"Press Releases are a Way to Convey Thoughts to Those Who Matter" – Creating a Society Where This Culture Spreads Throughout Japan

PR TIMES Inc. (Tokyo, Minato-ku, CEO: Takumi Yamaguchi, TSE Prime/MeS Premier: 3922, hereinafter: PR TIMES), the operator of the press release distribution service "PR TIMES," is participating in "April Dream 2026" with its "Press Release Evangelist" project.

We endorse April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release represents the dream of the "Press Release Evangelist" project (hereinafter, the Project) operated by PR TIMES.

"Democratization of PR" Nationwide. Activities with 102 Evangelists Press Release Evangelists are active PR professionals officially recognized by PR TIMES Inc., who possess a passion for, knowledge of, and experience with press releases, and who promote the effective use of press releases to those around them. Launched on "Press Release Day" (*1) in 2022, this initiative has grown into an organization of 102 individuals from across the country with diverse backgrounds. Following the certification of the fourth term of Evangelists on October 28, 2025, their base regions have expanded to all 47 prefectures. The Evangelists include PR professionals representing their regions, local government PR officers who have received the "Local Government Public Relations Award," and communication specialists with long careers at TV stations and newspapers, bringing diverse PR experience. PR TIMES, together with the Press Release Evangelists, aims to achieve the "democratization of PR" – enabling anyone to communicate valuable actions regardless of region or experience – and is actively working across Japan.

(*1)…October 28th, the anniversary of the world's first press release in 1906, has been registered as "Press Release Day" by PR TIMES and approved by the Japan Anniversary Association. It is positioned as a day to reflect on and further expand the potential and significance of press releases.

Inspiring "Someone Important" and Driving Behavioral Change In seminars and other events held by the Project, we sometimes convey that "PR is 'Love you'." We believe that the fundamental stance of PR is to demonstrate "Love you" (that you care about them) through actions when companies, organizations, and sole proprietors want to deliver information to important stakeholders such as media, customers, business partners, shareholders, and employees. The first step in conveying information to those who matter is to articulate the thoughts embedded in daily business activities and deliver them as press releases.

Many actions in the world are born from the pure desire to "solve customer problems" or "enrich people's lives." In this way, by weaving together actions born from caring for someone and their value into words that reach important stakeholders, and by disseminating them, each of these efforts creates empathy and becomes a force that moves society.

We believe that "press releases are a way to convey thoughts to those who matter." When this recognition spreads throughout Japan and becomes a culture, we aim for a society where anyone can deliver their "thoughts they want to convey" through press releases, regardless of region, company size, or experience. And, information sent with consideration for those who matter will create new behavioral changes in the recipients. We will realize such a cycle together with the Press Release Evangelists.

During the 4th Term Press Release Evangelist Announcement Event

Towards Resolving Regional Disparities in Press Release Usage Press releases are official announcements by companies, local governments, and organizations to convey their new activities, such as new products, services, or events, to the world. They serve as a source of information for the media and are an important means of advancing activities by widely reaching important stakeholders and potential customers. However, a survey conducted in fiscal year 2025 revealed that the top 5 cities where respondents answered "know specifically" when asked about the recognition of "press releases" were concentrated in urban areas: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka, and Hyogo. Conversely, the top 5 cities where respondents answered "don't know" were Iwate, Miyazaki, Wakayama, Okinawa, and Kagawa, indicating regional disparities in press release recognition (*2). The Evangelist Project addresses the issue of "insufficient awareness of press releases" or "inability to utilize them effectively" among businesses in regions where excellent activities are taking place, and continues to promote the potential of PR to businesses nationwide. In the past year, we have held a total of 87 PR and communication seminars in 32 cities across the country, not only imparting basic PR knowledge and know-how cultivated by each Evangelist but also conducting practical workshops to take the first step towards issuing press releases (data collected from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026). (*2) Survey Details: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001587.000000112.html

Seminar by Evangelist Kanri Natsume (Yamanashi Prefecture)

Seminar by Evangelists Mamiko Kajiwara and Daisuke Ohbayashi (Kagawa Prefecture)

Comments from Press Release Evangelists

Kanri Natsume (Representative Director, Fun Picking Inc. / Shizuoka Prefecture) I envision a world where the value buried in regions is correctly conveyed and the challenges of businesses create a chain reaction, as press releases become widely rooted as "things sent with consideration for someone important." The Shizuoka tea business I am involved in also has the potential for deeper expansion domestically and internationally by conveying not only its quality but also its background and philosophy, thereby generating empathy. I believe that thoughts originating from regions, when connected to the world, will lead local value to a broader reach and a new future.

Keisuke Urushibata (Representative Director, OK Junction Inc. / Representative Director, General Incorporated Association for Urban Development Research Institute / Hyogo Prefecture) When the culture of "press releases are sent with consideration for someone important" takes root in regions across the country, I believe a "warm information ecosystem (circular society)" will be formed. Previously, press releases were often perceived as "announcements for the media," but if we start imagining "someone important to whom this information should be delivered," sincerity will imbue the words with warmth. This change will rebuild a deep trust relationship between the sender and receiver, going beyond the mere exchange of information. In local communities, small, hidden challenges and traditions will be visualized as "value for someone," and each resident will begin to talk about the region's charm as their "own issue." This will revitalize the "empathy-based economy" and lead to a future filled with civic pride, where activities are praised and supported. Let's start by redefining what a "press release" is.

