Itabashi Ward Hosts 'Industrial Brand Strategy Conference' to Shape the Future of Local Industry

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Itabashi Ward held the Itabashi Industrial Brand Strategy Conference (hereinafter referred to as the 'Brand Core Conference').

Itabashi Ward is currently advancing initiatives toward the realization of the 'Itabashi Ward Industrial Promotion Vision 2035' (hereinafter referred to as the 'Vision') to adapt to the rapidly changing economic environment and ensure the long-term development of its local industries.

The vision for 2035 is to become a 'Brand Creation City where you can encounter new discoveries.' In an era of uncertainty, a stance of constantly challenging 'transformation' is crucial. Simultaneously, the concept of 'value co-creation,' where diverse entities bring their respective strengths to create and share new value together, forms the foundation that will support the regional economy moving forward.

The Brand Core Conference was initially established to create a cooperative structure for the 'International Conference on Optical Design and Fabrication (ODF '14)' held within the ward in February 2014. It has continued to be held as a forum to discuss the future vision of Itabashi as an industrial city and the industrial policies aimed at realizing that vision, and in recent years, it has been held annually.

The 15th conference this year aimed to share recognition among a total of 30 members, including Itabashi Ward officials, top executives from local companies, and representatives of related organizations, regarding the strengthening of industrial brand power to realize the Vision, and to reflect the opinions and requests gathered at the conference more effectively into the ward's industrial policies.

At the beginning of the conference, Mayor Takeshi Sakamoto of Itabashi Ward, serving as honorary chair, stated, 'The ward and the Brand Core members aim to strengthen their respective industrial brand power, which will in turn lead to improving the richness of residents' lives.' Following this, under the guidance of the newly appointed chair, Satoshi Hirano (former Representative Director and Chairman of Topcon Corporation), the ward reported on topics related to industrial brand strengthening for fiscal year 2025. Additionally, explanations were provided regarding future initiatives, including 'Industrial Strategy for the Realization of a Creation City,' 'Itabashi Ward Innovation Creation and Social Implementation Project,' 'PR for Optical Industries within the Ward and Network Construction for Students, Researchers, and Companies,' and the 'Itabashi Version Secret Research Toolkit Project.' The participating members engaged in a frank exchange of opinions, and the conference concluded successfully.

Through these initiatives, Itabashi Ward will further enhance its brand value as a 'town of manufacturing' with world-class technical capabilities and creativity, and promote sustainable industrial development.