Hankyu Hanshin Properties Invited as First International Organization to U.S. Regional Revitalization Conference 'MAIN STREET NOW 2026'
Hankyu Hanshin Properties was invited to the 'MAIN STREET NOW 2026' conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, becoming the first organization outside the U.S. to attend. They presented their 'Umeda Vision' for transforming Osaka Umeda into an international exchange hub, fostering Japan-U.S. collaboration in urban development.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 00:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 16:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 00:35 (8h 3m after Collected)
Hankyu Hanshin Properties Co., Ltd. announced that it was invited as the first organization from outside the United States to the conference 'MAIN STREET NOW (MSN)' hosted by 'MAIN STREET AMERICA (MSA),' a leading U.S. downtown revitalization support organization. The event took place from April 13 (Monday) to 15 (Wednesday) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During the conference, the company held a breakout session regarding the Osaka Umeda area.
In 2022, the Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group announced the 'Umeda Vision,' a concept to enhance the value of the Osaka Umeda area. The group is working towards making the area an 'International Exchange Hub'—a city where people from all over the world want to work and visit. The exchange began last year when MSA was invited to the international forum program 'Regional Revitalization Koshien 2025' held in Osaka Umeda. The initiatives under the Umeda Vision were highly evaluated, leading to this invitation as part of international exchange.
The company aims to realize an 'International Exchange Hub' by deepening exchanges with various domestic and international partners and promoting branding.
■ Overview of MSA and MSN
'MSA' is a collective term for a network related to downtown revitalization across the U.S., promoted for over 40 years by the 'National Main Street Center.' 'MSN' is an annual convention where revitalized areas supported by MSA gather, with about 1,900 participants from 1,300 regions across the U.S. The program includes over 100 sessions, awards for outstanding regions, receptions, networking, and excursion tours to actual revitalization sites.
■ Overview of the Umeda Area Breakout Session
The session aimed to improve the presence of 'Osaka Umeda' as a global international city through the presentation of urban development based on the Umeda Vision and exchanges with stakeholders involved in Japanese and American urban development.
■ Comments from Stakeholders
Matt Wagner, Chief Innovation Officer, Main Street America: 'We are very pleased to have held the session on Osaka Umeda. The urban development of Osaka Umeda is world-class, and I strongly felt its potential as an international exchange hub.'
Motohiro Adachi, Vice President of Wakayama University: 'It is a great honor to be invited to such an international session from an academic standpoint. The transformation of Osaka Umeda into an international exchange hub is an important theme for regional revitalization in Japan.'
William E. Grayson, Former Ambassador for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka/Kansai: 'As the former ambassador, I am delighted that the Expo is helping to strengthen the ties between Japanese and U.S. regional organizations. I look forward to further development of international exchange.'
In 2022, the Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group announced the 'Umeda Vision,' a concept to enhance the value of the Osaka Umeda area. The group is working towards making the area an 'International Exchange Hub'—a city where people from all over the world want to work and visit. The exchange began last year when MSA was invited to the international forum program 'Regional Revitalization Koshien 2025' held in Osaka Umeda. The initiatives under the Umeda Vision were highly evaluated, leading to this invitation as part of international exchange.
The company aims to realize an 'International Exchange Hub' by deepening exchanges with various domestic and international partners and promoting branding.
■ Overview of MSA and MSN
'MSA' is a collective term for a network related to downtown revitalization across the U.S., promoted for over 40 years by the 'National Main Street Center.' 'MSN' is an annual convention where revitalized areas supported by MSA gather, with about 1,900 participants from 1,300 regions across the U.S. The program includes over 100 sessions, awards for outstanding regions, receptions, networking, and excursion tours to actual revitalization sites.
■ Overview of the Umeda Area Breakout Session
The session aimed to improve the presence of 'Osaka Umeda' as a global international city through the presentation of urban development based on the Umeda Vision and exchanges with stakeholders involved in Japanese and American urban development.
■ Comments from Stakeholders
Matt Wagner, Chief Innovation Officer, Main Street America: 'We are very pleased to have held the session on Osaka Umeda. The urban development of Osaka Umeda is world-class, and I strongly felt its potential as an international exchange hub.'
Motohiro Adachi, Vice President of Wakayama University: 'It is a great honor to be invited to such an international session from an academic standpoint. The transformation of Osaka Umeda into an international exchange hub is an important theme for regional revitalization in Japan.'
William E. Grayson, Former Ambassador for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka/Kansai: 'As the former ambassador, I am delighted that the Expo is helping to strengthen the ties between Japanese and U.S. regional organizations. I look forward to further development of international exchange.'