Megumi Hirata (Public Relations, Tameni Co., Ltd. / Tokyo) Having been involved in public relations in the matchmaking and marriage field, I often felt that the realities and sentiments of the industry were not being correctly conveyed to society. The sender's enthusiasm and the receiver's impression were misaligned – this frustration made me reconsider the importance of "how to convey" information. Even good services and sincere intentions will not be known to society if one doesn't know how to deliver them. I believe press releases are a tool to open that channel. When this culture spreads throughout Japan, people who had a voice but didn't know how to convey it will connect with society, and this will, in turn, expand the choices for others – I believe such a chain reaction will energize society. The day will come when the power to convey information is not limited to just a few people. I want to see that future through this initiative.

Shingo Nakazono (Press Release Kagoshima / Kagoshima Prefecture) When operating a web media and press release distribution site in Kagoshima, I often hear from local businesses say, "We don't have anything to send out," or "We know sending out information is important, but we don't know what to do." However, when I listen to them, they almost always express a desire to "help someone" or that they "make good things/provide good services." What's missing isn't content, but the habit of putting things into words and the continuous effort to deliver them. For press releases, it's more important to "just try writing one" than to aim for perfection. That first step of putting your thoughts into words becomes information that reaches someone important. The democratization of PR is about creating a culture that encourages that step. In all 47 prefectures, anyone, anytime, anywhere, let's take that first step.

Future Initiatives of the Evangelists Strengthening Cooperation with Regional Organizations and Business Exchange Hubs We will collaborate with organizations that serve as business exchange hubs in various regions across the country, as well as co-working spaces and other business facilities, to hold seminars and study sessions. We will expand our activity base more than ever before and create opportunities and environments to deliver the value of PR and press releases to businesses operating in local communities.

Promoting PR Seminars and Study Sessions Nationwide Leveraging our network across all 47 prefectures, we will continue to actively hold seminars and study sessions tailored to regional issues, in collaboration with local Press Release Evangelists.

【Scheduled Seminars | As of April 1, 2026】 ・April 13 (Mon) Shizuoka | J-StarX Activity Report: The Potential of Matcha and Japanese Tea Seen in Silicon Valley ~US West Coast Market Research and Overseas PR Strategy~ Speaker: Kanri Natsume ・April 10 (Mon) Online | For Chamber of Commerce Members: PR and Marketing to Expand Sales Channels and Business Partners Speaker: Chizuko Yoshimura ・April 15 (Wed) Tokyo | The Formula for Media Exposure That Attracted "That" Famous Economic Program Speaker: Megumi Hirata ・April 22 (Wed) Tokyo | Creating New "Value" Through Product Planning x PR Speakers: Yusuke Kitami, Yuko Katsumata, Momoka Masuda ・April 22 (Wed) Tokushima | "In Rural Areas, PR is the Strongest Weapon for Gaining Recognition." ~Introduction to Press Releases Based on Real Experience~ Speaker: Mamiko Kajiwara ・April 23 (Thu) Hiroshima | "Press Release" Essentials ~The First Step in Information Dissemination, Starting with One Release~ Speaker: Takafumi Yanai ・April 23 (Thu) Tokyo | Solo PR for Small Companies: How to Overcome the "1000 SNS Follower Wall" Speaker: Haruka Futagi ・May 12 (Tue) Akita | Information Dissemination Practical Seminar - The First Step to Utilizing Press Releases for Accurate Communication and Expanding Opportunities - Speaker: Izumi Kato

Seminar Details Here

About PR TIMES Inc.

PR TIMES (pronounced: P-R Times) operates under the mission "Towards an era where information from those who act moves people's hearts," striving to realize a society where positive information from "actors" becomes the news, encouraging individuals and fostering a forward-looking society. We believe that press releases are for articulating the crystallization of people's actions and efforts, and we are developing our business with the aim of democratizing PR, enabling "actors" of any company size to disseminate information themselves. The number of companies using the press release distribution service "PR TIMES" exceeds 121,000, with over 64% of listed Japanese companies utilizing it. The number of media reporters registered for information gathering exceeds 28,000, with approximately 90 million monthly page views on the site, over 46,000 press releases per month, and a cumulative total of over 2 million releases. Our content is published on over 260 partner media outlets, including national newspaper websites (as of November 2025). We also support information dissemination and announcement through services such as "PR TIMES STORY" for storytelling, "PR TIMES TV" for video communication, PR partner services that support PR activities from planning to execution, the art-focused PR platform "MARPH," and news media operations like "STRAIGHT PRESS." Additionally, we operate businesses that provide comprehensive support to "actors," including the task and project management tool "Jooto," which helps advance ideas from conception to announcement, and the customer support tool "Tayori," which facilitates customer response and information organization after announcements. Our subsidiaries include THE BRIDGE Inc., which operates the startup media "BRIDGE," Glucose Inc., which provides software development services, and NAVICUS Inc., which supports SNS marketing.

PR TIMES Inc. Company Overview Mission: Towards an era where information from those who act moves people's hearts Company Name: PR TIMES Inc. (TSE Prime, MeS Premier Stock Code: 3922) Location: Akasaka Intercity 8F, 1-11-44 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Established: December 2005 Representative Director: Takumi Yamaguchi Business Activities: - Operation of press release distribution service "PR TIMES" (https://prtimes.jp/) - Operation of story distribution service "PR TIMES STORY" (https://prtimes.jp/story/) - Providing PR support as a partner between clients and media - Operation of video PR service "PR TIMES TV" (https://prtimes.jp/tv) - Operation of art-focused online PR platform "MARPH" (https://marph.com/) - Operation of customer support tool "Tayori" (https://tayori.com/) - Operation of task and project management tool "Jooto" (https://www.jooto.com/) - Operation of media delivering PR knowledge "PR TIMES MAGAZINE" (https://prtimes.jp/magazine/) - Operation of press release dedicated editor "PR Editor" (https://preditor.prtimes.com/) - Operation of web news media such as "STRAIGHT PRESS" (https://straightpress.jp/), etc. URL: https://prtimes.co.jp/