First-time challenge of attending an underground idol live show with your boss? Employee travel participation rate reaches 107% in an era of declining company trips! "ZT (ZEROIN TOUR)" employee travel program that realizes employees' "desires" to be held from June

ZEROIN Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Uchisaiwai-cho, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mitsunori Ojo; hereinafter "ZEROIN"), which energizes companies' "work" through general affairs consulting and outsourcing, will implement the Reiwa-era employee travel system "ZT (ZEROIN TOUR)" from June to November 2026.

ZT is ZEROIN's unique employee travel system, which has continued for 14 years. Unlike traditional employee trips where the company uniformly decides the destination and content and participants engage in group activities, ZT allows employees to freely plan "what they want to do" and recruit colleagues within the company who agree to participate.

In fiscal year 2025, the actual participation rate was 72.9%, the cumulative participation rate was 107%*1, and the plan establishment rate was 59.6%. While there are differences in employees' willingness to participate in company trips due to the diversification of work styles and values, many employees are enjoying company trips by utilizing the system, which allows them to choose and participate from various plans.

In fiscal year 2026, plans reflecting employees' individuality are scheduled to be implemented, such as "Okinawa Tour to eat pineapple and Soki Soba together," "Day trip paragliding in Niigata & Gunma," "Shige's Kitchen" where employees skilled in cooking showcase their talents, and "Beginners Welcome! Underground Idol Live Show."

*1 The cumulative participation rate of 107% is calculated by dividing the total number of participants per year by the number of eligible employees. This figure exceeds 100% because some employees participate in multiple plans.

While young people shy away from "feeling obligated," company trips are regaining attention

The implementation rate of company trips has been on a long-term downward trend. According to a survey by Sanro Research Institute Inc.*2, while about 90% of companies implemented company trips during the bubble economy, the implementation rate fell to 27.8% in 2020. Furthermore, a survey conducted by Japan Design Inc. targeting Generation Z*3 found that 32.4% of young people responded that they "do not want to participate in company trips." Reasons cited include "the need to be considerate of superiors and seniors," "the need to participate in plans and activities that are not of personal interest," and "the need to be mindful of the company's atmosphere and vibe."

On the other hand, company trips are regaining attention as a corporate welfare benefit. In a survey conducted by Teikoku Databank, Ltd. in 2025*4, "Implementing/subsidizing company trips" ranked first along with "Flextime" as a welfare benefit that companies want to introduce in the future.

While company trips have decreased due to a combination of factors such as the collapse of the bubble economy, the spread of telework, and changes in the relationship between companies and employees, opportunities for spontaneous interaction beyond departments and for non-work-related connections have also decreased. This suggests that companies are being forced to reconsider the nature of "places where people can interact in real life."

Traditional company trips, where "the company takes the lead and all employees participate uniformly," are becoming incompatible with the current working style, where values and lifestyles are diversifying, due to reasons such as "not wanting to participate in events that require consideration" and "difficulty participating on weekends due to having children."

Against this backdrop, ZEROIN is evolving and operating its employee travel system to adapt to the changing times, viewing company trips not as "events organized by the company" but as "opportunities for employees to do what they want with the people they want to do it with."

*2 Sanro Research Institute Inc. "Survey on In-house Events, Company Trips, etc. (2020)" (2020) and "Survey on In-house Events, Company Trips, etc. (2014)" (2014) *3 Japan Design Inc. "Survey on Gen Z's Awareness of Company Trips" (2025) *4 Teikoku Databank, Ltd. "Survey on Corporate Actual Conditions Regarding Employee Benefits" (2025)

ZT, the "Selectable Company Trip" that ZEROIN has continued for 14 years

ZT is ZEROIN's unique employee travel subsidy system where employees plan, recruit participants, and choose to participate.

Employees can freely launch tours (travel plans). Tours recruit participants on ZEROIN's proprietary internal communication tool, "CAMPUS," and a tour is established when 4 or more people gather.

Tour content varies from lunches and day events to domestic and international overnight trips. Instead of the company deciding the destination and content, tours are planned based on employees' hobbies, interests, and desires, which lowers the barrier to participation and fosters interaction across departments that might not occur in daily work.

Participant names are disclosed once the ZT establishment condition of 4 or more participants is met. Since participants are not known during the recruitment phase, opportunities for spontaneous encounters between employees who do not usually interact are created through common hobbies and interests.

Main Features of ZT

- Employees can plan freely Employees can freely plan tours within certain rules based on their own "desires" and interests.

- Tours are implemented if 4 or more participants gather Tours are announced internally, and if 4 or more colleagues who wish to participate gather, the tour is confirmed.

- Both overnight and day trips are eligible A wide range of tours are planned to suit various lifestyles, including day trips for lunch or experience events, and domestic/international overnight trips.

- Subsidy amount is linked to performance The subsidy amount fluctuates based on the previous year's performance, creating a system where employees can feel the company's growth.

- Designed for spontaneous encounters Participant names are disclosed after a certain number of people have gathered, encouraging encounters between employees who do not usually interact.

