To see retail business from multiple angles, conduct research on how a city and a business should be and make proposals to each industry while collaborating with experts in various areas. The study group has been in place since the foundation’s establishment.

Monday, December 12, 2025
The 203rd Meeting: Reflections on the Osaka–Kansai Expo

Lecturer:
Mr. Shigemitsu Tsutsumi
Senior Councillor
Public Relations and Promotion Bureau
Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (Public Interest Incorporated Association)
(Secretary of the Study Group)

Participants:

• Chair: Takemasa Ishihara (Chairman, Osaka Regional Revitalization Research Council)

• Secretary: Rika Fujioka (The University of Tokyo), among others

Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The 202nd Meeting: Exploring Approaches to Central City Terminal Development
— A Case Study of the Grand Green Osaka Site —

Lecturer:
Mr. Kohei Kanabe
Assistant Manager
Umeda Vision Promotion Group, New Industry Creation & Content Development Group
Urban Management Business Department, Development Business Division
Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.

Participants:

• Chair: Takemasa Ishihara (Chairman, Osaka Regional Revitalization Research Council)

• Secretary: Rika Fujioka (The University of Tokyo)

• Atsumu Sawada (Hankyu Hanshin Building Management), among others

Observers:

• Junichi Fujimoto (H2O Retailing Corporation)

• Ikuno Goto (Industrial Policy Division, Yao City), among others

September 3, 2024 

The 201st: Challenges and Possibilities for Bookstores in Town

Guest: Tomoko Futamura (Owner, Ryushokan Bookstore)　

Participant:

･ Chair: Takemasa Ishihara (Chairman, Osaka Regional Revitalization Research Council) 

• Yoshinori Kakutani (Faculty of Economics, Momoyama Gakuin University)

• Shigemitsu Tsutsumi (Japan Association for the 2025 International Exposition)

• Megumi Funamoto (JR West Japan SC Development Co., Ltd.)

• Shu Sawada (Hankyu Hanshin Real Estate, Inc.)

• Kaoru Fujioka (NPO Shaso Gakkai)

• Rika Fujioka (The University of Tokyo)

• Hiroshi Sannou (Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.)

• Kunio Yoshino (Osaka Regional Development Study Group)

October 3, 2023

200th Anniversary Seminar: "The Future of 'Town' and Shopping Streets as Urban Landscapes - The Potential of Shopping Streets Integrated with the Charms of Neighborhood Streetscapes"

Speakers:

• Mr. Kaoru Yamashita, Chairman of the Suiki Machizukuri Club

• Mr. Narumitsu Tsutsumi, Public Interest Incorporated Association, Japan International Exposition Association 2025

• Mr. Souo Tanaka, R PLAY Corporation

August 25, 2022

The 199th: Snow Peak's relationship with the local community

Lecturers: Mr. Fumihiro Takai (Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Snow Peak, Inc.)

Mr. Nobu Sakamoto (Executive Vice President, Snow Peak, Inc.)

March 2, 2022

The 198th: The Strategy of Tokushimaru Inc.

Lecturers: Mr. Yoshiyuki Sato (Executive Officer and General Manager of Sales Department, Tokushimaru Inc.)

December 14, 2020

The 197th: Current Status and Issues of Grocery Supermarkets

Lecturers: Mr. Masato Isoda (President and Representative Director, ADVANCE  Inc.)

December 14, 2020

The 196th: HR strategy of JFR Group and Corporate Strategy of “Dimples Co., Ltd., a group general HR service company

Lecturers: Mr. Masaomi Horino (West Japan Sales Department Manager of Sale Office of “Dimples Co., Ltd.,”)

Tetsushi Korida (Sales Department Manager Staff of “Dimples Co., Ltd.,”) (Former manager of Head Office Sales Promotion Department of Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co.Ltd.)

January 17, 2020

The 195th: Regeneration, Maintenance and Development of Local Communities by Toho

Leo

Efforts to “Creating Shared Value”

Lecturer: Mr. Yoshinobu Sato (Professor of Institute of Business and Accounting, Professional Graduate School, Kwansei Gakuin University)

November 29, 2019

The 194th: Gentrification in the U.S.

Lecturer: Mr. Hiroshi Yamanou (Chief of Toshi-Miryoku Kenkyu-shitsu, Kinki-area Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.)

March 7, 2019

The 193rd: The Case to Activate a City by Food Hall: Ebista Nishinomiya “STREET

KITCHEN”

Lecturer: Mr. Atsumu Sawada (General Manager of Development Business

Headquarters of Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.)

January 22, 2019

The 192nd: Keihan Group and Bio Business

Lecturers: Mr. Jin Onuka (Director of Bio Market Co., Ltd.)

Mr. Eigo Tanaka (Managing Director of Keihan Ryutsu Systems Co.,

 Ltd.)

September 20, 2018

The 191st: Change in External Environment around SC Industry and Development of “Lucua Food Hall”

Lecturer: Mr. Megumi Funaki (Section Chief of Shopping Center Business Managing Team of Creative Department of West Japan Railway Company)

October 11, 2017

The 190th: Towns in the Netherlands and Retailers ~comparing with those of U.K.~

Lecturer: Ms. Rika Fujioka (Professor of Faculty of Business and Commerce, Kansai University)

February 9, 1017

The 189th: Explanation and Field Trip of Hirakata T-SITE

Lecturer: Mr. Hirotaka Takano (Group Chief of West Japan, Development Planning Headquarters, Takenaka Corporation)

September 1, 2016

The 188th: Town Development in Toyonaka

Lecturer: Mr. Hideki Ashida (Executive Chairman of Toyonaka Ekimae Machidukuri Corporation)

March 20, 2016

The 187th: Inbound Strategy and Coordination with the Local Community by Daimaru Shinsaibashi Shop

Lecturer: Mr. Fumihiko Imanishi (In charge of Inbound business, manager of sales Promotion Department of Daimaru-Osaka Shinsaibashi Shop, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co.Ltd.)

January 18, 2016

The 186th: Bangladesh and Overseas Expansion of Japanese Companies

Lecturer: Mr. Satoshi Katada (Manager of Dhaka Office, Mitsubishi Corporation)

May 18, 2015

The 185th: Study of Leadership Style in Success Cases of activating Shopping

Arcade

Lecturer: Mr. Hironobu Yukawa (Researcher of Shopping Arcade)

May 25, 2015

The 184th

December 1, 2014

The 183rd

August 28, 2014

The 182nd

March 28, 2014

The 181st

December 20, 2013

The 180th

October 29, 2013

The 179th: Field Trip of Kintetsu Headquarters of Abeno Harukas, Kintetsu

Department Store)