For Small Businesses to Survive: Kickoff Seminar for "Session Shinshu 2026," a Practical Product Development Program to Access New Markets
Hosted by the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, "Session Shinshu 2026," a practical program to support new product development for small and medium-sized enterprises in Nagano Prefecture, is launching. A free kickoff seminar featuring a renowned creative director as a lecturer will be held on June 12.
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You feel the need to develop new products, create your own brand, or pivot your business from a new perspective, but don't know where to start. You've tried making a new product, but it doesn't sell, and you don't know how to sell it.
This seminar and course, "Session Shinshu," is a must-see for such businesses. The lecturer is Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya, President and Creative Director of Cement Produce Design, who has been involved in product development projects with local industries across Japan and has attracted attention from various media outlets such as TV Tokyo's "Cambria Palace" and "Gaia's Dawn." He will discuss the steps and specific examples of product development he has undertaken with small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Japan.
【Date】 June 12, 2026 (Friday)
【Venue】 Shinmai Media Garden 1st Floor Hall (2-20-2 Chuo, Matsumoto City) *Live streaming is also planned.
【Target】 Small and medium-sized businesses in Nagano Prefecture considering new product development.
【Program】
13:30 Doors Open
14:00-16:30 Kickoff Seminar "Product Development to Access New Markets"
Lecturer: Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya (President / Creative Director, Cement Produce Design Co., Ltd.)
【Kickoff Seminar Application】 *Free of charge, capacity of 100, deadline June 9 (Tuesday)
Please apply from this URL: https://forms.office.com/r/H8vBNDa6U6
Details of 6.12 Kickoff Seminar & Marche (Shinmai Media Garden)
Details of the Practical Product Development Program
A practical product development program with support for promotion and sales channel development.
After the "Kickoff Seminar," we offer a five-session course on an entry basis. After a thorough analysis of your company's unique resources, strengths, and competitors' initiatives, you will engage in a practical program including the examination of product image and direction, and work on product planning and development. Depending on the business scale and capabilities, you will consider sales channels, sales methods, what can be made, what you want to make, and what should be made, and complete the product plan yourself.
For products developed through this project, we will provide various support according to the product, such as promotional activities including pop-up sales at Shinano Mainichi Shimbun events and Shinmai Media Garden (Matsumoto City), and newspaper ad placements, as well as support for exhibiting at business meetings and exhibitions, and sales channel development. We don't just end with lectures; we support you until you 'give it form' and 'communicate it.'
What is Session Shinshu?
This is a product development program for small and medium-sized businesses to support the development of their own products and sales channels, which will become new pillars of their business in the prefecture's manufacturing industry. The program was hosted by Nagano Prefecture until last year, but from this year, the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun has taken over as the host. We continue to invite Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya, head of Cement Produce Design, who has been featured on TV Tokyo's "Cambria Palace" and "Gaia's Dawn" and also lectures at Kyoto Seika University and Kindai University. By utilizing Shinmai's reporting and advertising power, as well as its own facilities, we aim to contribute to the new product development and brand enhancement of businesses in the prefecture as a further evolved course. We will hold about five practical support courses for new product and new business development for companies in the prefecture per year, and provide support up to sales channel assistance after the product is completed.
Held on the same day: Session Shinshu Marche 2026 in Shinmai Media Garden (13:30-17:00)
We will introduce "new products" created by businesses in the prefecture, including graduates of Session Shinshu, who have polished their own materials and techniques. We will deliver surprise and discovery along with the passionate thoughts of the creators.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
【Organizer】 Shinano Mainichi Shimbun (Secretariat: Business Development Bureau)
【Supervisor】 Cement Produce Design Co., Ltd.
【Co-organizers】 Shiojiri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Omachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Suwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
【Cooperation】 Nagano Prefecture
【Supporters】 Nagano Prefectural Employers' Association, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Small Business Associations, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry
【Target】 Small and medium-sized businesses in Nagano Prefecture considering new product development.
【Fees】
・Kickoff Seminar: Free (Capacity 100)
・Practical Program: Analysis Phase ¥50,000 (excl. tax), Planning Phase ¥200,000 (excl. tax)
※Please check the attached image for details.
