Six Young CEOs and Successors from Fukuoka/Kyushu Gather to Directly Engage with 'Next-Gen' Talent

Past SokonaraMEET event highlights

Sokonara Inc. (Headquarters: Tenjin 2-chome 5-28, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City; CEO: Yusuke Miyake; hereinafter 'Sokonara') will host the 'SokonaraMEET Special Edition' on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 19:00 at 'ethnico' in Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City. This event will bring together six young CEOs and successors from regional enterprises with individuals considering their future careers for small-group, direct dialogue. Participants will not be informed of the participating companies in advance, allowing them to experience a 'chance encounter' with the entrepreneurs' philosophies free from preconceptions about company names. This is the first time that Sokonara has linked its in-development career exploration app with a live event, and also the first time that six companies from diverse industries—specifically young CEOs and successors—will appear together on stage.

Background: Beyond 'Who Will Succeed?'

According to Teikoku Databank's 'National Survey on Trends in Successor Shortages (2025)', the rate of Japanese companies lacking successors has improved for the seventh consecutive year, reaching a record low of 50.1%. At the same time, the form of business succession is changing significantly. The survey shows that 'internal promotion' (36.1%) now surpasses 'family succession' (32.2%), and the proportion of non-family successors among candidates has reached a record high of 41.0%. The assumption that 'a family business must be inherited by family' is breaking down, and the question of 'who will build the company's future' is becoming an open one to society.

Moreover, securing a successor is not the end goal for a company, but rather the beginning. For successors who take over a business to drive transformation—such as launching new ventures, advancing digital transformation (DX), expanding sales channels, or reforming organizations—they need to meet peers who share their vision and are willing to take on challenges together. Sokonara aims not to 'find a successor,' but to create opportunities for 'meeting the next generation of partners who will co-create new regional enterprises with future leaders,' and has planned this event accordingly.

Three 'Firsts' in This Event

Simultaneous appearance of six companies from diverse industries, limited to young CEOs and successors (first ever)

Industries include: paulownia box manufacturing, custom machinery manufacturing for food, transportation, printing, construction, and trading.

CEOs and next-generation leaders, primarily in their 30s, will take the stage.

Held at 'ethnico (Esuniko)' (first time)

The manager of ethnico, the event venue, is also in a position to inherit a family business. The space aims to bring together those who pass businesses to the next generation, those who create new ventures, and those who join these challenges.

Integration of an in-development career exploration app with a live event (first time)

Participants will read articles about each company and entrepreneur on their smartphones, recording their interests and points of empathy, then select the entrepreneurs they wish to speak with directly.

In-development career exploration app

View details

Experience on the Day: 'Know the Person' Before 'Find the Company'

The most distinctive feature of this event is that participants will not know which companies are represented until the day of the event. Without preconceptions from company names or job postings, attendees will encounter the entrepreneurs' philosophies directly and choose whom they want to talk to based on genuine interest—designed as an experience of 'knowing the person' before 'finding the company.' The goal is for unexpected 'chance encounters' with unfamiliar industries or entrepreneurs to spark new career possibilities.

Unlike typical joint company information sessions, where companies present one-sidedly, the event will proceed as follows:

Read articles about each company and entrepreneur on smartphones

Listen to presentations by the entrepreneurs themselves

Record on the app which companies or ideas sparked interest or empathy

Select the entrepreneurs they want to talk to more

Move to the tables of the entrepreneurs they are interested in

Engage in direct, small-group dialogue with the entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs and participants engaging in small-group direct dialogue (from past SokonaraMEET)

Since the event does not assume job applications or screening, those who have not decided to change jobs or who simply wish to gather information are welcome to attend.

Speakers (6)

※Company names will not be disclosed to the public in advance, as they will be announced on the day of the event to participants. For media inquiries, we will provide individual briefings in advance—please contact us (for pre-event reporting, we kindly request cooperation in withholding company names and referring only by industry. Post-event reporting with full names is acceptable).

Executive Photos

Industry and Overview of Each Executive

01｜Trading / DX

A reform-minded young CEO transforming a long-established company through data

02｜Printing / Promotions

A young CEO evolving a printing company into a comprehensive promotional services enterprise

03｜Manufacturing / Automation

A next-generation CEO in their early 30s supporting frontline operations through automation

04｜Logistics / Packaging

A young successor in their early 30s supporting Fukuoka's logistics infrastructure

05｜Construction / Urban Development

A female CEO running urban development beyond the scope of construction

06｜Traditional Industry / M&A

A 30-something CEO of a long-established company breaking the mold of traditional industries

CEO Comment (Yusuke Miyake, CEO, Sokonara Inc.)

'I grew up in a family where my father ran a business. Since I chose not to inherit the family business, I haven't had the same experience as those who actually shoulder the responsibility of running one. However, I think I can somewhat understand the feelings of weighing what is inherited from family against the life path one wishes to pursue. Simply having a successor does not determine a company's future. To realize new ventures or organizational transformation, one needs partners who will challenge alongside. I want to create pivotal encounters—between peers in their 30s, successors, and potential future partners—from my hometown of Fukuoka.'

Event Overview

As an Internal Venture from Kansai Electric Power

Sokonara Inc. was born from Kansai Electric Power's internal venture program and established in Fukuoka City in July 2024. The company is developing a career co-creation platform that helps individuals find connections with their values through articles about companies and entrepreneurs. This event aims to demonstrate, from Fukuoka, a new way for young leaders shaping the future of regional enterprises to meet peers who will co-create their challenges.

Overview

Event Name

SokonaraMEET Special Edition

Venue

ethnico (Esuniko)

2F, Daimyo O.N.O Building, 2-1-50 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka

Speakers

Six young CEOs and successors (primarily in their 30s) from regional enterprises in Fukuoka and Kyushu

Content

Presentations by six speakers / Reading company and entrepreneur articles via app and recording interests and empathy / Small-group direct dialogue with entrepreneurs of interest / Networking between participants and represented companies

Target Audience

Individuals interested in learning about regional enterprises and entrepreneurs, those considering their future careers, and those interested in applying their experience within regional businesses (those who have not decided to change jobs are also welcome)

Participation Fee

Free

Capacity

Several dozen

Registration

https://app.sokonara.co.jp/meet/

Media Contact for This Announcement

Sokonara Inc., Public Relations Email: [email protected]

Source: Teikoku Databank 'National Survey on Trends in Successor Shortages (2025)' (Published November 21, 2025)