Selected for the FY2025 Research Project on Development/Construction of Advanced Services and Regulatory/Institutional Reform
Trajectory Inc., together with Mori Building and HMK Nexus, has been selected for a Cabinet Office research project. They conducted a demonstration experiment using large drones to transport supplies in the Yatsugatake mountain area of Chino City, aiming for commercialization in FY2026.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
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Trajectory Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Koseki, hereinafter "Trajectory") announces that it has been selected as the representative operator, alongside Mori Building Co., Ltd. and HMK Nexus Co., Ltd., for the "FY2025 Research Project on Development and Construction of Advanced Services and Regulatory and Institutional Reform" announced by the Cabinet Office's Secretariat for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization. The consortium conducted research and demonstration experiments towards establishing a regulatory and institutional framework for a supply transport service using large drones in the Yatsugatake mountain area, located in the Digital Garden Health Special Zone (Chino City).
■ Outline of the Research and Demonstration
Assuming the transport of supplies to mountain huts in the Yatsugatake area, we investigated and demonstrated the potential for deregulation from the perspectives of needs assessment, development of drone flight routes, rule-making for coordination with relevant parties, and confirmation of safe operational methods. Our company established the drone flight routes, evaluated the risks in the surrounding airspace, and worked on creating a safe airspace operational structure in cooperation with relevant parties by announcing and coordinating flight routes and schedules in advance.
As a consortium member, Mori Building Co., Ltd., which signed a "Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement on Regional Revitalization" with Chino City in 2021 to contribute to the execution of the "Chino City Regional Revitalization Comprehensive Strategy" and regional development, utilized its strong relationships with local stakeholders to handle coordination with Chino City, the Yatsugatake Tourism Association, and local residents in this project.
HMK Nexus Co., Ltd. investigated the possibility of business viability and delivery efficiency tailored to the needs of mountainous regions for its drone-based delivery business. In the demonstration, they served as the drone operator responsible for transporting supplies to the mountain huts.
Project Name: FY2025 Research Project on Development/Construction of Advanced Services and Regulatory/Institutional Reform (Investigation towards constructing a supply transport service using large drones in mountainous areas)
Representative Operator: Trajectory Inc.
Consortium Members: Mori Building Co., Ltd., HMK Nexus Co., Ltd.
Implementation Area: Yatsugatake mountain area in Chino City (Digital Garden Health Special Zone)
Objective: Investigation of regulatory and institutional reform for large drones aimed at reducing material transport costs in mountainous areas and constructing a sustainable operational structure.
■ Background of the Demonstration
Until now, transporting supplies to mountain huts in Yatsugatake has been carried out through a combination of helicopter transport about once a month and manual porterage (bokka) by mountain hut staff. While helicopters can carry a large amount of cargo at once, they are susceptible to weather conditions and not suitable for small-volume transport. Moreover, transport costs to the mountain huts are rising due to soaring fuel prices and a decrease in the number of aircraft. On the other hand, transport by manual porterage places a heavy operational burden on the staff, becoming a problem that affects the overall operation of the mountain huts, which form the infrastructure of Yatsugatake.
Based on this background, to reduce the cost of transporting supplies in mountainous areas, this investigation conducted research on needs, economic efficiency, and safety toward deregulation for flying large drones, alongside flight demonstrations in collaboration with mountain huts and related institutions.
Through this demonstration, our company prepared drone flight routes and worked on building a safe airspace operational system in collaboration with relevant parties by notifying and coordinating regular flight routes and schedules in advance. The area around the mountain huts sees many helicopters flying, primarily for material transport. For the social implementation of large drones, we believe it is crucial not just to fly them, but to design a system that includes operational rules and safety coordination mechanisms with surrounding helicopter organizations and local related bodies.
This initiative will enable the high-frequency and agile transport of fresh food, urgently needed medicines, medical supplies for first aid, and repair materials—items that were previously difficult to obtain at mountain huts without relying on manual porterage by staff. Drones are a new option that easily supplements the small-volume transport that helicopters struggle with, contributing to improved flexibility in mountain hut operations. We believe these characteristics will become an effective tool in modern mountain hut management, which demands diversification of clientele and service differentiation among huts.