【Inquiries】
Shinano Mainichi Shimbun Business Development Bureau
Phone: 026-236-3339 Email: newbiz@shinmai.co.jp
This seminar and course, "Session Shinshu," is a must-see for such businesses. The lecturer is Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya, President and Creative Director of Cement Produce Design, who has been involved in product development projects with local industries across Japan and has attracted attention from various media outlets such as TV Tokyo's "Cambria Palace" and "Gaia's Dawn." He will discuss the steps and specific examples of product development he has undertaken with small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Japan.
【Date】 June 12, 2026 (Friday)
【Venue】 Shinmai Media Garden 1st Floor Hall (2-20-2 Chuo, Matsumoto City) *Live streaming is also planned.
【Target】 Small and medium-sized businesses in Nagano Prefecture considering new product development.
【Program】
13:30 Doors Open
14:00-16:30 Kickoff Seminar "Product Development to Access New Markets"
Lecturer: Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya (President / Creative Director, Cement Produce Design Co., Ltd.)
【Kickoff Seminar Application】 *Free of charge, capacity of 100, deadline June 9 (Tuesday)
Please apply from this URL: https://forms.office.com/r/H8vBNDa6U6
Details of 6.12 Kickoff Seminar & Marche (Shinmai Media Garden)
Details of the Practical Product Development Program
A practical product development program with support for promotion and sales channel development.
After the "Kickoff Seminar," we offer a five-session course on an entry basis. After a thorough analysis of your company's unique resources, strengths, and competitors' initiatives, you will engage in a practical program including the examination of product image and direction, and work on product planning and development. Depending on the business scale and capabilities, you will consider sales channels, sales methods, what can be made, what you want to make, and what should be made, and complete the product plan yourself.
For products developed through this project, we will provide various support according to the product, such as promotional activities including pop-up sales at Shinano Mainichi Shimbun events and Shinmai Media Garden (Matsumoto City), and newspaper ad placements, as well as support for exhibiting at business meetings and exhibitions, and sales channel development. We don't just end with lectures; we support you until you 'give it form' and 'communicate it.'
What is Session Shinshu?
This is a product development program for small and medium-sized businesses to support the development of their own products and sales channels, which will become new pillars of their business in the prefecture's manufacturing industry. The program was hosted by Nagano Prefecture until last year, but from this year, the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun has taken over as the host. We continue to invite Mr. Tsutomu Kanaya, head of Cement Produce Design, who has been featured on TV Tokyo's "Cambria Palace" and "Gaia's Dawn" and also lectures at Kyoto Seika University and Kindai University. By utilizing Shinmai's reporting and advertising power, as well as its own facilities, we aim to contribute to the new product development and brand enhancement of businesses in the prefecture as a further evolved course. We will hold about five practical support courses for new product and new business development for companies in the prefecture per year, and provide support up to sales channel assistance after the product is completed.
Held on the same day: Session Shinshu Marche 2026 in Shinmai Media Garden (13:30-17:00)
We will introduce "new products" created by businesses in the prefecture, including graduates of Session Shinshu, who have polished their own materials and techniques. We will deliver surprise and discovery along with the passionate thoughts of the creators.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
【Organizer】 Shinano Mainichi Shimbun (Secretariat: Business Development Bureau)
【Supervisor】 Cement Produce Design Co., Ltd.
【Co-organizers】 Shiojiri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Omachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Suwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
【Cooperation】 Nagano Prefecture
【Supporters】 Nagano Prefectural Employers' Association, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Small Business Associations, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nagano Prefectural Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry
【Target】 Small and medium-sized businesses in Nagano Prefecture considering new product development.
【Fees】
・Kickoff Seminar: Free (Capacity 100)
・Practical Program: Analysis Phase ¥50,000 (excl. tax), Planning Phase ¥200,000 (excl. tax)
※Please check the attached image for details.
【Inquiries】
Shinano Mainichi Shimbun Business Development Bureau
Phone: 026-236-3339 Email: newbiz@shinmai.co.jp