Beyond the Separation of "Living" and "Working": "Can Organizations Where Each Person is the Protagonist Truly Be Created?"

We have imbued our catchphrase "NOT A COMMUNITY" with the idea that it is not a group gathered by common interests, but a collective intelligence and ecosystem accompanied by economic circulation.

You be You Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Sawako Io), an organismic organization centered around the "co-creation platform" Atlya, will launch a crowdfunding campaign from July 12, 2026 (Monday) to September 28, 2026 (Tuesday) to open to society an 8-year experiment titled "Can Organizations/Communities Where Each Person is the Protagonist Truly Be Created?". In conjunction with the crowdfunding campaign, on July 12, 2026 (Sunday), we will hold "NOT A COMMUNITY BUT A ...? A 1-day Gathering to Explore New Forms of Organization/Community" at Atlya Sangubashi.

Currently, many people feel a sense of unease with organizations.

Living and working are separated, and while conforming to the company, one loses their individuality, and when independent, one becomes isolated. Can we not overcome these separations that lie naturally in society?

Since 2018, You be You Inc. has operated the community Atlya under the philosophy of "Allowing everyone to live their true selves." Now, to open the question "Can organizations/communities where each person is the protagonist truly be created?" to society, we are launching a crowdfunding campaign.

In this project, we will explore the form of organizations for the next era together through the following three initiatives:

- Magazine production - Sharing Atlya's practices and knowledge - Holding lectures - "Lecture on Living Your True Self," "Lecture for Organization Leaders"

Limited preview page until 7/12 Crowdfunding URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/908781/preview?token=1jnue56d&utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_projects_show Main page from 7/12 Crowdfunding URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/908781/view?utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_mypage_projects_show

Why are we taking on this challenge now? - The "Separation" Society Faces -

"Even though I'm doing what I love for work, my anxiety about the future doesn't disappear."

"Even within an organization, I feel lonely, unable to connect."

"My child doesn't want to go to school. But I want to continue my work."

"My parents' care and my own life. I can't balance them."

More and more people, across generations and positions, are experiencing this sense of stagnation.

According to a UN survey, Japan's happiness ranking is around 50th in the world (※). Despite being a top-class economy, the richness of lived experience has not caught up. (※ From the World Happiness Report / rankings vary by year).

We believe that at the root of this is the latent feeling of "I am alone."

Even within an organization, within a family, within a town, we are somehow deeply disconnected. In places where we cannot feel connected, people find it difficult to live their true selves. In places where it is difficult to live one's true self, living itself becomes painful.

This sense of unease is not felt by a specific group of people. People who run communities in their regions.

People who face children's "difficulty living" in educational settings.

People who daily encounter the lack of human connection in welfare settings.

And at the same time, among those on the front lines of capitalism, there are increasing numbers who are beginning to feel, "This way of doing things can no longer continue."

Purpose-driven management, well-being, Teal organizations, regenerative business - the words vary, but behind them lies the same single question.

Is an organization possible that starts from "people living fully as themselves" rather than "utilizing people for results"? Is an economy possible that "connects, circulates, and grows together" rather than "dividing, competing, and optimizing"?

This is not a story of "community" versus "capitalist society." Capitalist society itself is trying to change its form.

Are we not standing at a major turning point in the era?

Atlya's 8-Year Experiment

At the heart of this project is a form of "company."

"Community Company" - The core here is "Company."

Not a "community like a company," but a "company like a community" where each person lives their own aspirations while not giving up on economic circulation.

We will now open to society the "secrets" gained from 8 years of experimentation with such community companies.

Atlya was not founded by first deciding "what to offer" and then gathering people, as is common for companies. Instead, it was established based on the prior existence of relationships: "who we want to be with."

It was not a complete company from the start.

Today's Atlya is the result of 8 years of processes, involving intense swaying between the norms of society and the desires welling up from within, and repeated trial and error akin to crawling through mud.

2018 | Founding and Discomfort with "Management"

You be You Inc. was established. The founding period seemed to be a smooth start. However, the reality was that in the relationships with members who couldn't break free from a client-like behavior despite advocating "co-creation," the representative, Io, felt on the verge of breaking down.

The co-creation space "Atlya Sangubashi" opened. Behind the media attention...

2020 | The Realization "I am the Source"

The "Crew System" (※), which shares both risks and resources, was introduced. Amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected events occurred, including lawsuits from shareholders. Although the lawsuits were completely dismissed, this experience brought a decisive realization.

"Everyone is a protagonist, but I am the 'source' of this place."

※ Crew: Freelancers and business professionals who, by living their own lives, create economic circulation as members of the Atlya community.

2021-2022 | Molting into a Pure "Organism"

The stance shifted to consisting only of those who have touched upon "their true desires" through the "Watashi Create Journey Program." Simultaneously, with the participation of Shingo Hosono (CSO: Chief Sustainability Officer), the "sensory" aspects of practice became "visualized and verbalized."

2022 tsugugoto cafe was renewed.

2023 | Towards "Everyone's Company"

Through the buyback of company shares from the principal shareholder, the company became "a company belonging to the community (everyone's company)." It is an organization without a ruler, where the representative, Io, herself does not hold the 33.4% of voting rights.

