Building an 'Education' Infrastructure for the Pilates Industry in Hokkaido: Cultivating 'Deliverers' through Sapporo-based International Certification

This press release is a dream shared by a business that resonates with the April Dream project, aiming to make April 1st a day filled with dreams. Empty Platform Inc. (Headquarters: Sapporo, Hokkaido; CEO: Mifuyu Watanabe) operates the private Pilates studio 'Watashi no Pilates' (Odori and Maruyama branches) and has launched an instructor training course as a certified school for the Korea-based PMA-accredited '.fonv Academy.' We support the April Dream project. This is the dream of Empty Platform Inc.

### Without 'Deliverers,' Pilates Cannot Reach People Demand for Pilates is growing annually. However, the supply of instructors is not keeping pace. In Hokkaido, options for training institutions are limited, often requiring travel to Honshu for certification. We have a hypothesis: what is needed most to deliver Pilates to society is not just the number of studios, but a system where high-quality instructors can grow and thrive within the region.

### Our Business Structure: Why We Integrate Studio Operations and Education 'Watashi no Pilates' is a private studio opened in 2023. We have designed our studio operations and education business as an integrated structure. The reason is clear: instructor training and practical instruction cannot be separated. The process of applying knowledge gained in training to real clients is essential. This is why we operate as .fonv Academy Sapporo.

### .fonv Academy Sapporo: PMA-Certified International Training .fonv Academy is a Korea-based PMA-accredited institution. Our curriculum covers anatomy, mat, props, and reformers comprehensively. Features include: 1. Integrated curriculum from anatomy to practice. 2. Open to beginners. 3. Access to international-standard education while living in Hokkaido.

### Looking Ahead: 'Social Implementation' of Pilates We position instructor training as a foundation for implementing Pilates in society. Our initiatives include: 1. Developing corporate wellness programs. 2. Optimizing customer experience using digital technology (LINE). 3. Career support for graduates to ensure sustainable growth.

### Our Dream Hokkaido covers 22% of Japan's land area. Because of its size, many cannot access Pilates. Our dream is to create a society where anyone in Hokkaido can encounter Pilates. We want to make Pilates not just a hobby, but an infrastructure that supports social health.

### Message from CEO Mifuyu Watanabe Two years ago, I shared the dream of a studio with the concept of 'loving myself more.' I have become convinced that Pilates changes the lives of not only those who receive it but also those who teach it. I want to increase the number of teachers and create an environment where they can thrive for a long time. Hokkaido is vast, but if we cultivate people, Pilates will reach everyone.