Promoting inbound tourism, regional revitalization, and etiquette awareness, the launch of “ANABA JAPAN”, a local tourism website for inbound travelers, was covered in the media.

Published：
December 24, 2024

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Please check our press release for more details:
https://www.sun21.co.jp/en/news/anaba-japan/

Official Website「ANABA JAPAN」：
https://anaba-japan.net/en/

　SUN Co., Ltd(Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shumpei Nakasone, hereafter SUN) has launched a local sightseeing and etiquette information website for inbound travelers, starting from December 23 (Mon.).
■Website：https://anaba-japan.net/

With the recent increase in inbound tourists to Japan, driven by the weak yen, we are launching a new regional tourism and etiquette information website, “ANABA JAPAN,” to revitalize local tourist destinations and promote tourism etiquette in Japan.

This website will feature various information in four languages (English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese), covering undiscovered tourist spots, culture, food, experiences, and tourism etiquette in Japan.

Particularly, we will focus on showcasing the hidden charms and unique experiences of regional areas. By promoting visits to a broader range of tourist destinations, we aim to alleviate overtourism and contribute to the revitalization of local economies. As a platform supporting sustainable tourism, we are committed to contributing to the future development of the tourism industry.

Discover Japan’s “ANABA”: Beloved Local Spots Worth Exploring
Japan is said to have strong potential competitiveness in inbound tourism compared to other countries. Revitalizing regional economies through tourism businesses presents a significant opportunity. In fact, on social media communities dedicated to sharing information about visiting Japan, it’s common to see foreign visitors planning their trips reaching out to foreign residents in Japan for advice. They often ask for information about regional attractions to avoid overcrowded tourist hotspots affected by overtourism.

In response to this trend, ANABA JAPAN focuses on sharing regional tourism information and showcasing Japan’s new and unique charms to the world in multiple languages. Through our platform, inbound travelers can avoid the crowds at well-known tourist spots and create more diverse itineraries. By highlighting places that are famous in Japan but still relatively unknown internationally as “ANABA = Good Find,” we aim to contribute to the revitalization of regional tourism and offer fresh perspectives on traveling in Japan.

ANABA JAPAN: Target Audience and Background
The primary target audience of ANABA JAPAN is inbound tourists from Asia and the United States. According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), from January to August 2024, the majority of foreign visitors to Japan came from Asia, with 5.8 million from South Korea, 4.5 million from China, and 4.1 million from Taiwan. Additionally, the number of visitors from the United States has steadily increased. Of particular note is that more than half of inbound tourists are in their 20s and 30s, a demographic that actively uses the Internet to gather travel information. For these young travelers, websites and social media are key sources of information.

To cater to this audience, ANABA JAPAN offers not only insights into the appeal of various destinations but also travel etiquette, presented in multiple languages—English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. By providing useful information, the website supports a more enjoyable and comfortable travel experience in Japan for international visitors.

Raising Awareness of Japan’s Tourism Etiquette in Advance: Towards Sustainable Regional Tourism
One of the challenges brought about by the rapid growth in inbound tourism is visitor-related etiquette issues. Reports have highlighted problems such as restaurant disputes, trespassing on private property, tourists stepping onto roads for photo opportunities, and traffic disruptions. While inbound tourism has brought economic benefits to regional areas, these etiquette violations have caused friction between visitors and locals, leaving local governments and businesses struggling to respond.

At ANABA JAPAN, we don’t just share tourism information – we also provide etiquette information tailored to each business. These etiquette tips, accompanied by illustrations, are published in four languages and highlight the manners visitors should follow at each tourist spot. By promoting awareness of these manners before visitors arrive in Japan, we aim to prevent potential issues and create a smoother experience for everyone. Through this initiative, we strive to contribute to a “sustainable regional tourism business” where inbound businesses, local governments, and residents can warmly welcome visitors from around the world.

The Vision for ANABA JAPAN
　　1.Addressing overtourism
　　2.Regional revitalization through tourism
　　3.Promoting tourism etiquette before arrival

Tackling Inbound Tourism Challenges as an IT Company
We specialize in system integration as our core business, while also leveraging IT to drive innovation across various industries. As part of our commitment, we operate initiatives to support foreign residents in Japan. These include developing proprietary services like app-based learning materials and online education platforms to promote the digitalization of Japanese language education. We also continue to support the utilization of foreign talent and provide assistance to children with foreign roots who need help learning Japanese.