FY2025 Performance

Eligible employees: 191 full-time employees

Actual participation rate: 72.9% (Percentage of employees who actually utilized the system out of those eligible)

Cumulative participation rate: 107%

Number of tour plans: 47 tours (28 tours held)

Number of tours with participants from multiple departments: 21 tours / 28 tours

Most attended tour: 19 participants (Family BBQ)

In fiscal year 2025, a diverse range of tours reflecting employees' individuality were created.

- Golf tour to play a round with the president, beginners welcome! - Tour to listen to live music at a long-established JAZZ BAR frequented by executives in their student days - Tour to create your own 3D figure using 360-degree camera footage - Tour to go see an underground idol live show with an employee who loves underground idols - Tour to taste authentic cuisine and shop in Korea - Winery tour with explanations by wine-loving employees - Family BBQ tour for everyone to enjoy, children welcome! (Note: Costs for non-employees are self-funded)

Thoughts behind ZT (President and CEO Mitsunori Ojo)

Mitsunori Ojo, President and CEO, ZEROIN Inc.

ZT embodies our desire for employees to "broaden their careers by utilizing the company."

I myself experienced how meeting a "diagonal superior" (a senior or superior from another department, not a direct supervisor) through an in-house event during my time at Recruit influenced my career. When relationships beyond work superiors and colleagues increase within the company, it fosters a desire to "work with that person" or "try that department or job."

Furthermore, expanding vertical, horizontal, and diagonal relationships within the company increases the number of people you can consult with when facing challenges in your daily work.

ZT is not just an employee travel system; it is a mechanism that supports the career development of each employee and strengthens organizational connections.

Employee Voices: How ZT Led to Career and Work Development

ZEROIN has an HR system called "Chance Create," which allows employees to submit transfer requests every six months. Here are episodes of employees who have achieved career development using Chance Create, or connected ZT interactions to their daily work.

<Employee in their 2nd year of employment> "When cross-departmental collaboration is needed for my work, employees I met through ZT now consult with me."

<Employee in their 10th year of employment> "I met an employee from a department I was interested in through ZT and was able to discuss a transfer. As a result, I was able to move to a department where I can do what I want."

What Transferees Say About Differences from Previous Jobs - The Appeal of the ZT System

<Employee with 8 years and 8 months of service> "The ability to plan your own preferred activities, rather than predetermined ones, is unique to ZEROIN! Not only do you enjoy the tour, but natural communication arises through the planning and experience with participants. I believe it's a system that allows you to increase your 'acquaintances' within the company across departments."

<Employee with 3 years and 3 months of service> "In my previous job, there were almost no opportunities to interact across departments, so I find ZT to be a very valuable system. Especially since my department is stationed at client offices, our contact with other departments is limited. However, through ZT, my circle of interaction has expanded, making it easier to consult about work-related concerns. It's a very attractive initiative that naturally creates new connections."

ZT Tours Scheduled for FY2026

Various plans are being submitted by employees to surpass the participation rate of FY2025. We look forward to seeing what kind of interactions will emerge.

- Tour to cheer for the Japan national soccer team in the World Cup with beer servers at headquarters

- Defeat your boss! ZEROIN Bowling King Determination Tour - Children welcome! Let's relive Heisei culture! Sticker exchange lunch tour (Note: Costs for non-employees are self-funded) - Tour to eat pineapple and Soki Soba in Okinawa - "Shige's Kitchen" tour where employees skilled in cooking showcase their talents

- Beginners welcome! Sea fishing experience tour taught by fishing enthusiasts - Niigata/Gunma paragliding experience tour

- Cycling tour cutting through the wind of Shimanami Kaido

- Tour visiting two beer factories and tasting freshly brewed beer

- Tour to watch Sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan, a once-in-a-lifetime experience! * New tours are scheduled to be planned in the future.

[For Media Relations] Information on Scenes Available for Interviews and Filming

ZT is scheduled to be implemented sequentially from June to November 2026. Reporters wishing to conduct interviews will be guided to tours where filming and accompaniment are possible, depending on the timing of their contact.

Interviewable content is as follows:

On-site interviews during ZT implementation tours You can film employees gathering across departments and positions, natural interactions between employees, and the organizers managing the event on the day.

Interviews with Representative Ojo We can discuss the background of continuing employee trips for 14 years, the reasons for making them employee-led, and our philosophy of connecting spontaneous encounters within the company to career development.

Interviews with Planners and Participants We can introduce employees' real voices, such as "Why did you create this plan?" "How did you connect with employees you don't usually interact with?" and "How has ZT influenced your work or career?"

Example Interview Themes "How to redesign company trips that young people avoid" "In-house communication measures in the telework era" "Employee benefits that leverage employee initiative" "Creating an organization that fosters spontaneous encounters across departments"

Company Profile

Company Name: ZEROIN Inc.

Established: February 2, 1998

Representative: Mitsunori Ojo, President and CEO

Headquarters: 1-5-2 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Uchisaiwai-cho Heiwabldg. 20F

Capital: 36.9 million yen

Number of Employees: 218 (as of April 2026)

Business Activities: ■ Internal Branding Business ■ General Affairs Consulting and Outsourcing Business ■ Office Design Business https://www.zeroin.co.jp/