Kowasys, a 46-Year-Old System Development Company, Launches Project to Visualize 'Invisible Work Supporting Society' Through Giant Art

Representative Director Hitomi Hirano (center) with young employees

Kowasys Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hitomi Hirano) has officially launched, starting June 2026, a large-scale art project to visually represent its system development business as an "invisible city supporting life on the surface."

The artwork will be created by IC4DESIGN, an internationally acclaimed illustration studio based in Hiroshima, known for designing covers for The New York Times and campaigns for the United Nations.

This project aims to visually communicate the creativity and social significance of system development—a largely invisible job—to address the growing IT talent shortage, and to accelerate the recruitment and development of next-generation engineers.

Background of the Project Launch: How to Convey the Human Side of "System Development"

Challenging the Visualization of "Behind-the-Scenes Invisible Work"

Since its founding in 1978, Kowasys (KOWASYS) has been responsible for developing large-scale business systems that support Japan’s social infrastructure in industries such as steel, automotive, and finance. The company upholds a straightforward corporate culture based on principles like "never abandon a project once accepted" and "nurture systems as their creator," maintaining a hands-on approach where engineers regularly visit client sites.

However, despite its critical importance, system development in the IT industry is often perceived by society as "invisible behind-the-scenes work." Within an industry structure centered on Staffing and Engineering Services (SES), individual engineers’ creativity and sense of growth are often overlooked.

In recruitment efforts, the company felt limited in conveying, through words alone, its pride in its "people-first corporate culture" and the "human warmth of on-site work" to students and job seekers.

Therefore, as part of a corporate website redesign, Kowasys launched this project to visualize the true nature of system development—its sense of purpose and creativity—using the metaphor of a "creative underground city that supports a rich life on the surface," transforming it into a single, large-scale artwork.

Collaboration with the Global Studio "IC4DESIGN"

To bring this grand vision to life, Kowasys has partnered with IC4DESIGN, a Hiroshima-based illustration studio with global recognition.

The studio is renowned for its highly detailed hand-drawn illustrations and is the creator of the picture book "Pierre the Maze Detective," which has sold over one million copies cumulatively.

"Pierre the Maze Detective," enjoyable for both children and adults

▼ Official Instagram of "IC4DESIGN"

https://www.instagram.com/hirokamigaki_ic4design/

Their philosophy of creating illustrations meant to be viewed for minutes, not seconds, resonates deeply with the meticulous attention to detail in system development.

For the artwork, Kowasys collaborated with Legaseed Inc., a recruitment expert group ranked 2nd in the "Nikkei and Mynavi 2025 Graduate Job-Hunting Company Popularity Ranking" consulting and research division, and crack Inc., a company that visualizes corporate philosophies through art and music.

The company conducted a survey of all 60 employees, incorporating real-life stories and individual personalities—such as "gardening hobbies," the new employee training program "Seed Club," and "client factory visits"—into the intricate underground city landscape, much like a "Where’s Wally?" ("Where’s Waldo?") game.

Future Plans: A New Approach to Recruitment and Talent Development

Once completed, the artwork will be featured as the main visual on Kowasys’ new corporate website and displayed at the entrance of its office in Akihabara. It will also be used in promotional goods and recruitment brochures. The artwork will also serve as an internal branding tool, allowing employees to personally identify with their workplace by finding themselves within the illustration.

Example of another client (Yusin Unyu) that commissioned art from IC4DESIGN

Kowasys will continue to convey the message that "system development is a highly creative job made possible by hardworking people behind the scenes" through this artwork.

The company is confident that this symbol, embodying its corporate culture, will create new encounters with young talents aspiring to become engineers in the IT industry—where SES employment is dominant—and further drive talent development.

Company Overview

Company Name: Kowasys Co., Ltd. (KOWASYS)

Headquarters: 10th Floor, URBAN CENTER Kanda-Sudachō, 2-7-2 Kanda-Sudachō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Representative Director Hitomi Hirano

Founded: October 1, 1978

Business Activities: Development of production management and logistics optimization systems, business infrastructure systems, personnel and payroll systems, e-commerce business support, and data utilization support

URL: https://kowasys.jp/

Recruitment: https://recruit.kowasys.jp/recruit/

【Inquiries regarding this matter】

Kowasys Co., Ltd. Recruitment & Public Relations Contact: Natsumi Haga

Email: [email protected]

TEL: 03-3526-2280

Recruitment Contact