Former Hanshin Tigers Manager Akihiro Yano to Speak at "Management Strategy Seminar to Connect to the Next Generation" on August 4th in Kobe, Focusing on the Current State and Future of Business Succession

Management Strategy Seminar to Connect to the Next Generation

M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Hashiba, hereinafter "the Company") will participate as a co-organizer in the "Sun TV Business Matching Presents Management Strategy Seminar to Connect to the Next Generation - The Current State and Future of Business Succession" hosted by Sun Television Co., Ltd. The seminar will be held on August 4, 2026, at Anchor Kobe in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

This seminar will feature Akihiro Yano, former manager of the Hanshin Tigers, as a special guest, who will deliver a keynote talk session on the theme of "Leader's Decisions and Building an Organization to Connect to the Next Generation." In the second part, Ryo Hashiba, Representative Director of M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd., will give a lecture on the theme of "Key Management Perspectives for Business Growth."

Amidst increasingly complex challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises, such as a lack of successors, labor shortages, and rapid changes in the business environment, how to envision the future of a company and pass it on to the next generation is a crucial topic for many business owners. This seminar will provide practical insights into decision-making as a leader, organizational development, and the concept of business succession and M&A as growth strategies.

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Background of the Event

In Japan's small and medium-sized enterprises, business succession is not merely preparation for retirement but is gaining attention as a management strategy to pass on the company's technology, employment, and aspirations to the next generation, thereby achieving further growth.

On the other hand, due to factors such as a lack of successors, labor shortages, and changes in the business environment, many business owners are struggling with questions like "How should we envision the future of our company?" and "What options are available for our company?"

Therefore, as part of the Sun TV Business Matching initiative, this seminar aims to provide a platform for business owners, particularly those in the Hyogo and Osaka prefectures, to consider business succession and growth strategies.

Event Outline

Event Name: Sun TV Business Matching Presents Management Strategy Seminar to Connect to the Next Generation - The Current State and Future of Business Succession Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Time: Morning Session 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Reception opens 9:45 AM) / Afternoon Session 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Reception opens 1:45 PM) Venue: Anchor Kobe Address: 15F, Kobe Sannomiya Hankyu Building, 4-2-1 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0001 Access: Directly connected to Sannomiya Station on the Hankyu Railway Target Audience: Business owners and individuals interested in business succession and growth strategies Participation Fee: Free Application Method: Advance registration required Capacity: 50 people per session (morning and afternoon) Application Deadline: Thursday, July 16, 2026 Organizer: Sun Television Co., Ltd. Co-organizer: M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd.

*If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity, a lottery will be held. *All applicants will be notified of the lottery results via email around Tuesday, July 21, 2026. *Those who are not selected will receive a URL for the online live stream. *Applicants may receive future announcements from M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd.

Part 1: Akihiro Yano Keynote Talk Session "Leader's Decisions and Building an Organization to Connect to the Next Generation"

In the first part, Akihiro Yano, former manager of the Hanshin Tigers, will be a special guest for a keynote talk session. Based on his experience facing the team as a player and manager, he will discuss the leader's attitude and decision-making necessary to inherit and lead an organization to growth, and how to build an organization that connects to the next generation.

Akihiko Yuasa, an announcer for Sun TV, will serve as MC, and the session will proceed in a talk session format, familiar from "Sun TV Box Seat."

*As a special benefit for on-site attendees, a prize drawing for autographed baseballs by Mr. Yano is planned.

Part 2: Key Management Perspectives for Business Growth

In the second part, Ryo Hashiba, Representative Director of M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd., will give a lecture on the theme of "Key Management Perspectives for Business Growth." Drawing on his experience advising on over several hundred business succession cases, he will explain the real-world management challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and the approach to utilizing business succession and M&A as growth strategies, with case examples.

*On-site attendees will receive a research report on improving corporate value.

Part 3: Individual Consultation Session

In the third part, an individual consultation session will be held for on-site attendees who wish to participate.

Advisors from M&A Royal Advisory will provide individual consultations on concerns regarding business succession, growth strategies, and improving corporate value.

Please note that consultation slots on the day are limited and may close once capacity is reached. If you are unable to secure a slot on the day, we will arrange another opportunity for consultation at a later date.

Speaker Profiles

Akihiro Yano (Former Manager, Hanshin Tigers)

Born in Osaka Prefecture. After attending Sakuramiya High School and Tohoku Fukushi University, he joined the Chunichi Dragons in the second round of the 1990 draft. After transferring to the Hanshin Tigers in 1997, he wore the number 39 and led the team as their starting catcher. He made significant contributions to the league championships in 2003 and 2005, and received multiple Best Nine and Golden Glove awards. After retiring as a player, he worked as a baseball commentator and coach, achieving the Farm Japan Championship as the Hanshin Tigers' farm team manager in 2018. He served as the first-team manager from 2019 to 2022, leading the team to an A-class finish for four consecutive years.

Ryo Hashiba (Representative Director, M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd.)

After graduating from university, he joined The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. (now MUFG Bank, Ltd.), where he engaged in corporate sales for mid-sized and small/medium-sized enterprises. In 2017, he joined M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd., a major M&A brokerage firm, where he successfully facilitated numerous M&A deals for mid-sized and small/medium-sized enterprises aiming for business succession and strategic growth. He achieved top-class results in terms of deal count and performance at the company, earning a promotion to department manager in the shortest time since joining. In 2021, he became independent and established M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd. to solve Japan's business succession issues.

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M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd.

M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd.

M&A Royal Advisory is an M&A brokerage firm founded in 2021. In its fifth year of operation, it is a group of business succession professionals with 256 employees (as of June 1, 2026). It features a specialized division of labor system with experts in each process, including the Corporate Information Department responsible for advisory services to selling companies, the Partnership Support Department handling buying companies, and the Corporate Advisory Department composed of accountants and tax specialists. Royal Advisory provides business succession support nationwide, regardless of industry or region, and has earned high praise for the quality of its services through specialization and its matching network.

Company Name: M&A Royal Advisory Co., Ltd. Location: 20F, Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building, 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: Ryo Hashiba, Representative Director Established: November 30, 2021 Business Activities: M&A brokerage, business succession support Company HP: https://ma-la.co.jp/

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