NTT West Appoints Two New "Regional Revitalization Advisors" to Accelerate Regional Revitalization

NTT West Corporation (President: Ryota Kitamura, hereinafter NTT West) and Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab Inc. (Director: Hidenori Kinoue, hereinafter Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab) are pleased to announce that two new experts will join as Regional Revitalization Advisors, effective April 1, 2026. NTT West and the Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab are engaged in implementing regional revitalization through co-creation with local governments, universities, and regional companies, utilizing human and intellectual assets not limited to ICT to address the diverse challenges faced by regions. With the appointment of these new advisors, they will further deepen their ongoing initiatives. (Reference) Regional Revitalization Advisor Introduction Page (Official Website of Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab): https://codips.jp/advisors/ 1. New Advisor Appointments (Effective April 1, 2026) General Incorporated Association Japan Living Lab Network Representative Director, Tokyo City University, Faculty of Urban Life Studies, Associate Professor, Mr. Atsunobu Kimura

Living Lab, Well-being Policy Design, Regional Revitalization, Design Studies, Information Science After engaging in R&D of information science and design studies and business development within the NTT group at NTT laboratories, he felt the limitations of research and business development confined within companies. He then launched research and practical projects for social design/living labs that co-create with stakeholders and regions. Through joint experiment projects with Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and the establishment of regional intermediate support organizations, he was involved in and participated in the establishment of the Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab in 2021. In 2023, he established the General Incorporated Association Japan Living Lab Network*1 and became its representative director. From 2026, he will be an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Urban Life Studies, Tokyo City University, and head of the Social Design Research Lab. His books include "Hajimete no Living Lab" (NTT Publishing | 2025) and "Vision of Information and Communication Technology Life in 2030" (NTT Publishing | 2015). *1 https://jnoll.org/ Based on his experience in Omuta City and joint research with Denmark and Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, he believes that the key to regional revitalization and local government policy is to create a situation where local people can proactively co-create beyond their existing roles. He aims to realize regional and town development that is "our own business" by fully leveraging the Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab, which has a mission to engage with the region and society in the long term, without being bound by short-term business or results. Office Yoshida Representative, Consultant for Disabled Employment, Mr. Shuichi Yoshida

Promotion of employment for persons with disabilities, support for retention. After working at three special subsidiary companies (NTT Clarty, Pasona Heartful, and NTT West Lucent (Representative Director)), he became independent. Currently, as the representative of "Office Yoshida," he is involved in supporting employment and career advancement for persons with disabilities. He believes that regional revitalization is closely related to creating an environment where diverse people can demonstrate their respective strengths. He hopes to support the creation of communities where everyone can participate, utilizing his practical knowledge, within the initiatives of the Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab. 2. Future Outlook Moving forward, NTT West and the Regional Revitalization Co-design Lab will continue to promote problem-solving and value creation tailored to local needs by leveraging the expertise of Regional Revitalization Advisors, further deepening collaboration both within and outside the NTT West Group, and working together with experts across various fields and positions. Information described in this news release is current as of the date of announcement. Please be aware that this information may be subject to change.