[Learning at a Bookstore with a Glass of Wine] Wine is a Mirror Reflecting "Thought," Not Knowledge. New Book "Why Executives Get Hooked on Wine?" Publication Commemorative Event to be Held on July 16 (Thu) at Independent Bookstore CITYLIGHT BOOK!

Cross Media Publishing Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koichiro Kobayakawa), which primarily publishes business and practical books, released the book "Why Executives Get Hooked on Wine?" on June 26, 2026. To commemorate the publication of this book, a special talk event will be held on July 16, 2026 (Thu) featuring the author, Yuko Konno, and the editor in charge and Cross Media Group Representative, Koichiro Kobayakawa.

This book is authored by Yuko Konno, who has been at the forefront of the wine business for 17 years and is currently based in Silicon Valley. It unravels the thinking methods and aesthetics of executives around the world, discovered through sharing wine with them.

This publication commemorative event will be a talk session held at the independent bookstore CITYLIGHT BOOK. It will unravel the preconception that "wine requires knowledge and is difficult," and will cover Konno's unconventional career and mindsets applicable from tomorrow, for a full hour and a half. Participants can relax and enjoy the event while ordering drinks such as wine at the bar adjacent to the bookstore (one drink order required).

● Talk Content (Tentative)

・From Large Corporations to the World: Why "Wine"? This session will delve into the unique career of Konno, who, after a successful career in corporate sales at a major Japanese company, suddenly ventured into the world, working unpaid at a Burgundy winery with her young daughter. She will discuss the "inconvenient truths about wine" seen from the front lines of the wine business and the surprising behavior of the world's wealthiest individuals.

・Graduating from "IQ Scores": The "True Way to Enjoy Wine" Starting with the observation that "Japanese people choose wine based too much on IQ scores," this session will reveal the true enjoyment of wine. It will offer hints for enjoying wine more freely, such as "improvised recovery" when food and wine don't pair well, and an anecdote about a wealthy individual who drank a super-premium wine costing over 2 million yen with ice in a beer glass at a Shibuya izakaya.

・Learning the Future "Mindset" from Wine This session will touch upon the essence of business and life as seen through wine, including the decisive difference between Japanese and global "consideration," and how to "have your own judgment criteria" without being swayed by others' opinions. It will also explore why those who have achieved extreme success would deliberately desire a "winery" that is not profitable, delving into their profound views on life and death.

● Event Details

・Date and Time: July 16, 2026 (Thu) 19:30-21:00 ・Venue: CITYLIGHT BOOK (1 minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station) ・Format: Talk Session (60 minutes) + Q&A (30 minutes) ・Speakers: Yuko Konno (Author), Koichiro Kobayakawa (Cross Media Group Representative) ・Participation Fee: One drink order + book purchase ・How to Apply for Talk: Send a DM to the CITYLIGHT BOOK (https://www.instagram.com/citylightbook/) account, or email [email protected] with "Event Name" and "Your Name." Applications will close once capacity is reached. *Payment of participation fee will be made at the store on the day of the event. *Cash, various credit cards, and electronic money are accepted, excluding PayPay.

▼ Recommended for: ・Those interested in or who like wine ・Business professionals who want to confidently navigate global social settings ・Those who want to be remembered as someone "worth meeting again" in dining and entertainment situations ・Those who feel they are easily swayed by others' opinions or the "correct" answer ・Leaders who want to refine their own judgment criteria and values

● Speaker Introduction

Yuko Konno Representative Director of Almond Inc. / Co-CEO of Philosophy Technologies inc. After graduating from the Faculty of Commerce, Waseda University, she gained experience in corporate sales at Takeda Pharmaceutical and Recruit Agent (now Recruit). After studying abroad in New Zealand, Spain, and France, she founded Almond Inc. and has been working to create new markets and customer experiences through wine. She has collaborated with major companies in various industries, including the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Wine (Square Enix), Yamaha, NTT Docomo, Tokyu Land Corporation, and Kansai Electric Power Group. Leveraging her knowledge of wine gained in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and London, she has handled numerous consulting projects for high-end clients. She has lived in 6 countries using 4 languages and is currently based in Silicon Valley, globally expanding businesses that utilize philosophical thinking. Her previous book is "How to Convey Invisible Value" (Cross Media Publishing).

● Book Information

"Why Executives Get Hooked on Wine?"

Author: Yuko Konno Price: 1,870 yen (1,700 yen + tax) Format: 46 size / 288 pages / 1-color printing ISBN: 978-4-295-41223-6 Publisher: Cross Media Publishing Inc. (Cross Media Group Co., Ltd.) Release Date: June 26, 2026

◆ Related URLs https://cm-publishing.co.jp/books/9784295412236/ Amazon https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4295412236/ Rakuten Books https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18625958/

● About CITYLIGHT BOOK

Aiming to be a neighborhood bookstore, CITYLIGHT BOOK is a small independent store that handles a comprehensive range of books and has many fans. It was started by Yasuhiro Kaminaga, who participated from the founding of the publishing company Two Virgins, which produces books and magazines.

Store Name: CITYLIGHT BOOK

Address: 1-32-3 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo CABO uehara 102

Business Hours: 13:00-22:00

Representative: Yasuhiro Kaminaga

URL: https://www.instagram.com/citylightbook/

● About Cross Media Group

Cross Media Group's vision is to "provide new value to society by engaging in businesses that contribute to the growth of people and companies through all forms of media." They disseminate content useful for modern leaders and business professionals in areas such as business, health, and self-improvement. Beyond publishing, they provide multifaceted support for corporate branding and content creation.

【Company Profile】

Company Name: Cross Media Group Co., Ltd.

Head Office Location: 2-20-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Toei Jingumae Gaien Bldg.

President and CEO: Koichiro Kobayakawa

Business Activities: Publishing, Marketing Support, Design, Active Health

Established: October 2005

Official HP: http://cm-group.jp

PR Site "Crossmedian": https://crossmedian.com/