In recent years, as Japan experiences a prolonged trend of yen depreciation, issues like overtourism and conflicts involving foreign tourists have frequently made headlines. As an IT company, we have been considering how we can contribute to resolving these challenges. To that end, we have launched the multilingual information platform “ANABA JAPAN”, a website designed to address these issues and promote smoother interactions between tourists and local communities.

■Partners（In alphabetical order）
BON COFFRET, Fratello di Mikuni, GLITCH COFFEE NAGOYA, Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort, Hakuba Tsugaike Mountain Resort,Happy Deers, Hijikawa Arashi Observation Park, Historic Site Sado Gold Mine,Hotel Sakura Ureshino, KAMIKAWA KITCHEN, Kamikawa Taisetsu Brewery（Ryokkyugura/Hekiungura）,

Kokura Castle ,Komoro Kaikoen Castle Ruins Park,Kumamoto Castle Inari Shrine, Lamp Light Books Hotel Nagoya, Miyoshi city Tourism Association, Nogata Ganda Bikkuriichi, Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa, Onitco, Regional Cuisine Ayanosato,Rinzai Sect Mount Macho Kokutaiji Temple, Ryofuso,Sanlaiva Ski Resort, Senbutsu Limestone Cave,Shodoshima Tourism Association,Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route,Tokamachi city Tourism Association,Traditional Handicrafts Village Yunokuni no Mori,Tsuruma Park,UAN Kanazawa,Udo Shrine,Water Station View Fukushimagata,Yunokuni Tensyo

■About SUN Co., Ltd
https://www.sun21.co.jp/
We are an IT company that operates a system integration business and a foreign resident support business under the corporate philosophy “To become a globally-renowned company based on our mission ‘connect people with people.’“ We actively hire globally, and by connecting people, we create new value and deliver innovation to the world.

SUN Co., Ltd(Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shumpei Nakasone, hereafter SUN) held the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou” (Children’s Cafeteria) on December 7 (Saturday), 2024.

SUN, which upholds the corporate philosophy of “connect people with people,” supports the mission of the Kodomo-Shokudou(children’s cafeteria) as a hub for community exchange. They regularly host the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou” at their head office in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This initiative provides a space where local parents and children can gather casually, enjoy meals together, and experience diverse cultures while learning about the world through activities unique to a global company. The SUN Kodomo-Shokudou is a member of the “Minato-ku Children’s Cafeteria Network,” established by Minato-ku.

■Outline
Name: SUN Children’s Cafeteria

Date: 7 December 12:00-14:00 

Details: Provide meals (Cream Stew, Baguette, Cake)  and activities (Presents from Santa?!）

Eligibility: Children over 3 years old to high school students and their parents/guardians

Location: SUN Corporation Head Office (3F Noax Building, 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Website: https://www.sun21.co.jp/kodomo-shokudou

■Message from SUN Kodomo-Shokudou
We would like to tell the children who will be leading the future that;
The world is created through connections with people.
The world is vast, and it is close to you.

We want children to connect with people through food and learn about a new part of the world through interactions outside of school.
With this in mind, we started the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou.”

Purpose of the program
・To share meals with children who eat alone and to create a community space where parents can get advice from each other
・Creating Opportunities for Multicultural Coexistence
・Activating Internal Communication and Increasing Motivation through Social Contribution
・Creating a Community across Generations or Regions (to be determined)

For more details, please take a look at the press release below.
https://www.sun21.co.jp/en/news/kodomo-shokudou/

■ December 7 (Saturday) – Highlights from the ”SUN Kodomo Shokudou”
Employee volunteers served homemade cream stew, creating a warm atmosphere as they spent time with local parents and children from Minato-ku. The event also featured a gift giveaway from Santa, turning the venue into a joyful space full of smiles and lively interaction.

■SUN Co., Ltd
https://www.sun21.co.jp/
We are an IT company that operates a system integration business and a foreign resident support business under the corporate philosophy “To become a globally-renowned company based on our mission ‘connect people with people.’“ We actively hire globally, and by connecting people, we create new value and deliver innovation to the world.

　SUN hold the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou”　(Children’s Cafeteria) on 7 December (Saturday).

