From Kyoto Craftsmanship to the World via Tokyo — Report on the First成果発表会 of the Sumu × Kyoto Craft Acceleration Program

Sumu Co., Ltd. and ADDReC Co., Ltd. (both headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, represented by Daiga Fukushima; hereinafter referred to as Sumu and ADDReC) jointly held the成果発表会 for the first cohort of the Kyoto Craft Acceleration Program 'Sumu Craft Lab KYOTO 2026' on Friday, April 17, 2026. This program, a collaborative project involving Sumu, ADDReC, Community Bank Kyoshin (corporate name: Kyoto Shinkin Bank, head office: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, chairman: Takayuki Sakakida), which operates the co-creation facility 'QUESTION,' and SECAI Inc. (headquartered in Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, CEO: Takahira Matsuura), has worked with eight businesses selected from a total of 65 applicants—40 of which passed document screening and presentations—to develop products intended for implementation in the apartment hotel 'Sumu'.

At the成果発表会, in addition to introducing the products developed over approximately six months, a talk session themed 'Project Design Connecting Kyoto and Tokyo, Local and Global' and a matchmaking business meeting with participating businesses were held. On the following day, April 18 (Saturday), a hands-on workshop titled 'Experience Crafting Kazari Kanagu (Ornamental Metal Fittings)' was conducted at Sumu Ueno East, featuring Kazari Kanagu Takeuchi (Takeuchi Co., Ltd.) as the instructor.

* 'Community Bank Kyoshin' is the brand name of Kyoto Shinkin Bank.

Background

Sumu is a project that continuously explores what kind of experiences and stories can be created through the platform of apartment hotels. One key focus identified as a solution is connecting with Japan's traditional crafts. While inbound demand is rising and the number of foreign visitors to Japan is increasing, Japanese manufacturing has become accustomed to markets where products are sold cheaply based on cost, resulting in their true value not being fully recognized.

We wondered if leveraging tourism as an entry point to deliver traditional crafts as experiential value to travelers could address this challenge. With this in mind, we launched the craft acceleration program 'Sumu Craft Lab KYOTO 2026' together with Community Bank Kyoshin and SECAI. By implementing across multiple properties, we aim to create a new market, first establishing success in Tokyo before expanding to regions across Japan and globally.

成果発表会 and Talk Session

Date and Time

April 17, 2026 (Friday) 12:30–15:00

Venue

SHIBUYA QWS (Shibuya Cue)

Organizers

Host: Sumu Co., Ltd. / ADDReC Co., Ltd. Co-hosts: Community Bank Kyoshin / SECAI Inc.

Program

＜Project Introduction and Talk Session＞

① Introduction to the Sumu Project

② Introduction to the Kyoto Craft Acceleration Program

③ Talk Session:

"Project Design Connecting Kyoto and Tokyo, Local and Global"

▷ Panelists:

- Daiga Fukushima, CEO and Representative Director, Sumu Co., Ltd. / ADDReC Co., Ltd., and Producer of Sumu

- Mr. Kaneto Hayakawa, Community Bank Kyoshin (Kyoto Shinkin Bank)

- Mr. Tomomoto Mimura, Deputy President and Director, SECAI Inc.

- Ms. Yukako Konishi, Director of Sumu, and Representative of sow Co., Ltd. / Seijaku Co., Ltd.

- 【Guest Speaker】 Mr. Issei Tominaga, Producer / CEO, Whatever Co.

④ Matchmaking Business Meeting

◎ Comment from Mr. Kaneto Hayakawa, Community Bank Kyoshin

"Artisan business owners excel in craftsmanship, but many are not accustomed to how to present their work effectively. We found great significance in being able to work together to refine each product into a compelling proposal. Going forward, we will continue to use Sumu to promote the charm of traditional crafts to the world, exploring new forms of regional revitalization beyond the scope of financial services."

◎ Comment from Mr. Tomomoto Mimura, SECAI

"Having lived in Kyoto for 10 years and worked closely with artisans, I've noticed a gap between the quality of their products and their ability to communicate that value. Creating excellent products and delivering them to the right audience require different skill sets. In Japan, there remains a strong belief that 'if you make a good product, it will sell.' However, I believe many outstanding products remain undiscovered. SECAI aims to act as a bridge between artisans and the market, working with Kyoshin to elevate both Kyoto and Sumu."

◎ Comment from Daiga Fukushima, Representative of Sumu / ADDReC and Producer of Sumu

"The reason Sumu is undertaking this acceleration program is our desire to transform the hotel space from a mere accommodation facility into a platform that connects local craftsmanship with hotel guests. Kyoto's traditional crafts possess world-class value, yet the channels to deliver them are still insufficient. We are encouraged that, through Sumu as an experimental space, we can build these channels together with Mr. Hayakawa from Kyoshin and Mr. Mimura from SECAI."

Kazari Kanagu Craft Workshop (April 18)

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 Session 1: 11:00–13:00 / Session 2: 14:00–16:00

Venue: Sumu Ueno East

Capacity: 5 participants per session Fee: ¥8,800 (tax included)

Instructor: Kazari Kanagu Takeuchi (Takeuchi Co., Ltd.)

A hands-on workshop was held at Sumu Ueno East featuring Kazari Kanagu Takeuchi (Takeuchi Co., Ltd.), founded in Kyoto in 1967, as the instructor. Participants experienced up close the craftsmanship honed through the production of ornamental metal fittings for Buddhist altars and shrines. Under the direct guidance of artisans who continue to hand-carve original molds, attendees deeply felt the intricacies of traditional techniques. This event demonstrated Sumu's unique approach to hospitality—bringing Kyoto's artisan skills to life within a Tokyo hotel setting.

◎ Comment from Naoki Takeuchi, Representative of Kazari Kanagu Takeuchi (Takeuchi Co., Ltd.)

"We were delighted to hear participants say, 'I really enjoyed finishing the piece with my own hands using a hammer.' The fact that even those encountering kazari kanagu for the first time showed interest gave us confidence that this experiential content can be expanded to broader contexts to convey the techniques and charm of our craft."

About 'Sumu Craft Lab KYOTO 2026'

This program was implemented through collaboration among Sumu, ADDReC, Kyoto Shinkin Bank, and SECAI, hosted at 'QUESTION,' the co-creation facility operated by Community Bank Kyoshin. Under the theme 'Bringing Kyoto's Traditional Craft Techniques into Modern Hotel Experiences,' eight businesses were ultimately selected from 65 companies that participated in the orientation, following document screening and interviews. These businesses spent approximately six months (three months for selection, three months for product development) developing products designed for integration into Sumu.

＜Selected Businesses / Participant Comments＞

◎ Daito Bedding Industry Co., Ltd.

Founded in Kyoto in 1915, with over 100 years of experience in bedding manufacturing