Hiroko Kano, CEO of KIGURUMI.BIZ, Receives the 'Miyazaki Business Club Award' as a Pioneer in Advancing Women's Leadership in Regional Japan

Hiroko Kano, Representative Director of KIGURUMI.BIZ Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niimi, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture; CEO: Hiroko Kano; hereinafter “KIGURUMI.BIZ”), received the 'Miyazaki Business Club Award' at the commemorative ceremony of the Miyazaki Business Club on June 12, 2026, marking its 70th anniversary.

The award ceremony, held at Miyazaki Kanko Hotel, was featured on MRT Miyazaki Broadcasting’s news program, generating significant attention across various sectors.

KIGURUMI.BIZ will use this recognition as an opportunity to further accelerate the creation of a workplace where all employees—especially women—can thrive, and to intensify its mission of spreading character culture from Miyazaki to the world.

What is the 'Miyazaki Business Club Award'? Background and Key Evaluation Points

The Miyazaki Business Club is an organization composed of business leaders from around Miyazaki City, dedicated to cross-industry exchange and management research. Founded in 1956, it celebrates its 70th anniversary this year as a pillar of the local business community.

### About the 'Miyazaki Business Club Award'

This award was established to honor outstanding business leaders who have made significant contributions to the local community. The organizing committee particularly highlighted the following three achievements:

#### Public Leadership in the Region

CEO Hiroko Kano served as Co-Chair of the 'Miyazaki Women's Empowerment Promotion Council' for ten years, actively supporting initiatives to advance women's participation across the region.

Reference: [KIGURUMI.BIZ] Hiroko Kano, Representative Director, Receives Miyazaki Prefecture's 'Award for Contributions to Gender Equality'

#### Creating a Fulfilling Workplace Environment

In the manufacturing of costumes and character culture, Kano holds the strong belief that 'happy mascots can only come from a happy factory.' She has pursued a work environment where all staff can work with energy and pride, contributing to the realization of a gender-equal society.

#### From Miyazaki to the World: Leading Regional Enterprises Through Global Expansion

In recent years, KIGURUMI.BIZ has established overseas bases in the U.S. and Taiwan. After signing a partnership agreement with a Thai company, it launched a joint new venture, continuously showcasing the power of character culture and creativity across borders.

Reference: KIGURUMI.BIZ Signs Partnership Agreement with Thailand’s BALLOON ART Co., Ltd.! Characters Celebrate at JAPAN EXPO THAILAND!

Initiatives and Achievements Toward a 'Happy Mascot Factory'

At KIGURUMI.BIZ, 90% of staff are women. The company aims to create a safe, secure, and prideful workplace by promoting flexible work styles, establishing training programs, upgrading evaluation systems, and improving wages and retirement benefits. It strives to be a workplace where employees never have to give up working, by collectively supporting personal circumstances such as childcare and caregiving.

### Workplace Environment and Systems

- Fully implemented two-day weekends, 122 annual holidays - Paid leave, maternity/paternity, childcare, and caregiving leave available - Refresh leave (two-week paid leave every five years of service) - Commitment to 'zero overtime' (Fridays designated as 'No-Overtime Days')

### Achievements

- Over 90% of staff are women - Paid leave utilization rate exceeds 80% - Overtime is nearly zero - Operating profit exceeds 200% year-on-year

Vision: Connecting Craftsmanship and Vital Skills to the Future Through Digital Technology and International Collaboration

Currently, KIGURUMI.BIZ requires an average of about six months from order to delivery of mascot suits. To respond more swiftly to growing demand, the company is working to improve manufacturing environments and reduce lead times through the integration of 'artisan craftsmanship with digital technology (DX)' and 'international collaboration'.

In February last year, KIGURUMI.BIZ signed a partnership agreement with Thailand’s BALLOON ART Co., Ltd. Through mutual exchange of technology and talent, leveraging each other’s strengths, the joint new venture 'BiZart' in spatial art has been launched. Moving forward, the company will continue to prioritize the happiness of its employees while delivering smiles worldwide through character culture.

Staff from Thailand’s BALLOON ART Co., Ltd. visit Japan for exchange. Photo taken at KIGURUMI.BIZ headquarters with local staff.

About KIGURUMI.BIZ

KIGURUMI.BIZ Co., Ltd. is a creative collective that handcrafts mascot suits under the mission of 'Connecting the World Through Characters.' Starting from a single illustration, the company brings to life full-scale, moving character costumes—recreating story worlds to provide innovative, high-value solutions for marketing and promotional challenges faced by corporations, local governments, museums, hospitals, and other clients. Beyond mascot suits, it also handles character illustration, display production, and more. At KIGURUMI.BIZ, the story behind each character is valued above all.

### Company Overview of KIGURUMI.BIZ

- Company Name: KIGURUMI.BIZ Co., Ltd. - Representative: Representative Director Hiroko Kano - URL: https://kigurumi.biz - English URL: https://kigurumi.biz/en - Headquarters & Factory: 1-47 Tonden Higashi, Niimi, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan - Branch Offices: - Tokyo Office: 9F, Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building, 1-6-5 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, inside WeWork - Kumamoto Branch: 7F, Bipuresu Kumamoto Nichinichi Kaikan, 2-17 Kamito-dori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture - Taiwan Liaison Office: 2F, No. 70, Sanshui Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City 10851, Taiwan - U.S. Branch: 3350 Scott Blvd. Suite 5502, Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA - c/o B-Bridge International, Inc. - Business Activities: Original mascot suit production (over 4,000 units domestically, exported to over 15 countries), character sculpture production, character design, and promotional planning support - Awards: - 2013: Miyazaki Prefecture 'Women's Challenge Award' - 2016: Kyushu Future Award 'Women's Regional Contribution Award' - 2018: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry 'Top 100 Diverse Management Companies' - 2023: Miyazaki Kita Rotary Club 'Vocational Service Award' - 2025: Miyazaki Prefecture 'Award for Contributions to Gender Equality' - 2026: Miyazaki Business Club 'Miyazaki Business Club Award' - Certifications: - 'Hinata no Kotomi' – Certified as a comfortable workplace - WEConnect International Certified Business (First in Japan) - Agreements: - Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement for Art-Based Community Development (Miyazaki Koyu Foundation) - Exchange Agreement on Character Business between Japan and Taiwan (Taiwan Hayashi Office) - Exchange Agreement on Internationalization of the Creative Industry (Thailand Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion and 6 other organizations) - MOU for Technical Exchange and Cooperation (with Thailand's BALLOON ART Co., Ltd.) - Publications: 'The Happy Mascot Factory' (2019, Nikkei Publishing, Hiroko Kano)

### For Inquiries

- KIGURUMI.BIZ Co., Ltd. - Email: info@kigurumi.biz - Tel: +81-983-32-9983 - Business Hours: 9:00–17:00 (Closed on weekends and holidays)