[Misato Ugaki Appointed as MC] Office Smoking Room Signage Media 'BREAK' Launches Information Program 'BREAK TIMES' for Break Periods

News Technology Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Junki Miura) and COSODO Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Goro Yamashita), operators of the office smoking room signage media 'THE SMOKING ROOM VISION BREAK' (hereafter 'BREAK'), are pleased to announce the launch of 'BREAK TIMES,' an information program for break periods, featuring freelance announcer and actor Misato Ugaki as MC, starting Monday, June 1, 2026. The program aims to provide business professionals working in offices with new discoveries and conversations through informative content. Simultaneously, sales of tie-up menus utilizing this program will also begin.

### Misato Ugaki Appointed as MC! Launch of Information Program 'BREAK TIMES'

'BREAK' is an audio-equipped digital signage medium that focuses on the precious 'gap time' of break periods for business professionals working in city centers. Since its launch in September 2021, it is scheduled to expand to 448 facilities and 550 screens by the end of June 2026, reaching an estimated 6.4 million people monthly. Between 2024 and 2025, in addition to B2B products, advertisements from new industries such as daily goods, health-related products, and entertainment increased, resulting in a 2.8x growth in annual sales (January-December), recording historical highs.

In recent years, the Digital Out of Home (DOOH) industry has seen a trend toward 'programmatic' content, moving beyond mere ad delivery to broadcasting original content like information programs. As efforts progress to improve the user's viewing experience through content that viewers want to watch continuously, 'BREAK' will launch 'BREAK TIMES' by utilizing the production expertise gained from 'HEADLIGHT,' an information program currently being broadcast in taxi vehicles.

Misato Ugaki, who is currently active in a wide range of fields including acting, personality work, and writing, has been appointed as the program MC. She was chosen for this role because her experience as a former TBS announcer and her ability to communicate through diverse perspectives make her the ideal person to deliver a pleasant information experience. The program will deliver discoveries and insights on themes such as work, lifestyle, and latest trends during the few minutes of an office break. Tie-up menus utilizing the program will also be available.

- Program Official YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/@breaktimes_nt
- Program Official X Account: https://x.com/breaktimes_x

### Comment from Misato Ugaki

'I am Misato Ugaki, and I am honored to serve as the MC for BREAK TIMES. In our busy daily lives, I hope to make this a program that stays close to the time people finally have to catch their breath in the smoking room, and helps provide a little push for their next action. I hope everyone enjoys it.'

**Profile of Misato Ugaki:**
Left TBS in 2019 and is currently active in dramas, radio appearances, and writing. Last October, she played her first lead role in a continuous TV drama 'Dekitemo, Dekinakutemo' (TV Tokyo). She will also appear in the original game & TV drama 'AKIBA LOST' (Nippon TV) by IzanagiGames, NTV, and AX-ON, scheduled for 2026. She is a Wednesday partner for TBS Radio's 'After 6 Junction 2.'

### Media Overview of 'BREAK'

'BREAK' is a digital signage medium installed in office buildings and shared facilities, mainly in Tokyo. The main users are business professionals in their 20s to 50s working in urban offices, including many management-level and executive-level individuals who are highly sensitive to information and involved in business and purchasing decisions. Due to the characteristics of smoking rooms, users visit an average of five times a day with an average stay of about six minutes per visit, allowing for repeated contact with the same users. To aim for further growth as a medium, the logo was refreshed in March 2026.