11th Session of 'Erimane Planner Basic Course' to Launch This Autumn on September 26, 2026! Enrollment Opens July 21, 2026!

Graduation Ceremony Scene

Quol Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Mitake Building 101, 6-16-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tomomi Kurihara) regularly conducts the 'Area Management School,' an educational program designed to systematically teach Area Management (hereinafter 'Erimane')—a methodology increasingly recognized by real estate developers and various organizations involved in urban development as a key approach to enhancing regional value. We are pleased to announce that the 11th session of the Erimane Planner Basic Course (hereinafter 'the Course') will be held from Saturday, September 26, 2026, to Saturday, November 14, 2026, and enrollment for participants (maximum 10 participants, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis) will begin on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

⚫ Quol Co., Ltd. https://quol.jp/

⚫ Area Management School https://erimane-school.com/

A Foundational Course to Learn Know-How for Enhancing Regional Value and Cultivate Sustainable Urban Development Leaders

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, diverse and decentralized workstyles have become widespread, significantly shifting lifestyles. Amid a transformation in values—from centralized urban living to new perspectives on work, housing, and daily life—enhancing regional appeal, solving local challenges, and promoting self-sustained revitalization have become more critical than ever. There is now growing demand across various industries involved in urban and regional development for professionals who can realize and lead these initiatives as sustainable efforts.

Since its inception in 2018, this marks the 11th session of the Erimane Planner Basic Course, which has already produced well over 100 graduates—Erimane Planners. Many participants have broadly and systematically studied the fundamentals of area management through this course, including methods for identifying regional characteristics and resources, event planning, information dissemination techniques, business planning, and organizational design—all aimed at promoting vibrancy and community engagement. These graduates are now actively contributing as specialized Erimane planners in urban development and community-building fields. This course is a rare, dedicated Erimane program in Japan that ensures participants firmly acquire the foundational expertise required to become such planners.

Furthermore, the course adopts a hybrid format combining online and in-person sessions, earning high praise for enabling flexible, repeatable learning at convenient times and locations tailored to each participant’s lifestyle.

Utilizing various online tools to enhance understanding

Additionally, to support participants during the course, we have introduced communication tools that facilitate ongoing interaction—between instructors and participants, as well as among participants—enabling active Q&A and information exchange. Through regular workshops and special lectures, the course content becomes easier to understand and retain, and participants are consistently inspired by their peers, allowing them to sustainably engage in the nearly two-month comprehensive curriculum.

Diverse professionals involved in urban development participate

In recent years, participants have come from a wide range of industries—not only railways, commercial and residential developers, but also event companies, construction-related firms, public sector employees, and urban development organizations. This broad participation reflects a growing awareness across sectors about the potential for organically applying area management to advance their regionally rooted businesses and activities. In this sense, the course is not only beneficial for real estate industry practitioners but also highly valuable for participants from other industries. With its clear, hybrid teaching approach, the course provides content that is fully accessible and learnable for professionals from diverse backgrounds.

【Highlights of What You Will Learn in This Course】

1. Developing effective business plans that address unique regional challenges and enhance regional value

2. Survey and analysis methods for identifying and maximizing the use of regional resources

3. Creating financial plans that consider sustainable revenue sources to cover operational costs

4. Establishing appropriate organizational structures to motivate stakeholders and advance initiatives

etc…

【Recommended For】

1. Professionals considering the integration of area management into real estate development

2. Those planning to create vibrancy or events in commercial or mixed-use facilities

3. Individuals responsible for or practicing regional revitalization in shopping districts or city centers

4. Municipal officials engaged in central urban area revitalization initiatives

5. Key individuals responsible for resident communication in condominiums or housing complexes and for neighborhood revitalization

etc…

【Course Features】

1. All lectures are available via video streaming, allowing repeated viewing for deeper understanding. Mobile viewing is possible even while traveling.

2. In addition to each lecture, participants create assignments aligned with the lecture theme, reinforcing comprehension.

3. A communication tool (Slack) enables participants to share insights and opinions with peers.

4. Office Hours (OH) are held regularly, allowing direct questions on lecture content and assignments, as well as access to special lectures.

5. The final presentation event at the graduation ceremony will be held both in-person and online. On the same day, a site visit to observe real-world Erimane examples will also be conducted (in-person, optional participation).

6. Participants who complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.

The detailed schedule is as shown above.

Erimane School Correspondence Course Version

【We also offer a correspondence course version available year-round, regardless of timing】

We offer a correspondence course version—'Area Management Basic Planner Training Course (Full Set of Lectures 1–3)'—with identical lecture content, allowing anyone to study at their own pace, anytime.

(Note: No supplementary online lessons, assignment support, or site visits are included.)

This version is available at a more affordable price.

It is ideal for those who cannot align with the scheduled course or have missed the enrollment deadline.

For more details and to enroll, please visit the link below.

【Instructor Introduction】

Tomomi Kurihara

Representative Director, Quol Co., Ltd.

Urban Development Designer (First-Class Architect)

Principal, Area Management School

After graduating from Kyoto Institute of Technology, she joined Mori Building Co., Ltd., where she was involved in area management while planning and operating large-scale developments such as Roppongi Hills. She produced numerous local events and discovered new possibilities in urban development. After leaving Mori Building in 2005, she founded Quol Co., Ltd., positioning herself as an 'urban development designer' and has since been actively creating vibrancy and communities in various regions.