Solving Manufacturing 'Labor Shortages' with Construction × Trading Company Collaboration. SAWAMURA and Asahi Shoko Jointly Exhibit at 'Manufacturing Labor Shortage Countermeasures EXPO'
SAWAMURA Co., Ltd. (construction) and Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd. (trading company) will jointly exhibit at the '2nd Kansai Manufacturing Labor Shortage Countermeasures EXPO' to be held at Intex Osaka. They propose a 'future-investment' circular model that combines construction and trading expertise to solve labor shortages in manufacturing, aiming to improve workplace environments and secure human resources.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 02:00
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SAWAMURA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Koichiro Sawamura, hereinafter 'SAWAMURA') announces its joint exhibition with Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Atsushi Yamashita, hereinafter 'Asahi Shoko'), a specialized trading company with strengths in solving unique challenges in the manufacturing industry, at the '2nd Kansai Manufacturing Labor Shortage Countermeasures EXPO' to be held at Intex Osaka from Wednesday, May 13th to Friday, May 15th, 2026.
At this exhibition, under the concept of 'Transforming the future of your workplace with 'all-encompassing improvements' beyond specialized fields,' we propose a growth strategy that converts improvement potential within manufacturing lines into profit, and invests that capital into branding and workplace environments to transform companies into 'companies that attract people.'
The visual is an image of the exhibition.
■ Background: The Dilemma of 'Labor Shortages' Faced by Over 60% of Manufacturers
According to a survey by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, approximately 66.7% of manufacturing companies cite 'labor shortages' as a change in social conditions affecting their business (※1). In particular, the 'trend in the number of young workers' (※2) in the manufacturing industry has been decreasing year by year since 2002, making it an urgent issue.
※1: Accenture Japan Ltd. 'FY2024 Survey on Manufacturing Infrastructure Technology (Survey on Challenges and Response Directions for Japan's Monozukuri Industry) Report' (March 2025)
※2: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications 'Labor Force Survey' (January 2025)
■ Value Proposed by the Two Companies at the Exhibition
SAWAMURA [Construction] × Asahi Shoko [Trading Company] draw a 'Future-Investment' Circular Model
By resolving bottlenecks in manufacturing and systematizing the workplace with the generated profits, job satisfaction dramatically improves as people focus on 'high-value-added work that only humans can do.' This change becomes a brand power as a 'chosen company,' attracting excellent human resources and driving further growth. Ultimately, profits are circulated to refresh the working environment through construction, creating a comfortable workplace. We aim to realize this cycle where 'profit, people, and space' are connected through the power of a trading company and construction.
On the day of the exhibition, we will guide the manufacturing industry to solve its challenges comprehensively with SAWAMURA's know-how, which recruits over 20 people annually through workplace renovation and investment in training, and Asahi Shoko's on-site improvement capabilities.
■ Exhibition Outline
Exhibition Name: The 2nd Kansai Manufacturing Labor Shortage Countermeasures EXPO
Period: May 13 (Wed) - 15 (Fri), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
Venue: Intex Osaka, Hall 6, K38-6 (〒559-0034 1-5-102 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, Osaka, Intex Osaka Hall 6A)
Joint Exhibitors: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd., Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd.
Details: Please check the official website for event details. (https://www.fiweek.jp/osaka/ja-jp/lp/visit/mihr.html)
■ Information on Interviews
Interviews with representatives from SAWAMURA and Asahi Shoko will be available on-site.
We will discuss topics such as:
- 'Why a construction company and a trading company are partnering now'
- 'Specific future outlook for saving local manufacturing industries'
■ Company Profile: Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd.
With the motto 'Maximize the 'earning power' of factories,' Asahi Shoko is a specialized machinery and tool trading company that comprehensively solves on-site challenges in the manufacturing industry. Since its establishment in 1953, it has walked a history of over 70 years based in the Osaka/Kansai area, supporting numerous manufacturing sites under the belief of 'Cherish trust and create the future.' Beyond mere product supply, it specializes in 'problem-solving' proposal sales, offering optimal solutions from 13 business areas, including IoT and energy-saving solutions, for challenges faced by manufacturing such as severe 'labor shortages,' 'technology transfer,' and 'cost reduction.' In recent years, through collaboration with other companies, it advocates 'all-encompassing improvements' that go beyond the scope of a trading company, regenerating manufacturing sites into 'the strongest weapons' and pioneering a sustainable future for the manufacturing industry.
■ Company Profile: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd.
