Hibiya-Kadan Enters Capital and Business Alliance with Plantio: Creating New Communities and Cycles in Cities through the Agricultural Experience of 'Growing, Eating, and Sharing'

Left: Hiroaki Miyajima, President & CEO of Hibiya-Kadan; Right: Takayoshi Serizawa, Representative Director & CEO of Plantio

Hibiya-Kadan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Hiroaki Miyajima) has entered into a capital and business alliance with Plantio, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Takayoshi Serizawa, hereinafter 'Plantio'), a social impact startup aiming for the democratization of agriculture and food and the social implementation of 'agri-food infrastructure' where anyone can participate anywhere. Through this alliance, both companies will create multifaceted synergies, such as 'installing agriculture' through designated management of parks, regional area management, and developing DtoC products for general consumers, thereby accelerating the realization of a circular society.

Background and Purpose of the Capital and Business Alliance

Under its corporate message, 'Adding brilliance to every tomorrow', Hibiya-Kadan, as a leading company in the floral industry, aims to realize sustainable production and distribution alongside producers nationwide, and to create well-being regional communities that satisfy both mind and body. On the other hand, Plantio is redefining sustainable agriculture and food in cities through 'grow', a platform where anyone can enjoy engaging with 'agriculture'.

The two companies agreed on a vision that goes beyond simply 'providing green spaces', aiming to create a new cycle of community and well-being in urban life by increasing the number of people who 'grow' plants. Through this partnership, we will combine the strengths of both companies to co-create new lifestyles and urban infrastructure based on 'agriculture', focusing on the following three pillars.

1. Multifaceted Area Management Centered on 'Experience' (BtoB / BtoG)
Implementing the 'installation of agriculture', which is community formation centered on farms, at various bases such as parks, commercial facilities, and office buildings where Hibiya-Kadan is contracted for spatial maintenance/management operations. We propose a new form of urban greenery where users actively participate and share the 'joy of growing', going beyond mere maintenance.

2. Product Development for the Spread of 'Lifestyles with Agriculture' (BtoC)
Rolling out Plantio's DtoC products to the consumer network Hibiya-Kadan has built over many years. In addition to 'flowers' for ornamental purposes, we propose a new lifestyle that incorporates the 'food' experience—which combines the joy of growing, eating, and sharing—into daily life.

3. Social Implementation of Sustainable Agri-Food Infrastructure
By linking the two companies, both professionals in plants, we will build social infrastructure that contributes to biodiversity conservation, improved urban resilience, and food security. By fusing technology and sensibility, we will implement a democratic form of 'agriculture' where anyone can participate, in all parts of the city.

Comments from Both Representatives

Hiroaki Miyajima, President & CEO, Hibiya-Kadan Co., Ltd.
<< Hiroaki Miyajima, President & CEO, Hibiya-Kadan Co., Ltd. >>
By adding Plantio's concept of agri-food infrastructure to the comfortable space creation that Hibiya-Kadan has pursued, urban greenery will evolve into something more active and valuable.
Setting up a system where anyone can smartly participate in agriculture and green spaces using IT and digital technology is extremely important when considering the sustainability of the industry. I am confident that together with our many customers who support us daily, we can create a new cycle in towns nationwide that fuses the culture of appreciating flowers with the joy of growing them oneself.

Takayoshi Serizawa, Representative Director & CEO, Plantio, Inc.
<< Takayoshi Serizawa, Representative Director & CEO, Plantio, Inc. >>
I am deeply honored to build such a strong partnership with Hibiya-Kadan, which has driven the culture of flowers and greenery in Japan. 'Installing agriculture' in public spaces like parks is a landscape we have always envisioned. I am convinced that by fusing Hibiya-Kadan's overwhelming network with our technology products, urban life will transform into something much more enjoyable and sustainable. I am looking forward to our future initiatives.

Kickoff at Otemachi Farm
Prior to the alliance, a networking event attended by about 80 employees of the Hibiya-Kadan Group was held at Otemachi Farm. Through dialogue at the field level, the creation of concrete synergies has already begun.

Scene of the kickoff at Otemachi Farm operated by Plantio

Information on Special Dialogue Interview Article
A dialogue interview discussing the thoughts behind this alliance and the future vision envisioned by both representatives is published on Plantio's owned media, 'grow JOURNAL'. Please take a look.

[Special Dialogue Interview] As 'Growers' Increase, People and Greenery...