WeWork Japan Opens First Hokkaido Location: 'WeWork THE VILLAGE SAPPORO'
WeWork Japan opened its first location in Hokkaido, 'WeWork THE VILLAGE SAPPORO,' on May 1, 2026. Located within walking distance of Sapporo and Odori stations, the hub aims to connect startups, large corporations, and local governments. The opening ceremony featured Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto, SoftBank representatives, and entrepreneur Yuki Saito, who discussed the future of AI implementation and regional revitalization.
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- 📰 Published: June 2, 2026 at 11:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 2, 2026 at 11:29 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 22:54 (11h 24m after Collected)
WeWork Japan, a provider of flexible office spaces, opened its first location in Hokkaido, 'WeWork THE VILLAGE SAPPORO,' on May 1, 2026, and held an opening ceremony on May 21. The location is situated in a new building within walking distance of Sapporo Subway Station (2 min) and JR Sapporo Station (6 min). Through the WeWork community, the hub aims to foster an AI and startup co-creation ecosystem in Sapporo.
The ceremony was attended by Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto, representatives from SoftBank Corp., entrepreneur and former professional baseball player Yuki Saito, and building owner Ichigo Estate Co., Ltd. Mayor Akimoto expressed his expectations, stating, 'I hope you will leverage WeWork's network and community-building expertise to transmit new value from Hokkaido and Sapporo to the world.' The event also introduced the 'AI Foundation Community' project in collaboration with SoftBank, aimed at accelerating the business growth of AI startups.
During a talk session, representatives from Sapporo City, SoftBank, and WeWork Japan discussed AI startup support in Hokkaido. Sapporo City emphasized its potential as a 'GX/AI Financial Asset Management Special Zone' and expressed its goal to become a city that attracts ambitious companies. Keitaro Kumagai, President and CEO of WeWork Japan, stated, 'Even things that are difficult for startups to achieve alone can be scaled up through the power of community,' expressing a commitment to fostering innovation from Sapporo together with the local community. The event concluded with a ceremonial first pitch by Yuki Saito, who remarked, 'I want to make Hokkaido a place where businesses can grow,' symbolizing the start of a new challenge.
The ceremony was attended by Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto, representatives from SoftBank Corp., entrepreneur and former professional baseball player Yuki Saito, and building owner Ichigo Estate Co., Ltd. Mayor Akimoto expressed his expectations, stating, 'I hope you will leverage WeWork's network and community-building expertise to transmit new value from Hokkaido and Sapporo to the world.' The event also introduced the 'AI Foundation Community' project in collaboration with SoftBank, aimed at accelerating the business growth of AI startups.
During a talk session, representatives from Sapporo City, SoftBank, and WeWork Japan discussed AI startup support in Hokkaido. Sapporo City emphasized its potential as a 'GX/AI Financial Asset Management Special Zone' and expressed its goal to become a city that attracts ambitious companies. Keitaro Kumagai, President and CEO of WeWork Japan, stated, 'Even things that are difficult for startups to achieve alone can be scaled up through the power of community,' expressing a commitment to fostering innovation from Sapporo together with the local community. The event concluded with a ceremonial first pitch by Yuki Saito, who remarked, 'I want to make Hokkaido a place where businesses can grow,' symbolizing the start of a new challenge.
FAQ
What is the role of the WeWork Sapporo location?
It serves as a 'hub for co-creation' where startups, large corporations, and local governments intersect to foster innovation from Hokkaido.