International Co-Owners from 12 Countries Support and Stay at Sado's Cultural Heritage Site, the Hojo Family House

Planet Labs Inc. (Planet Labs), a spin-off from Gaiax Inc. and Japan's first company utilizing a corporate DAO model to support the preservation of historic buildings and fund management, hosted a two-day "Hojo Stayover" event in late May 2026 at the Hojo Family House in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture—a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and Registered Tangible Cultural Property—gathering around 20 domestic and international co-owners.

This project aims to collectively own the storehouses of the Hojo Family House, a physician’s household lineage tracing back approximately 350 years to the Edo period, with global supporters and local residents, and to regenerate them as lodging and experiential facilities. This press release shares the authentic voices of overseas owners who traveled across the sea to visit Sado, explaining why they chose to invest in Japan’s regional cultural heritage.

From "Consumptive Tourism" to "Co-Creative Preservation": Raw Voices from International Co-Owners

The co-owners (investors) who visited Sado came from Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other regions. Far from being mere tourists, they actively participated as stakeholders, joining guided tours by the Hojo family and architects, engaging in wild herb experience workshops, and holding passionate discussions in a circle about future architectural and experiential plans.

"This isn’t an investment—it’s money for friends who protect culture." (Wesley, Hong Kong, architect)

Sado is a special place where life slows down. I see this investment not as a financial return, but as contributing funds alongside friends who are committed to preserving culture. Japan excels at absorbing foreign influences and transforming them into unique cultural expressions. At a time when so much is happening globally, I believe the world can learn essential lessons from this Japanese approach.

"I hope the traces of family life, absent in new constructions, are preserved as they are." (Vanessa, Singapore)

I believe the design reflecting close ties to agriculture and old household appliances should remain, as they reflect the lifestyle experienced by the family in each era. When we wish to return to a life closer to nature, we don’t need to go far into the distant past—preserving the traces of lifestyles experienced by our parents and grandparents is crucial.

"I was deeply moved by how the ancient history remains intact." (Jefferson, Philippines)

In our country, due to colonial history, very few old things remain. That’s why it was a wonderful experience to feel this ancient history directly through the Hojo Family House in Japan. Learning about wild herbs around us and being immersed in nature, feeling where things come from, was incredibly comforting.

The Hojo Family’s Realization: "They Were the Ones Who Truly Wanted to Preserve Its Authentic Value"

Norimasa Hojo, younger brother of the 11th head of the Hojo family

We had almost given up on this building, resigned to its gradual decay. What surprised me in conversations with investors was their stronger desire than ours to preserve the authentic historical value. I realized deeply that this is something we must also learn. Standing before the household shrine, I felt our ancestors must surely be pleased that so many people gathered to seriously discuss the future of the Hojo Family House—those were two unforgettable days.

Latest Investment Status of the Hojo Family House Project (as of May 2026)

The project "Hojo Family House (PlanetDAO003)" began fundraising on September 11, 2025, and is currently entering the design and planning phase while continuing to accept investments. The investment status as of May 2026 is as follows:

Funding Achievement Rate: 84.3% (ratio of shares issued to target)

Investor Nationality Breakdown: 12 countries worldwide

Japan: 22 / Singapore: 8 / Taiwan: 8 / USA: 5 / Hong Kong: 5 / UK: 3 / Canada: 3 / Philippines: 3 / Thailand: 2 / Germany: 2 / Egypt: 1 / Australia: 1

Total Shares Issued: 34,325 shares (¥1,000 per share / minimum investment: ¥400,000)

Number of Investors: 63 (co-ownership by individual investors)

Fundraising Period: January 22, 2026 – July 22, 2026 (Phase II) / Share Issuance Date: July 29, 2026

The investment targets three storehouses of the Hojo Family House (rice storehouse, miso storehouse, and household goods storehouse), which will be renovated and used as lodging facilities and spaces for experiential and cultural exchange.

Expansion of the PlanetDAO Initiative

The Hojo Family House is the third property managed by PlanetDAO. Overall, PlanetDAO has attracted co-owners from 23 countries worldwide, participating in the preservation and revitalization of historic buildings across Japan. In April 2026, these efforts were recognized with the Grand Prix in the Regional Resources category at the "Japan Tourism NFT Awards 2025."

[Current PlanetDAO Properties]

PlanetDAO001: 170-year-old temple (Nachikatsuura)

PlanetDAO002: Traditional farmhouse surrounded by bamboo forest (Hayama)

PlanetDAO003: Hojo Family House (current project / fundraising ongoing) (Sado)

PlanetDAO004: Former Hoko-ji Temple (Nachikatsuura)

Hojo Family House Project Page: https://planetdao.world/ja/properties/hojo-heritage-jp/

Overview of Planet Labs Inc. (Planet Labs) Established: November 2023

Representative: CEO Kaki Nishimura

Headquarters: 2-5-3 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Business: Providing frameworks for collective ownership of historic buildings

Parent Company: Gaiax Inc. (Nagoya Stock Exchange Nex, Code: 3775)

URL: https://planetdao.world

Overview of Gaiax Inc.

Established: March 1999

CEO: Yuji Ueda

Headquarters: 2-5-3 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Business: Social media services, Web3/DAO initiatives, incubation

URL: https://www.gaiax.co.jp/

[Important Notice]

This press release by Gaiax Inc. is intended solely to introduce the project overview and does not constitute an invitation or solicitation to invest in this project.