▲ Actual Drone Route in the Yatsugatake Mountain Area
■ Demonstration Report
In this project, we investigated economic efficiency and safety, conducted flight demonstrations with mountain huts and related organizations, established drone flight routes, and confirmed safe operational methods toward the social implementation of material transport services using large drones in the Yatsugatake area. Additionally, as a service utilizing the drone flight routes, we will commence a material transport service to Neishidake Mountain Hut and others starting in FY2026. As a result of the demonstration, we confirmed that transport by large drones is effective as a supplementary means to helicopter transport and manual porterage, and that operating and maintaining drone flight routes as a common platform can be expected to improve operational efficiency and safety. However, while existing battery-powered drones face constraints in mountain logistics, large engine drones are high
■ Outline of the Research and Demonstration
Assuming the transport of supplies to mountain huts in the Yatsugatake area, we investigated and demonstrated the potential for deregulation from the perspectives of needs assessment, development of drone flight routes, rule-making for coordination with relevant parties, and confirmation of safe operational methods. Our company established the drone flight routes, evaluated the risks in the surrounding airspace, and worked on creating a safe airspace operational structure in cooperation with relevant parties by announcing and coordinating flight routes and schedules in advance.
As a consortium member, Mori Building Co., Ltd., which signed a "Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement on Regional Revitalization" with Chino City in 2021 to contribute to the execution of the "Chino City Regional Revitalization Comprehensive Strategy" and regional development, utilized its strong relationships with local stakeholders to handle coordination with Chino City, the Yatsugatake Tourism Association, and local residents in this project.
HMK Nexus Co., Ltd. investigated the possibility of business viability and delivery efficiency tailored to the needs of mountainous regions for its drone-based delivery business. In the demonstration, they served as the drone operator responsible for transporting supplies to the mountain huts.
Project Name: FY2025 Research Project on Development/Construction of Advanced Services and Regulatory/Institutional Reform (Investigation towards constructing a supply transport service using large drones in mountainous areas)
Representative Operator: Trajectory Inc.
Consortium Members: Mori Building Co., Ltd., HMK Nexus Co., Ltd.
Implementation Area: Yatsugatake mountain area in Chino City (Digital Garden Health Special Zone)
Objective: Investigation of regulatory and institutional reform for large drones aimed at reducing material transport costs in mountainous areas and constructing a sustainable operational structure.
■ Background of the Demonstration
Until now, transporting supplies to mountain huts in Yatsugatake has been carried out through a combination of helicopter transport about once a month and manual porterage (bokka) by mountain hut staff. While helicopters can carry a large amount of cargo at once, they are susceptible to weather conditions and not suitable for small-volume transport. Moreover, transport costs to the mountain huts are rising due to soaring fuel prices and a decrease in the number of aircraft. On the other hand, transport by manual porterage places a heavy operational burden on the staff, becoming a problem that affects the overall operation of the mountain huts, which form the infrastructure of Yatsugatake.
Based on this background, to reduce the cost of transporting supplies in mountainous areas, this investigation conducted research on needs, economic efficiency, and safety toward deregulation for flying large drones, alongside flight demonstrations in collaboration with mountain huts and related institutions.
Through this demonstration, our company prepared drone flight routes and worked on building a safe airspace operational system in collaboration with relevant parties by notifying and coordinating regular flight routes and schedules in advance. The area around the mountain huts sees many helicopters flying, primarily for material transport. For the social implementation of large drones, we believe it is crucial not just to fly them, but to design a system that includes operational rules and safety coordination mechanisms with surrounding helicopter organizations and local related bodies.
This initiative will enable the high-frequency and agile transport of fresh food, urgently needed medicines, medical supplies for first aid, and repair materials—items that were previously difficult to obtain at mountain huts without relying on manual porterage by staff. Drones are a new option that easily supplements the small-volume transport that helicopters struggle with, contributing to improved flexibility in mountain hut operations. We believe these characteristics will become an effective tool in modern mountain hut management, which demands diversification of clientele and service differentiation among huts.
▲ Actual Drone Route in the Yatsugatake Mountain Area
■ Demonstration Report
In this project, we investigated economic efficiency and safety, conducted flight demonstrations with mountain huts and related organizations, established drone flight routes, and confirmed safe operational methods toward the social implementation of material transport services using large drones in the Yatsugatake area. Additionally, as a service utilizing the drone flight routes, we will commence a material transport service to Neishidake Mountain Hut and others starting in FY2026. As a result of the demonstration, we confirmed that transport by large drones is effective as a supplementary means to helicopter transport and manual porterage, and that operating and maintaining drone flight routes as a common platform can be expected to improve operational efficiency and safety. However, while existing battery-powered drones face constraints in mountain logistics, large engine drones are high