Horizon: "We want to make cultures around the world a little richer than they are now."

Our company endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release is the dream of "Horizon Co., Ltd."

Since its founding in 1946, Horizon Co., Ltd. (https://www.horizon.co.jp/) has transformed numerous adversities into opportunities for growth. In 2026, we view our 80th anniversary as a "passing point" and aim for further evolution. With our refined technology and free ideas, we will continue to create a future where cultures around the world are a little richer than they are now.

## Background of the Dream: Continuously Transforming Adversity into Opportunities for Growth

Our origin dates back to 1946.

It lies in a small repair shop called "Taiyo Electric Research Institute" that started in Kyoto City.

The passion for manufacturing, which began with "repairing" broken radios to bring sound back to them, was refined into solid technical capabilities through the production of science experiment equipment and OEM manufacturing of precision machinery.

However, our journey has not been smooth.

"Human affairs are like a horse of the frontier fortress" (Saiwō ga Uma) — this is a saying cherished by our founder, who overcame numerous difficulties.

From the oil shock of the 1970s, the Lehman Shock of the 2000s, to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Each time we faced various global crises, we changed our perspective, transforming crises into opportunities for the next evolution. We seized adversity as an opportunity to transform into an original brand manufacturer, developing the world's first desktop binding machine, and thus overcoming any difficulty as a driving force for creating new value.

And in 2026, Horizon Co., Ltd. will celebrate its 80th anniversary. With the motto "80 years is just a passing point," we will continue to evolve without being bound by preconceived notions, aiming to make cultures around the world a little richer than they are now.

## Horizon's Initiatives: Fostering "Rich Culture" through Technology and Experience

In an era where information digitalization is accelerating, we deliberately focus on the value of "familiar paper" that appeals to the five senses, and the creativity that arises from it.

### Binding Machines are Devices that "Envelop Culture"

Printed paper, after various post-processing steps such as folding, aligning, binding, and cutting, finally becomes a single "book" and materializes as "culture" that endures through time. As the world's only manufacturer covering all five professional post-processing steps, Horizon connects special "forms" that are unique in the world, not just mere information media, to the future, playing a role in inheriting culture. By supporting the shift from an era of mass production and mass disposal to on-demand binding, where only what is needed is produced when it is needed, we create a future where culture is cherished and valued.

### Essay Contest Connecting the "Culture of Writing" to the Next Generation

The act of "writing" on paper is a precious time to ponder thoughts, survey information, and deeply confront one's inner self. At the "Horizon Essay Contest" held in Shiga Prefecture, a bookbinding experience session is held after the awards ceremony. There, children operate Horizon's large binding machines, usually used by professionals, to bind their own thoughts into a single "book." The joy of one's thoughts taking on a tangible "form" and being etched into the heart with physical weight. Through this experience, we connect the preciousness of the "culture of writing," which cannot be replaced by digital means, and the rich value of "paper books" that preserve thoughts for a long time, to the next generation.

### Enriching Daily Life by "Creating and Enjoying"

Our challenges are not limited to binding equipment.

At "HANDo KICHIJOJI" in Kichijoji, Tokyo, we offer a special experience of manually reproducing (copying) one's thoughts using "T-shirt-kun," which has been loved since its launch in 1988. This is also a "learning place" where individuals and small business owners create new value through on-demand manufacturing. Enjoying the process of moving hands and shaping things through trial and error. Through such creative time, we foster a culture that enriches daily life.
https://www.hando-horizon.com/

Furthermore, with the outdoor brand "GREBE WORKS," originating from Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, we offer rich time to "engrave moments" through dialogue with nature, using gear that applies the precision sheet metal, welding, and painting technologies cultivated in binding machine manufacturing. All of these are challenges to enrich daily life by changing the "perspective" of life and stimulating individual creativity.
https://divhorizon.base.shop/

## Future Initiatives: Smart Factory Paving the Way for New Forms of Culture

In the autumn of 2026, a new Kyoto headquarters is scheduled to be completed as a base to accelerate global services.

And in the autumn of the same year, the exhibition "Horizon Smart Factory 2026" will be held at "Horizon Innovation Park" at the Biwako Factory headquarters (Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture). Here, we will take the "FIRST TOUCH" step into a new realm: "coexistence with unmanned operations." Our aim is not merely to pursue efficiency. It is to present the vision of a rich factory where people can concentrate on more creative work through advanced automation, and where employees can feel pride and "enjoyment."

Armed with our refined and precise technology, we will continue to redefine preconceived notions and embody our dream of "enriching culture."