name: ZEBRAHOOD 2026
Date: Friday, November 27, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM *After 7:00 PM, a social gathering is planned.
Venue: Home Work Village
Address: 2-4-5 Ikejiri, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0001
Capacity: Approximately 300 in-person participants
Organizers: Zebras and Company Co., Ltd. / Tokyo Zebras Unite

*Participation methods and ticket information will be released later.

## Recommended for

- Small and medium-sized business owners planning business succession or next-generation management
- Management layers of large companies considering their next management core
- New business, corporate planning, and sustainability managers who want to think about their company's purpose and business model
- Entrepreneurs aiming to create businesses necessary for future society
- Workers who want to think about their work and relationship with organizations
- Researchers, government officials, and financial professionals interested in the future of companies and work styles

## Seeking Partners

This event is currently pre-recruiting the following partners:

- Marche Exhibiting Companies: Companies that can talk about their connection to society, region, and people
- Media Partners: Collaborative partners who spread the event's questions to society
- Collaborative Partners (Sponsors): ZEBR