hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. Selected for '300 Soaring SMEs and Small-Scale Entrepreneurs' in GX/DX Category

hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hideyuki Kasuga) has been selected for the '300 Soaring SMEs and Small-Scale Entrepreneurs' initiative, which honors small and medium-sized enterprises demonstrating innovation in business transformation and new ventures, with high potential to contribute to regional and national economic growth. On May 29, 2026, Hideyuki Kasuga, President and CEO of the company, attended the award ceremony held at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) auditorium as an awardee.

Two Key Evaluation Points Behind the Award

The award recognized two circular economy initiatives advanced by the company:

1. Development and societal implementation of recycling technologies for PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), along with the creation of markets and circular systems, addressing concerns over the potential depletion of this critical resource.

2. Development of TRANSWOOD®, an eco-compatible material that is entirely bio-based and highly recyclable, and the ongoing construction and implementation of a circular platform centered on TRANSWOOD®.

1 About BLANC BIJOU PARIS®, the Brand of Eternal Whiteness

Realizing Resource Circulation through New Market Creation for PTFE

PTFE is an essential material in the semiconductor industry. However, its raw material, fluorite, faces potential future depletion, while most used PTFE is currently disposed of in landfills. In response, Hideyuki Kasuga has worked to establish a circular scheme for PTFE based on the concept of 'creation and regeneration'.

Recognizing the sensory value in the enduring whiteness and uniquely smooth texture of PTFE—a fluoropolymer previously unseen by general consumers—he founded the luxury consumer brand BLANC BIJOU PARIS® in Paris, France, in 2009.

By transforming PTFE into art pieces, tableware, and fine jewelry, the company opened new possibilities for a material previously limited to industrial applications, successfully creating a new consumer market where high strength is not essential.

Through approximately 10 years of joint research with Shinshu University, the company pioneered a practical material recycling technology for PTFE, becoming one of the first in the world to achieve this. It is now collaborating with raw material manufacturers and major trading companies to promote its societal implementation.

2 About the Eco-Compatible Material Brand TRANSWOOD®

An All-Bio Material Designed for 100-Year Circulation

TRANSWOOD® is an eco-compatible composite material brand developed and formulated by Dr. Hideyuki Kasuga under the concept of a 'material that circulates for 100 years.' It combines 'wood-derived materials' with 'biomass resin' produced from waste cooking oil and other sources, creating a fully bio-based, environmentally harmonious composite. Lightweight and strong, and highly recyclable, the company is advancing the development of a TRANSWOOD® platform that enables continuous circulation across applications such as tableware, furniture, home appliances, automotive interiors, and structural materials.

Additionally, the diverse textures achievable through various molding techniques and the unique sensory value they offer are key features of TRANSWOOD®. The material simultaneously reduces CO2 emissions and plastic usage, contributing to the practical implementation of a circular economy.

Profile of Hideyuki Kasuga, Founder of hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd.

Hideyuki Kasuga, born in Nagano Prefecture, holds a Ph.D. in Engineering. He is the representative of the 'hide kasuga group,' a group dedicated to advancing circular economy (CE) initiatives. He is the founder and owner of eco-compatible brands BLANC BIJOU PARIS®, hide k 1896®, and TRANSWOOD®. He leads the development of eco-compatible materials and products, as well as the establishment of circular systems, driving the societal implementation of circular economy principles. Additionally, he provides circular economy consulting services to various companies, leveraging expertise from his own brands. In education, he serves as a specially appointed professor at Shinshu University and a visiting lecturer at Waseda University, contributing to talent development. He is also the proponent of 'Reiwa Modernism®,' a new lifestyle concept blending traditional and modern elements with Japan at its core.

About the '300 Soaring SMEs and Small-Scale Entrepreneurs' Initiative

Organized by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

Source: METI website https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/05/20260528001/20260528001.html

The '300 Soaring SMEs and Small-Scale Entrepreneurs' initiative recognizes model small and medium-sized enterprises that actively pursue business transformation and new ventures in response to socioeconomic changes, with the potential to contribute significantly to regional and national economic growth.

List of 2025 '300 Soaring SMEs and Small-Scale Entrepreneurs':

https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/05/20260528001/20260528001-ar3.pdf