Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd. Signs Disaster Prevention Partnership Agreement with Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, the First in Fukuoka Prefecture, to Support Procurement of Blankets and Clothing and Ensure Regional Safety and Security During Disasters

Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture / President and CEO: Taizo Endo) will sign a "Disaster Prevention Partnership Agreement" with Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and hold a signing ceremony at Tagawa City Hall on July 10 (Fri). On this occasion, we will donate 100 disaster relief recycled blankets (disaster prevention blankets) made from some of the suits collected at our stores. This marks the 8th such partnership agreement with a local government based on the donation of disaster prevention blankets, and the first initiative of its kind in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Tagawa City suffered extensive damage from heavy rains in Northern Kyushu in July 2012 and heavy rains in July 2018. To prepare for future disasters, our company has donated 100 disaster prevention blankets each in 2024 and 2025 (total of 200 blankets) for their use. This time, we have concluded a partnership agreement with the aim of contributing to the improvement of Tagawa City's disaster preparedness capabilities through further disaster prevention and relief activities.

Partnership Items in the Agreement

1. Provision and procurement support for relief supplies (disaster prevention blankets, clothing, etc.) during disasters.

2. Utilization of facilities to ensure the safety and security of the region.

3. Improvement of disaster awareness and public relations activities for citizens.

4. Promotion of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and resource circulation.

5. Other matters agreed upon through consultation between both parties that contribute to the objectives of this agreement.

Outline of the Signing Ceremony

Date and Time: July 10, 2026 (Fri) 13:00~

Location: Tagawa City Hall, 4th Floor Council Room (1-1 Chuo-machi, Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Attendees: Masayuki Ando, Deputy Mayor of Tagawa City, Acting Mayor of Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Michitake Hasebe, Executive Officer, ESG Promotion, Corporate Headquarters Manager, and General Affairs Department Manager, Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.

Riku Hironaka, Shop Manager, Yofuku no Aoyama Tagawa Store, Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.

Donated Items: 100 Disaster Relief Recycled Blankets (Disaster Prevention Blankets) / Size per blanket: 200 cm x 140 cm

Since 2018, our company has been recycling some of the suits and other items collected from customers to produce disaster prevention blankets. In 2019, we began donating these disaster prevention blankets to local governments. To date, we have donated a total of 3,000 blankets to 11 locations nationwide. Furthermore, our medium-term management plan emphasizes sustainability with a focus on SDGs, and Tagawa City is also promoting its 6th Comprehensive Plan, which prioritizes sustainability. Through this partnership agreement, we aim to build a disaster-resilient, safe, and secure community and realize a sustainable society by jointly promoting measures related to disaster prevention, mitigation, and resource circulation.

Donation of Disaster Prevention Blankets (Disaster Relief Recycled Blankets) and Partnership Agreement Initiated by This Initiative

Disaster prevention blankets are made from recycled materials from suits and other items collected at our stores. As part of our eco-friendly activities in collaboration with our customers, we collect used clothing at stores such as "Yofuku no Aoyama" and "The Suit Company." Approximately 99% of the collected clothing is reused or recycled, and since 2018, in light of the increasing severity and frequency of natural disasters nationwide, we have also begun recycling them into disaster prevention blankets. As a company with stores in all 47 prefectures of Japan (including remote islands), we have been donating to local governments since 2019 to support local residents in their disaster preparedness efforts. Furthermore, based on these relationships, we aim to solve regional issues in collaboration with local governments by entering into partnership agreements.

◎ Regarding other partnership agreements we have concluded: Click here

Recycling Process from Collected Clothing to Disaster Prevention Blankets

- Some of the clothing collected at "Yofuku no Aoyama" and "The Suit Company" is cut at the factory and processed into cotton-like material using a garnet fiber recycling machine. Then, the cotton-like raw material is mixed with polyester to create yarn precursors.

- The yarn precursors are twisted using specialized machinery to create yarn. This yarn is woven into fabric on a loom, and then the fabric is washed at high temperatures to dissolve dirt and sterilize it.

- The washed fabric is napped to align the fibers. Piping is applied to the edges of the fabric to complete the blanket.

- The finished blankets are compressed and packed into cardboard boxes, then stored at our product center.

◎ Collection of Unwanted Clothing and Resource Circulation: Click here

Resource Circulation Initiative "WEAR SHiFT"

"WEAR SHiFT" is a resource circulation project our company is undertaking to protect the future of the Earth. We collect unwanted clothing in recycling boxes installed at stores nationwide. Reusable items are distributed as used clothing overseas, while suits and other items are recycled into new products or automotive components. Furthermore, this initiative contributes to social contribution through the donation of disaster prevention blankets and forest conservation through donations to the general incorporated association more trees.

This project received the Minister of the Environment Award (Excellence Award) at the 12th Good Life Award hosted by the Ministry of the Environment.

※ The recycling boxes are made from environmentally friendly materials (100% waste fiber) produced from textile waste such as used clothing.

◎ What is WEAR SHiFT, creating clothes that don't end?

Yofuku no Aoyama Official YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/yBbE45gxeOM

Donation to General Incorporated Association "more trees" Based on the Amount of Clothing Collected

Since fiscal year 2021, we have been donating 2.5 yen per kilogram of collected clothing to more trees (a forest conservation organization), with an annual cap of 1 million yen. Starting from fiscal year 2024, we have changed the donation amount to 10 yen per kilogram (annual cap of 5 million yen). In addition, in December 2022, our company, more trees, and Town of Yusuhara, Kochi Prefecture signed a "Partnership Agreement on Forest Conservation," launching "AOYAMA Forest." Through continuous support for forest conservation, we expanded the planting area in October 2025. Currently, forest creation in collaboration with the local community is underway at two locations in Town of Yusuhara, Kochi Prefecture (Nakado district and Idaka district).

<Donation Records Based on Amount of Clothing Collected> Fiscal Year 2023: Collected amount 355,435 kg / Donation amount 888,588 yen Fiscal Year 2024: Collected amount 347,555 kg / Donation amount 3,475,550 yen

Fiscal Year 2025: Collected amount 289,430 kg / Donation amount 2,894,300 yen

AOYAMA Forest: Click here