Notice of Filing of Lawsuit Regarding Use of a Similar School Name

HSGE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 5-17-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shinsaku Tanaka; hereinafter "the Company"), operator of Hayama International School (hereinafter "HIS"), hereby announces that on April 10, 2026, the Company filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction and other relief at the Yokosuka Branch of the Yokohama District Court, based on the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

1. History and Name of HIS

Since its founding in 2004, HIS has operated for 22 years from its campuses in Akiya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, and Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, consistently working to provide an international educational environment. We have welcomed children and students from diverse backgrounds, including families from the U.S. Navy Base Yokosuka, and our graduates cumulatively number approximately 800. Participants in various educational programs, including summer school, have exceeded 16,000 since the school's opening.

Through these many years of educational practice, we recognize that the name "HIS" has become widely known as an identifying mark of our school, not only within the local community but also among the expatriate community in Japan and international education stakeholders.

2. Circumstances Leading to the Filing of the Lawsuit

Recently, a name similar to our school's name "HIS" has come to be used as a school name by a third party. Under these circumstances, we have received numerous inquiries from domestic and international stakeholders, and have confirmed many inquiries, including from stakeholders residing in the United States, that appear to have confused our school with the school operated by the third party.

The Company has judged that the continuation of the current situation poses a significant risk of undermining the trust of our enrolled children and students and their families, our graduates, and all those who have supported HIS for many years. We have therefore decided to seek appropriate resolution in a court of law.

3. Outline of the Claim

In this lawsuit, the Company is seeking an injunction against the use of the similar name and other relief, based on Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. In consideration of the fair progress of legal proceedings and respecting the defendant's opportunity for defense, we will refrain from disclosing the specific defendant and details of the case at this stage.

4. Future Outlook

We will provide further reports on the details of this matter at an appropriate time, in accordance with the progress of the legal proceedings.

The Company will continue to take appropriate measures to protect the brand that HIS has built over 22 years and the trust placed in it, fulfilling its responsibility to enrolled students, their families, graduates, and all stakeholders involved in international education. We kindly ask for your continued understanding and support.

[Contact for media inquiries regarding this matter]

HSGE Co., Ltd. (Operator of Hayama International School)

PR Department: Sho Segawa

Address: 4427-1 Akiya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa 240-0105

TEL: 046-855-5112

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.hayama-international.co.jp/