CRENEO and ZenGroup Partner to Bring Japan’s Regional Craftsmanship to Global Markets Through XR and Cross-Border E-Commerce

CRENEO Inc. (headquarters: Echizen, Fukui Prefecture), which provides branding support for regional businesses, has begun a partnership with ZenGroup Inc. (headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka), a company with sales channels in 175 countries and regions worldwide, as of Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The partnership aims to deliver the essential value of Japan’s regionally rooted craftsmanship to consumers around the world as an experience that reshapes their values, combining CRENEO’s ability to “re-edit” stories and meaning with ZenGroup’s global sales channels. Partnership Philosophy: Elevating Japanese Craftsmanship Into Luxury For CRENEO, luxury does not simply mean expensive goods. It refers to something that re-edits the essential value embedded in craftsmanship through its background, meaning, aesthetics, and experience, thereby renewing the values of those who receive it. Japan’s regions are home to many forms of craftsmanship with the power to captivate the world. However, due to insufficient communication structures, their true value has not been fully conveyed globally. Through this partnership, CRENEO will serve as the “entrance” by re-editing the diverse value of Japanese craftsmanship, while ZenGroup will serve as the “exit” by connecting it to the world, creating a new market where Japanese value can be properly recognized. Support Framework: Turning Stories Into Experiences 1. Entrance: Visualizing and Re-Editing Craftsmanship Through XR Technology (CRENEO) CRENEO will use the digital mall “MONOKATARI JAPAN” to visualize the ideas behind craftsmanship born from artisans’ handwork and local climates as immersive content. This will provide consumers with “consumption as experience,” allowing them to encounter these stories and renew their own values. 2. Exit: Immediate Expansion to 175 Countries Through a Performance-Based Model (ZenGroup) The craftsmanship re-edited by CRENEO will be delivered worldwide through the cross-border e-commerce mall “ZenPlus.” ZenGroup will handle translation, payments, and customer support in an integrated manner, enabling regional companies to challenge global markets using procedures similar to domestic sales. Comments From Representatives Riki Mukaiyoshi, sales representative of the ZenPlus cross-border e-commerce mall division at ZenGroup Inc., said ZenGroup’s mission is to “connect the diversity of the world and Japan by making cross-border e-commerce ultimately simple.” By combining the backgrounds and stories of products created by CRENEO, which has deep knowledge of Japan’s regional industries, with ZenGroup’s sales channels and promotional capabilities across 175 countries and regions, the company aims to accurately deliver regional value that has previously struggled to reach overseas audiences to fans around the world, while establishing a new cross-border e-commerce model that enables Japanese SMEs to grow sustainably. Hideomi Tanaka, President and CEO of CRENEO Inc., said that through many years of involvement in regional industries, he has witnessed the reality that excellent craftsmanship has been unable to fully convey its essence due to geographical constraints. In his view, luxury is something that renews people’s values through background and aesthetics. This initiative is a challenge to re-edit the true value of Japanese craftsmanship and build the very foundation for delivering it to the world. CRENEO will visualize value, while ZenGroup will connect it globally. Through this integrated structure, the essence of Japan will be reliably delivered to markets that were previously out of reach. Future Outlook: Market Creation Starting With MONOKATARI EXPO 2026 Going forward, the companies will accelerate initiatives that directly connect domestic and international companies, buyers, and consumers around the world, starting with “MONOKATARI EXPO 2026,” an experiential exhibition that fuses physical and XR experiences. They will carry forward the “soft legacy” born from Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and co-create a future in which Japanese craftsmanship is loved around the world beyond geographical disparities. About ZenPlus “ZenPlus” is a cross-border e-commerce mall that delivers Japanese products to the world. As of January 2026, around 5,000 stores, ranging from listed companies to small businesses, are listed on the platform. ZenPlus handles product information translation, multilingual customer support, international payments, and shipping in an integrated manner. There are no initial or monthly fees; sellers pay only a 10% commission on the sales price when a sale is made, allowing them to begin cross-border sales with a process similar to domestic sales.