A general construction company that provides one-stop solutions for challenges ranging from custom homes and renovations to the construction of offices, factories, stores, and public facilities, as well as civil engineering, primarily in the Shiga, Kyoto, and Fukui areas. It also handled the construction of 'Biwako Terrace,' a tourist attraction visited by approximately 600,000 people annually. It is also involved in creating opportunities for regional revitalization, such as holding local markets. In Takashima City, where the head office is located, with a population of just under 46,000 and an outflow of the working population, branding has led to a doubling of employees and sales in 6 years, and 672 recruitment entries for 2027 graduates (as of April 2026). It has set its purpose as 'creating a society where people can work and live richly.'
Company Name: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd.
Representative: Koichiro Sawamura
Headquarters:
At this exhibition, under the concept of 'Transforming the future of your workplace with 'all-encompassing improvements' beyond specialized fields,' we propose a growth strategy that converts improvement potential within manufacturing lines into profit, and invests that capital into branding and workplace environments to transform companies into 'companies that attract people.'
The visual is an image of the exhibition.
■ Background: The Dilemma of 'Labor Shortages' Faced by Over 60% of Manufacturers
According to a survey by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, approximately 66.7% of manufacturing companies cite 'labor shortages' as a change in social conditions affecting their business (※1). In particular, the 'trend in the number of young workers' (※2) in the manufacturing industry has been decreasing year by year since 2002, making it an urgent issue.
※1: Accenture Japan Ltd. 'FY2024 Survey on Manufacturing Infrastructure Technology (Survey on Challenges and Response Directions for Japan's Monozukuri Industry) Report' (March 2025)
※2: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications 'Labor Force Survey' (January 2025)
■ Value Proposed by the Two Companies at the Exhibition
SAWAMURA [Construction] × Asahi Shoko [Trading Company] draw a 'Future-Investment' Circular Model
By resolving bottlenecks in manufacturing and systematizing the workplace with the generated profits, job satisfaction dramatically improves as people focus on 'high-value-added work that only humans can do.' This change becomes a brand power as a 'chosen company,' attracting excellent human resources and driving further growth. Ultimately, profits are circulated to refresh the working environment through construction, creating a comfortable workplace. We aim to realize this cycle where 'profit, people, and space' are connected through the power of a trading company and construction.
On the day of the exhibition, we will guide the manufacturing industry to solve its challenges comprehensively with SAWAMURA's know-how, which recruits over 20 people annually through workplace renovation and investment in training, and Asahi Shoko's on-site improvement capabilities.
■ Exhibition Outline
Exhibition Name: The 2nd Kansai Manufacturing Labor Shortage Countermeasures EXPO
Period: May 13 (Wed) - 15 (Fri), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
Venue: Intex Osaka, Hall 6, K38-6 (〒559-0034 1-5-102 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, Osaka, Intex Osaka Hall 6A)
Joint Exhibitors: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd., Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd.
Details: Please check the official website for event details. (https://www.fiweek.jp/osaka/ja-jp/lp/visit/mihr.html)
■ Information on Interviews
Interviews with representatives from SAWAMURA and Asahi Shoko will be available on-site.
We will discuss topics such as:
- 'Why a construction company and a trading company are partnering now'
- 'Specific future outlook for saving local manufacturing industries'
■ Company Profile: Asahi Shoko Co., Ltd.
With the motto 'Maximize the 'earning power' of factories,' Asahi Shoko is a specialized machinery and tool trading company that comprehensively solves on-site challenges in the manufacturing industry. Since its establishment in 1953, it has walked a history of over 70 years based in the Osaka/Kansai area, supporting numerous manufacturing sites under the belief of 'Cherish trust and create the future.' Beyond mere product supply, it specializes in 'problem-solving' proposal sales, offering optimal solutions from 13 business areas, including IoT and energy-saving solutions, for challenges faced by manufacturing such as severe 'labor shortages,' 'technology transfer,' and 'cost reduction.' In recent years, through collaboration with other companies, it advocates 'all-encompassing improvements' that go beyond the scope of a trading company, regenerating manufacturing sites into 'the strongest weapons' and pioneering a sustainable future for the manufacturing industry.
■ Company Profile: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd.
A general construction company that provides one-stop solutions for challenges ranging from custom homes and renovations to the construction of offices, factories, stores, and public facilities, as well as civil engineering, primarily in the Shiga, Kyoto, and Fukui areas. It also handled the construction of 'Biwako Terrace,' a tourist attraction visited by approximately 600,000 people annually. It is also involved in creating opportunities for regional revitalization, such as holding local markets. In Takashima City, where the head office is located, with a population of just under 46,000 and an outflow of the working population, branding has led to a doubling of employees and sales in 6 years, and 672 recruitment entries for 2027 graduates (as of April 2026). It has set its purpose as 'creating a society where people can work and live richly.'
Company Name: SAWAMURA Co., Ltd.
Representative: Koichiro Sawamura
Headquarters: