Three-part event series on business in Tottori City concludes in Tokyo; New business hub 'Katokami' to open in April

Sibire Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Midori Suzuki), which advocates a lifestyle not confined to Tokyo under the vision of "OFF TOKYO," was commissioned to promote Tottori City's new business hub "Katokami." As part of this, the company held a three-part event series in Tokyo. The events introduced the business potential in Tottori City, new ways of working that connect urban and rural areas, and an overview of the new hub to corporate professionals and entrepreneurs in urban areas.

Guests included administrative officials from Tottori Prefecture and Tottori City, as well as faculty members from Tottori University, along with diverse players from industry, government, academia, and finance, such as urban development companies, banks, NPOs, startups, and entrepreneur support organizations. This diverse lineup was made possible by the compact and strong collaborative system that transcends the boundaries of government, universities, and the private sector, which is unique to Tottori, the prefecture with the smallest population.

Background and Purpose of the Events Tottori City is currently undergoing changes in its city center and business environment, driven by the redevelopment of the JR Tottori Station area for the first time in half a century and the opening of new facilities. However, these developments are often difficult for urban areas to perceive and hard to grasp without being on-site. Therefore, these events were held with the aim of conveying the current status of Tottori City's initiatives and the activities of local businesses to business professionals in urban areas.

Background and Role of "Katokami" The new business and community hub "Katokami" is positioned by Tottori City, which faces challenges such as youth outflow and the decline of its city center, as a base for integrated promotion of corporate attraction, entrepreneurship support, and urban revitalization. It aims to be a place where companies from within and outside the prefecture, and people aspiring to start businesses, can gather, connect, and create new businesses.

Event Overview ### [Part 1] January 22, 2026 (Thursday) **"Team Tottori" discusses the current state of Tottori, challenged by prefecture, city, and university collaboration.** - Speakers - Mr. Yuki Yamane, Tottori Prefectural Government, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Location Strategy Division - Mr. Yusuke Endo, Tottori University, Vice Director of Research Promotion Organization, Professor - Mr. Toshiki Nishio, Tottori City, Department of Economy and Tourism, Corporate Location and Support Division - Event details and content are available in videos/event reports. - Recorded videos: Part 1 | Part 2 - Report: https://offtokyo.jp/news/report_0122/

### [Part 2] February 12, 2026 (Thursday) **Private sector operators active in the city discuss the reality of doing business in Tottori.** - Speakers - Mr. Hirofumi Saito, Tottori Bank, Regional Strategy Department, Research Officer & Representative Director of Maruniwa Inc. - Mr. Genyo Nakagawa, Representative Director of NPO bankup - Recorded video: https://youtu.be/kGF2fZAEhoM?si=swxAIMR3GpWn4xv - Report: https://offtokyo.jp/news/report_0212/

### [Part 3] March 4, 2026 (Wednesday) **Tottori-born startups and national entrepreneurship support professionals discuss the significance and potential of starting a business in a rural area.** - Speakers - Mr. Daiho Nishioka, Representative Director of ONESTRUCTION Inc. - Mr. Yuji Koizumi, Senior Manager at Tsurukuri Inc. / East Japan General Manager at StartupSide - Recorded video: https://youtu.be/sWhn_L1abMU?si=KhkET6MQNmxG3VAa - Report: https://offtokyo.jp/news/report_0304/

Overview of Business and Community Hub "Katokami" "Katokami" is an incubation facility equipped with private offices, co-working spaces, and event spaces, aiming to foster interaction and co-creation among residents and users. A community manager will be stationed at the facility to provide consultation for those aiming to start or open a business, and to create a place where new regional businesses can emerge.

Facility Overview - Location: Kato Kamiten Building 1F, 2F, 3F, 609 Sakae-machi, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture (4-minute walk from JR Tottori Station North Exit) - Opening Date: April 1, 2026 (Partial pre-opening of private offices on 2F and 3F) / Grand opening of the entire facility is planned for July 2026 or later. - Operation: Tottori City - URL: https://katokami.jp/

Floor Information - **3F | Office Floor** - A floor equipped with private offices for 4-8 people, suitable for corporate base use. - **2F | Incubation Floor** - A floor suitable for startups and small teams, with semi-private rooms (for 2 people) and fixed desks (for 4 people). - **1F | Community Floor** - An area equipped with co-working spaces and event spaces, available for drop-in use. It can be used not only by resident companies but also by local residents and students.

Inquiries about the Facility Please direct inquiries to Tottori City, Corporate Location and Support Division. [Attraction and Promotion Section 0857-20-3225]

Future Plans Sibire Inc. will continue to collaborate with Tottori City to hold events that convey the city's initiatives and the voices of local players to urban areas. By continuously providing opportunities for people in Tokyo to learn about the reality of Tottori City and interact with administrative officials and local businesses, Sibire Inc. will promote Tottori City's potential as a new option for a "lifestyle not confined to Tokyo." The latest information on "Katokami" and upcoming events will be announced on the official website (https://katokami.jp/).

Sibire Inc. Headquarters: THE PORTAL Nihombashi East 2F, 21-1 Nihombashi Kodenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Established: January 2016 Representative Director: Midori Suzuki Capital: 11,000,000 JPY HP: https://sibire.co.jp/ Business activities: Regional revitalization business, promotion support business, video distribution business, system development business, creative production business Inquiries Contact person: Takahashi Email address: event@sibire.co.jp Business hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Please make inquiries by email)