Ailied Architects Supports Ito Kyuemon's RED (Xiaohongshu) Operations, Achieving 20,000 Followers and Doubling Search Index in Approximately 1 Year

Ailied Architects Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Masato Muraoka; Stock Code: 6081; hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), which realizes corporate growth through the power of AX, is pleased to announce its efforts in supporting the operation of the official account on "RED (Xiaohongshu)," a lifestyle sharing platform for the Chinese market, for Ito Kyuemon Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Koji Kitamura; hereinafter referred to as "Ito Kyuemon").

Aiming for effective approaches to inbound customers from Chinese-speaking regions, we began supporting the design and operation of Ito Kyuemon's official RED account, starting with customer insights. As a result of promoting the creation and operation of original content tailored to the culture and values of Chinese-speaking users, we have achieved 20,000 followers in approximately one year, and the brand search index has approximately doubled compared to the previous year. Furthermore, as of the end of May 2026, the official account ranks third among domestic restaurant accounts on RED in terms of follower count. (※1)

Background and Overview

Ito Kyuemon, which saw an increase in visitors from Chinese-speaking regions before the COVID-19 pandemic, faced challenges in designing optimal strategies due to a lack of understanding regarding where inbound visitors obtained information before their visits.

Through in-store paper surveys and direct customer interviews, the company discovered that RED (Xiaohongshu) played a crucial role in pre-travel information gathering. Using these customer voices as a starting point for decision-making, they opened an official RED account. Leveraging our expertise in understanding customer insights in the Chinese market and our RED operational know-how, we commenced support for its operation.

Measures and Results

- Strategic Design for Awareness Acquisition

Acknowledging the difficulty in directly measuring store visits and sales generated through RED, Ito Kyuemon established a policy focused solely on acquiring awareness as its operational objective. Key performance indicators (KPIs) adopted include the follower count ranking in addition to the search index for their brand name. Under this policy, we were responsible for content design and operation aimed at expanding awareness and increasing the search index.

- Content and Operations Based on Insights of Chinese-Speaking Consumers

Instead of simply repurposing Instagram posts for domestic audiences onto RED, we created and distributed original content tailored to the culture and values of Chinese-speaking users, executing content operations rooted in local insights. This foundation of awareness has led to the achievement of 20,000 followers in approximately one year, with the brand search index increasing by approximately double.

Client Representative Comments

We felt confident entrusting Ailied Architects because they have many staff members from China with a deep understanding of local insights, and they have extensive operational experience, including with food-related companies. We believe the increase in follower count and search index are results that could not have been achieved without operating an official account. While it is difficult to quantitatively measure the impact on store visits, we feel the results strongly through our perceptions and feedback from store staff. We aim to work on repeat customer initiatives that connect in-store and e-commerce in the future.

Future Outlook

We will continue to contribute to Ito Kyuemon's inbound marketing in Chinese-speaking regions by leveraging our RED operational know-how and deep understanding of customer insights in the Chinese market. To foster development from awareness acquisition to relationship building, we will support further expansion of measures, including initiatives to promote store visits and content for repeat customers. Furthermore, by utilizing our strengths in "strategic design based on data analysis" and "creative development that resonates with local users," we will further strengthen our global marketing support for domestic companies aiming to enter the inbound market or expand overseas.

<Support for Inbound Marketing and Cross-Border EC>

Ailied Architects provides integrated inbound marketing and cross-border e-commerce support, from strategic design to execution, by redefining the appeal of corporate products and services in overseas markets, including Chinese-speaking regions.

Key support services include:

- SNS/Advertising Operations: Official account operations and advertising distribution on RED, Weibo, WeChat, Douyin, Instagram, Facebook, etc., as well as map advertising and creative production.

- KOL (※2) / KOC (※3) / Live Commerce: KOL/KOC initiatives utilizing creator networks, planning and operation of live streaming and live commerce.

- AI and Data Utilization: Marketing support utilizing AI for market research, advertising content production and optimization, chatbot implementation, etc.

- CRM/Customer Analysis: Extracting and utilizing customer insights through AI analysis of customer feedback using our proprietary product "Kaname.ax Global."

- Cross-Border EC Support: Support for opening official RED store (EC) accounts, and assistance with payment and logistics design.

Service Page: https://service.aainc.co.jp/global/service/inbound/

Inquiries

For inquiries regarding our services, please contact us via the link below.

https://service.aainc.co.jp/global/service/inbound/contact

<Company Profile of Ito Kyuemon Co., Ltd.>

Representative Director

Koji Kitamura

Head Office Location

19-3 Udo Makigahira, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture

URL

https://www.itohkyuemon.co.jp/corporate

Founded

1832

<Company Profile of Ailied Architects Inc.>

Representative

Chairman and Representative Director: Yushi Tanaka

President: Masato Muraoka

Location

4F, Uno-sawa Tokyu Building, 1-19-15 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

URL

https://www.aainc.co.jp

Established

August 30, 2005

Business Activities

Marketing AX Business / Asset AX Business

<About Ailied Architects Inc.>

Ailied Architects Inc. is an AX company that promotes AX (AI Transformation) by redesigning conventional business structures with an AI-first approach, thereby realizing sustainable corporate growth.

We operate a "Marketing AX Business" that transforms marketing through data x creativity utilizing AI, and an "Asset AX Business" that aims to improve asset value through AX in the on-chain economic sphere.

Since our founding in 2005, we have accumulated over 6,000 marketing support cases, a data asset of customer voices including UGC, and proprietary SaaS and AI technologies. We bring together digital and AI talent responsible for everything from strategy planning to creative, operations, and development, and as a group of planners and creators who continuously transform ourselves, we continue to take on challenges with the aim of creating "a society where the creativity of people and companies circulates around the world."

※1 Survey Target: Accounts existing on RED. Survey Method: Visual confirmation by employees of Ailied Architects Inc. and Othello Inc.

※2 Abbreviation for Key Opinion Leader. Refers to influencers with significant influence in China.

※3 Abbreviation for Key Opinion Consumer. Refers to consumers who post authentic and reliable reviews that influence purchasing decisions.

* Company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.