Tokihana Inc. Holds "Tokihana 10th Anniversary Event": A Report on the 10-Year Milestone Industry Event

Tokihana Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Masaki Ando; hereinafter "Tokihana"), the operator of the LINE-based wedding venue search service "Tokihana" (https://tokihana.net/), held the "Tokihana 10th Anniversary Event," an industry-focused gathering to commemorate its 10th anniversary, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo.

Since its founding in May 2016, Tokihana Inc. is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over this past decade, the journey for the bridal industry has been anything but calm. The environment surrounding weddings has undergone continuous and significant shifts, marked by changing needs post-COVID-19, diversification of values, and evolving information-gathering behaviors. Amidst these "rough seas," Tokihana has been able to continuously move forward thanks to the support of many professionals across the bridal industry, especially the wedding venues that sincerely engage with brides and grooms every single day.

This event was held not merely as a celebration of an anniversary, but with the desire to directly convey our gratitude for the past decade and to create a space that sparks hints for the future and fosters new connections. It was hosted as an opportunity to contemplate both the "past 10 years of the bridal industry" and the "next 10 years" together with industry professionals.

"Tokihana 10th Anniversary Event" Report

The venue chosen for this occasion was Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo. As a venue where Tokihana regularly introduces many couples, we chose to utilize this location for the landmark event of our 10th anniversary.

On the day of the event, over 120 guests attended, including wedding venues, partner companies, and industry affiliates who have walked alongside and supported Tokihana.

Part 1 featured a talk session titled "Tokihana and the Industry's 10 Years," welcoming leading guest speakers from the industry. Speakers shared their perspectives on how the industry has changed over the past decade, the shifts in values among couples and bridal workers since the pandemic, and what will be required of wedding venues and the industry moving forward, alongside their expectations for Tokihana.

In Part 1, themed "Changes in the Industry over the Past 10 Years and the Future," speakers included Atsushi Kato, President and CEO of Starfronts Inc.; Jun Tarikino, Representative Director of Value Management Co., Ltd.; and Kenji Kitaori, Editor-in-Chief of Wedding Journal.

Reflecting on the decade that saw massive changes in the bridal industry's landscape, a perspective was shared that the rapid transformations induced by COVID-19 essentially accelerated the surfacing of market environment and value changes that were otherwise meant to progress gradually.

Furthermore, as the evolution of AI brings changes across various sectors, participants agreed that the bridal industry will not be abruptly replaced by technology; rather, it is a field where the value of human intervention is increasingly questioned and essential. Therefore, it was emphasized that accurately grasping these changes across the industry and considering the next steps is of utmost importance.

In Part 2, themed "Trends of Couples and Bridal Workers Post-COVID," speakers included Eri Saeki, Freelance Wedding Planner at ERISAEKIWedding; Takeaki Moriki, General Manager of the Group Business Promotion Department, Group Corporate Strategy Division at Dears Brain Holdings Inc.; and Naoki Suzuki, Executive Director of the Japan Bridal Culture Promotion Association.

"Diversification" and "Essentialization" emerged as the keywords for changes in couples post-COVID. In recent years, the value of wanting to make vows in a style unique to themselves has spread. While this has led to an increase in couples choosing civil (non-religious) ceremonies, some are also starting to think, "Even civil ceremonies follow a set mold," or "Is there a meaning to having a ceremony in the first place?" Consequently, the value expected from weddings has become even more diverse. It was shared that carefully capturing these shifts in values and addressing the feelings and desires of each individual couple is a perspective required of the future bridal industry.

Additionally, opinions were exchanged regarding workers who find their jobs rewarding but also perceive challenges in working conditions and work styles. The session highlighted the importance of preparing career options that allow for long-term active participation, culminating in a discussion that contemplated the future state of the bridal industry based on the shifting values of both couples and workers.

In Part 3, themed "The Future of Wedding Venues," speakers included Yuko Kishimoto, Representative Director of Something Four Co., Ltd.; Yusuke Yoshida, Director and COO of CRAZY Inc.; and Masaki Ando, Representative Director of Tokihana Inc.

Regarding the value required of future wedding venues, the speakers introduced their respective companies' initiatives that break free from conventional wedding frameworks. Something Four Co., Ltd.