Rapidly Growing Gym 'STREAM' Expands to Karuizawa for the First Time in Nagano, Creating a Hub for New Business Creation Targeting Executives

From Kanto and Kansai to Shinshu — A rapidly growing gym with 25 branches in 5 years enters Karuizawa.

STREAM, a personal gym operated by RIPPLE Inc. (Headquarters: Machida, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ozora Yoshikawa), opened its new branch, STREAM Karuizawa, in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on May 15, 2026. This marks STREAM's first expansion into the Shinshu region after establishing 25 directly managed branches, primarily in the Kanto area.

Previously, STREAM focused on locations integrated into daily commuter routes, gaining support mainly from fitness beginners and weight-loss seekers. However, the Karuizawa branch has been established with a different strategic focus.

■ A Gym Executives Want to Attend in the Town They Want to Live In

Karuizawa is transitioning from a seasonal summer resort into a residential town. While Nagano Prefecture overall faces population decline, Karuizawa's population has increased by about 800 people over the past six years since 2019, exceeding 21,000 in 2025. This growth is driven by remote workers utilizing the one-hour Shinkansen connection to Tokyo, as well as families seeking unique educational environments. It is becoming a residential area for young business executives and families.

■ External Interaction Fosters Talent to Drive Business and Enterprise Growth

STREAM is evolving from a training facility into a hub where people grow and new challenges are born. Karuizawa is home to many executives with diverse backgrounds. Through daily interaction during training, young staff members can learn from the perspectives and decision-making skills of these business leaders, broadening their horizons as future entrepreneurs. STREAM anticipates synergistic growth and the creation of new business initiatives from this environment. Trainers act as fitness coaches inside the gym and respect members as life mentors.

The trend of 'co-creation,' where companies and customers generate value together, is spreading across industries. In Karuizawa, STREAM focuses on building a hub that nurtures new ideas starting from personal growth. This concept builds on RIPPLE's track record. The company has already pushed beyond the boundaries of traditional fitness by launching its first internal venture, the culture cafe 'SOUND of STREAM' in Sagamihara and Fuchinobe. The Karuizawa branch represents a new step in executing this approach in a gathering place for business leaders.

■ A Young Star in His Second Year Entrusted with the New Step

Yuto Ishikawa was appointed as the manager of the Karuizawa branch. He joined the company as a part-time worker in September 2024 and became a full-time employee in April 2025. Within just six months, he rose to the manager class under company regulations. At his previous post in the Tachikawa branch, memberships surged immediately after he took charge. He successfully managed the high demand alongside his peers even when trainer recruitment could not keep up.

CEO Yoshikawa dispatched Ishikawa to Karuizawa not just as a branch manager, but as a pioneer for new business development. Yoshikawa recognized Ishikawa as an honest, supportive team leader who could build strong relationships of trust with business executives. Daily interaction with executive members in Karuizawa provides Ishikawa with an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial insights and decision-making skills. The company believes that by supporting members as a training expert while growing personally, Ishikawa will help seed STREAM's next big challenge.

■ Why New Business Can Be Entrusted to Young Talent

Entrusting a new project in an unfamiliar region to a relatively new employee is made possible by STREAM's organizational culture. CEO Yoshikawa is committed to opening the company's financial figures to all employees. 'Many small and medium-sized enterprises stop growing once sales exceed 100 million yen because owners start spending resources on non-business expenses. There is no growth without prioritizing employees. That is why we share our financials, aiming to continuously provide experiences that are more interesting and rewarding than starting an independent business.' Based on this philosophy, STREAM has established a system where young employees take on responsibility and authority early, contributing to the growth of 25 branches within five years.

■ CEO Comment (Ozora Yoshikawa, Representative Director of RIPPLE Inc.)

'We are pleased to announce the opening of our STREAM branch in the Karuizawa area. Since our founding, we have operated under the philosophy of "proving human potential," supporting each customer individually. Karuizawa is one of Japan's leading resorts, but it is also a place where people who value their daily lives gather.'