Takihyo Co., Ltd. (head office: Nishi Ward, Nagoya City; Representative Director, President and CEO: Kazuo Taki) participated as a sponsoring company in the Kanto regional qualifying round of the “CAREER ROOKIES GP2025” business contest for university students, organized by Strobolights Co., Ltd. (head office: Machida City, Tokyo Metropolis; President and CEO: Keiichiro Hata). The event was held over two days at our Tokyo Branch on Saturday, August 30, 2025, and Saturday, September 20, 2025.

[Background to the Initiative]
For over 270 years, Takihyo has continued its business by adapting to the changing times with its foundation in the textile industry. The modern fashion industry is facing structural changes such as demands for sustainability and diversifying values. In such unpredictable age, for our company to achieve sustainable growth and achieve “an interesting company with great dreams” and “a spiritually nourished society” as stated in our corporate identity, it is essential to go beyond our own insights and engage in “co-creation” with the next generation that will lead the future.
The business contest “CAREER ROOKIES,” hosted by Strobolights Co., Ltd., emphasizes its role as “career education” that promotes participant growth through team practice, rather than solely evaluating the merits of business ideas. We believe that the practical experience gained in the process of striving for victory will be a driving force for the students’ development, and at the same time, by learning from the flexible thinking and perspectives of Gen Z, we will be able to build a mutually beneficial relationship.

[Event Overview and Achievements]
This competition was held as an industry-academia collaboration project with the aim of providing students with practical learning experiences in real business settings.

Content: Sponsorship of the “CAREER ROOKIES GP2025 Kanto Team Qualifying Round” business contest for students, theme provision, and judging support
Date and time: August 30, 2025 (Sat.) and September 20, 2025 (Sat.)
Location: Takihyo Co., Ltd. Tokyo Branch Office
Participants: A total of 10 teams (35 students) from the Kanto region

On the day of the competition, participating students worked together as teams to passionately debate the theme we presented: “Creating New Business Plans Focused on [Fan Activities × Apparel On-Demand Printing].” Our employees also participated as mentors, shared insights gained from the business world, and supported students in bringing their ideas to life. In the final presentation, each team presented a business plan that they had developed from their own unique perspective. Many proposals were made based on Gen Z’s unique use of digital technology and deep insights into social issues, and the venue was filled with excitement vibe for the entire event.

After rigorous judging process, a total of seven teams, including the winning team, have earned the right to compete in the main tournament semifinals. In addition, after the semifinal tournament, the final tournament will be held at the TSE Arrows on December 6, 2025, where this year’s No. 1 university business team will be decided.

We will leverage the ideas gained and the experience of engaging with students through this initiative to advance collaborative efforts with stakeholders as a “sustainable solutions company,” with the aim to balance solving societal issues with business.

[Participating Students’ Comments]
“This business contest was a great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the company Takihyo. I was deeply impressed by how Takihyo successfully balances tradition and innovation, such as by collaborating with various industries, while maintaining its long history dating back to the Edo period. By thinking from the perspective of utilizing the company’s assets, such as ‘What would Takihyo do if it were to start this new business?,’ I was able to experience the fun and difficulty of real business, which was completely different from a business contest where you just come up with ideas from scratch.”

“It was an extremely valuable experience to take on the perspective of a B2B company, which I would not normally come into contact with in my student life, and to tackle the challenges of a company with such a long history. Though it was a short time, we became so engaged in our team discussions that we felt as if we had become experts on the industry we had chosen as our proposal field. It was also a great discovery to learn that the company based in my home prefecture of Aichi are engaged in such diverse businesses and contributing so much to society. It was a truly enriching time that greatly broadened my perspectives.”

[Related Information]
Event name: CAREER ROOKIES GP2025 Kanto Team Qualifying Round
Event website URL: https://gp.careerrookies.com/

[Strobolights Co., Ltd. Company Profile]
Company name: Strobolights Co., Ltd.
Representative: President and CEO Keiichiro Hata
Location: Machida City, Tokyo Metropolis
Establishment/Foundation: In 2020
Business description: Planning and operating career education programs, supporting corporate recruitment, managing student communities, etc.
URL: https://strobolights.net/