Present | Entering the Phase of Embodying Social OS Updates

45 crew members are active, each demonstrating their expertise. The liberal arts and career academy "MEthos" has been launched, and programs based on practice for over 100 people are underway. Keynote dialogues include those with anthropologist Fumihito Takekura and monk/philosopher Ryugen Matsunami. Furthermore, the natural farming activity "CIRCULATING FUTURE BEINGS (CFB)" has been initiated, with a vision to cultivate a semi-self-sufficient community in progress.

Philosophy Extraction Program "Watashi Create Journey (WCJ)"

Natural Farming Activity "CIRCULATING FUTURE BEINGS (CFB)" Liberal Arts and Career Academy "MEthos"

Through 8 years of practice, we have come to call this form of organization a "Community Company."

"The Whole Self Exhibition ~Exhibition of How to Live as an 'I' Living by Philosophy~"

On April 28, 2025, prior to the crowdfunding, we held "The Whole Self Exhibition ~Exhibition of How to Live as an 'I' Living by Philosophy~" at Atlya Sangubashi. It exhibited the philosophies of 50 Atlya crew members who live their entire selves without dividing themselves by roles or titles, and featured workshops, sessions, and merchandise embodying their philosophies. Approximately 100 people attended, making it an exhibition where attendees could experience in a real space the question of what it means to live one's true self.

"How to Start Living My Life ~Desire Exploration Workshop~" by Sawako Io, Representative of Atlya.

Here is a video of the recent "Exhibition."

2026/4/28 [The Whole Self Exhibition ~Exhibition of How to Live as an 'I' Living by Philosophy~] Digest

Specific Mechanisms of a Community Company

Operates not by roles, but born from relationships.

Starts not by command, but from impulse.

Receives not for profit, but as a result of circulation.

This is a form of organization that begins from letting go of the "should be" correct answer.

At the same time, it has a strong backbone of "not giving up on economic circulation." That is why we explicitly call it a "Community Company" and not just a "community."

(Note: This is not an exclusive brand name for Atlya. We believe it is a common language that can be shared with those who have similar values and practice them.)

And, an "organization/community where each person is the protagonist" is not a vague ideal.

Atlya has compiled the mechanisms and forms of organization that have become clear through 8 years of trial and error into a magazine.

In it, we propose four clear mechanisms for community company management.

One of the Four Mechanisms

This magazine is not something we will complete on our own and deliver to everyone. We want to share the very creation of its first issue with the supporters of Campfire (crowdfunding).

The Future We Want to Realize with This Project

We have always been forced to choose one or the other.

"Company's desires" or "My desires"?

"Living myself" or "Living with everyone"?

"Spirituality" or "Reality"?

"City" or "Nature"?

Each time, we have had to give up something, sacrifice something.

But is it really necessary to divide them like this?

What Atlya has proven here for 8 years is that we can live without separating them.

A single premise that runs through all of this.

Not separating "living" and "working."

"Perhaps we no longer need to separate."

-- This is a question from us to society.

We will realize a future where "Community Companies" become a common choice in society with those we meet through this project.

Public Dialogue Event to Commemorate Project Launch

"NOT A COMMUNITY BUT A ...? A 1-day Gathering to Explore New Forms of Organization/Community"

Date and Time: July 12 (Sunday) 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Admission Fee: Free (Dialogue chapters are ¥1,000 each / ¥2,000 for all-access with 1 drink)

Location: Atlya Sangubashi, 1F, 4-50-13 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku

In this Gathering, rather than presenting our practices as the "correct answer," we will explore the contours of future society together through dialogue with practitioners exploring new social possibilities in various fields.

▶︎ Dialogue Chapters

"Is an organization/community where each person is the protagonist achievable?"

We will invite guests who explore this question from various angles and engage in dialogue.

#1 11:30-12:30 Guest: Kenshu Kamura and others

#2 13:30-14:30 Guest: Kozo Takei and others

#3 15:30-16:30 Atlya Crew Roundtable Discussion

Hamidashu Lab / Art PlayWorker Host: Akagane icco / Sketch Line Lab Host: Kensuke Yamashita / Journaling Circle Host: Yuka Kanazawa / Genjitsu Lab Host: Fumika Nakamura /

Details & Application Here

Messages of Support

※ Words from Takei, Kondo, and Kenshu

Crowdfunding Linked Dialogue Broadcast

As part of the project, we returned to the original question, "Is an organization/community where each person is the protagonist achievable?" and held dialogues with guests who have been practicing in various fields.

6/14 GUEST: Kozo Takei (Social System Designer)

6/18 GUEST: YUJI (Astrologer) 6/22 Masahiro Nakamura (CEO of Willnext / Chairman of Ba&Co / Co-founder of Tsukuva / Village Chief of BUGSON)

We will continue to broadcast on this channel.

Company Profile

Company Name: You be You Inc.

Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Representative Director: Sawako Io

Established: 2018 Business Activities: YoubeYou Inc. is a platform that realizes a society where "everyone lives as themselves" through value co-creation with other companies (and individuals). Based at Atlya Sangubashi, we promote our own businesses such as "watashicreate.com," "tsugugoto," "Watashi Create Academia," and "branding including community building support," as well as client work realized through a co-creation style. Official Website: http://youbeyou.co.jp

Press Inquiries

You be You Inc. (Public Relations: Takahashi)

TEL: 03-6276-6777

MAIL: info@atlya-co.com ▪️Crowdfunding URL Limited preview article until 7/12: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/908781/preview?token=1jnue56d&utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_projects_show ▪️Crowdfunding URL (Main page from 7/12): https://camp-fire.jp/projects/908781/view?utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_mypage_projects_show