Supporting SMEs in Strengthening Competitiveness and Creating New Value! Oita Prefecture's "Oita Creative Utilization Promotion Project" Fully Launched

Barbara Pool Inc. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yumiiri Inoue; hereinafter referred to as Barbara Pool) has been commissioned by the Oita Prefecture Commerce, Tourism and Labor Department to undertake the "FY2026 Oita Creative Utilization Promotion Project," which will officially commence in July 2026. This project aims to solve fundamental management challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oita Prefecture through the power of creativity, supporting their competitiveness enhancement and the creation of new value.

The catchphrase for this year is "UNITED BY CREATIVE. ─Towards Co-creative Creativity that Overcomes Change─." To promote collaboration between SMEs in Oita Prefecture and creative professionals such as producers, designers, ICT engineers, and architects, three events will be held starting this summer: a seminar for support organizations, and two business challenge deep-dive workshops & matching events.

Background and Objectives of the Project

Oita Prefecture is facing pressing issues such as population decline and industrial renewal. To overcome this situation and achieve sustainable growth for SMEs, it is essential to strengthen their competitiveness and create new value through the utilization of creative human resources. This project delves into the fundamental issues companies face and creates opportunities for them to connect with the most suitable creative professionals, thereby fostering the creation of high-value-added products and services and the development of new markets. Furthermore, subsidies will be provided to support a portion of the fees for commissioning creators, encouraging corporate challenges.

In its third year, this project is positioned as the "Co-creation Expansion Phase," with an enhanced focus on "exploring the problems that truly need to be solved and breaking through them with creativity, going beyond mere subsidy support or design." New lecturers with practical know-how in "failure-free product development" will be invited, and a collaborative structure involving support organizations, creators, and businesses will be established to provide more practical assistance.

Three Programs to be Held This Summer

【1】Seminar for Support Organizations and Creators ─ This is How Marketable Products Are Born.

◎ Lecturer Profile: Yasuhiro Shigeyi

Served as a buyer for a major listed company (mail-order business) in Tokyo, handling 2,000 business negotiations annually and involved in numerous hit products. Subsequently, after working for a local support organization, he became an independent Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant. He currently lectures at Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Tokyo School of SME Management across the country. Products he has produced have received numerous awards, including the "Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award" and the "Prefectural Governor's Award (Grand Prize)." He is a popular SME Management Consultant with extensive support experience nationwide.

【2】Business Challenge Deep-Dive Workshop & Matching Event DAY1

Theme: "Exploring the Problems That Truly Need to Be Solved"

◎ Lecturer Profile: Tsuyoshi Sakaguchi

Originally from Kumamoto Prefecture. After completing his graduate studies at Osaka University, he joined Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. He has been involved in policy formulation and implementation support for government ministries, new business startup support in collaboration with regional financial institutions, and business development leading to added value improvement. In the think tank division, he conducted regional future forecasting and support for the Noto Peninsula earthquake recovery. He has served as a committee member and coordinator for research groups of ministries and local governments. He has been involved with Oita Prefecture as a lecturer for the Oita Creative Practice College and Creative Caravan, and as a coordinator for the Fu-nai Go-ban-gai Shopping Street. Since 2025, he continues to work in the region in his current role.

【3】Business Challenge Deep-Dive Workshop & Matching Event DAY2

Theme: "Solving Corporate Challenges with Creativity"

Subsidies Available to Participating Businesses

Past Achievements (FY2024-2025)

About Barbara Pool Inc.

Barbara Pool is an "innovation company that solves corporate, regional, and societal challenges through creativity." With a spirit of challenge and a "first penguin" mentality, their motto is to constantly create new value and change, and they develop co-creative projects with companies, governments, and regions nationwide.

With a focus on three core areas—creative business, regional revitalization business, and education business—they provide a wide range of support, from accompanying companies in branding and product development to promoting regional industries and nurturing creative talent. They have been commissioned and operated multiple projects with Oita Prefecture since 2016, including the "CREATIVE PLATFORM OITA" project, and have been deeply involved in promoting the creative industry within the prefecture for approximately 10 years.

Company Profile

Company Name: Barbara Pool Inc.

CEO: Yumiiri Inoue

Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Business Activities: Creative Business, Regional Revitalization Business, Education Business

Oita Prefecture Contact: Koizumi, Onoe (Resident in Oita Prefecture)

URL: https://www.barbarapool.com/

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Contact: Barbara Pool Inc. Hirobe, Koizumi, Onoe

E-mail: [email protected]

Project HP: https://occ.oitacreative-college.jp/

*This project is commissioned by the Oita Prefecture Commerce, Tourism and Labor Department, Business Creation and Finance Division.