■Outline

Name: SUN Children’s Cafeteria

Date: 7 December 12:00-14:00 

Details: Provide meals (Cream Stew, Baguette, Cake)  and activities (Presents from Santa?!）

Eligibility: Children over 3 years old to high school students and their parents/guardians

Location: SUN Corporation Head Office (3F Noax Building, 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Website: https://www.sun21.co.jp/kodomo-shokudou

■Message from SUN Kodomo-Shokudou
We would like to tell the children who will be leading the future that;
The world is created through connections with people.
The world is vast, and it is close to you.

We want children to connect with people through food and learn about a new part of the world through interactions outside of school.
With this in mind, we started the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou”.

■About  SUN Kodomo-Shokudou
Kodomo-Shokudou is a children’s cafeteria where kids in hardship can enjoy free or low-cost meals and a community of friends with similar circumstances and caring adults. SUN, which aims to “connect people with people” as its corporate philosophy, agreed with the purpose of the Kodomo-Shokudou (children’s cafeteria), which acts as a base for community interaction and opened the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou” at its head office in Minato-ku, Tokyo. SUN Kodomo-Shokudou is a member of the “Minato-ku Children’s Cafeteria Network” established by Minato-ku.

Purpose of the program

• To share meals with children who eat alone and to create a community space where parents can get advice from each other
• Creating Opportunities for Multicultural Coexistence
• Activating Internal Communication and Increasing Motivation through Social Contribution
• Creating a Community across Generations or Regions (to be determined)

For more details, please take a look at the press release below.
https://www.sun21.co.jp/en/news/kodomo-shokudou/

SUN Co., Ltd. will exhibit at the “Tokyo International Industry Exhibition 2024,” one of the largest comprehensive exhibitions in Japan that provides business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. The event will be held from Wednesday, November 20, to Friday, November 22, 2024, at Tokyo Big Sight, West Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, Atrium.

■Tokyo International Industry Exhibition 2024
The “Tokyo International Industry Exhibition 2024”(https://www.sangyo-koryuten.tokyo/) is an event aimed at providing business opportunities, such as expanding sales channels, fostering inter-company collaborations, and facilitating information exchange. It will showcase the excellent technologies and products of small and medium-sized enterprises with unique characteristics, primarily those based in the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa). The exhibition serves as a platform for these companies to present their innovations and connect with potential partners.

■Outline of the exhibition

■KURASHI STUDY HANASU PLUS
https://hanasu-plus.kurashi-study.net
HANASU PLUS is an online Japanese language learning service specializing in conversational Japanese. It is a set of digital learning materials, online lessons, and a learning management system. It aims to improve basic Japanese language skills through special daily conversation training and encourage communication at school, at work, and in the local community. Instead of conventional cramming Japanese language education, it is designed with an output-oriented curriculum incorporating ICT education and active learning. It aims to improve learners’ language skills through intensive and efficient primary Japanese language learning by training daily conversation. In addition, the learning progress management system enables managers to check each learner’s progress and understanding of their learning, improving work efficiency and providing personalized and optimized learning.

■SUN Co., Ltd
https://www.sun21.co.jp/
We are an IT company that operates a system integration business and a foreign resident support business under the corporate philosophy “To become a globally-renowned company based on our mission ‘connect people with people.’“ We actively hire globally, and by connecting people, we create new value and deliver innovation to the world.

SUN was interviewed by “mog career,” an agent for working mothers who love to work. There, “mog career” introduced SUN as a company that values employees’ career well-being ( workability and satisfaction).

Published：
August 14, 2024

Please check below for more details:
https://www.mogcareer.com/s/business/business-list/businessarticle/cwb-story14-MCH5MOTPASMNGF7DB4WXQ3UHZA7I

“KURASHI STUDY”, SUN’s Japanese language learning app, has been released in Mexico, expanding its distribution area.

”KURASHI STUDY”, which has surpassed 190K downloads (as of September 2022), is a Japanese language learning app that allows users to learn Japanese grammar, expressions, vocabulary, and pronunciation necessary for daily life through a total of 96 conversation scenes. It is already available in 20 countries around the world, including in Asia, Europe, and the United States. This time, we have further expanded the distribution area to Mexico.

■ What is “KURASHI STUDY”, a Japanese language learning app　
https://kurashi-study.net
The Japanese language learning app “KURASHI STUDY” not only helps learners improve their Japanese skills but also teaches essential rules of daily life and administrative rules in Japan as they progress. Users can enhance their reading and listening skills without attending school. It scopes the format of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5 to N2 levels.

■ App overview

■SUN Co.,Ltd
https://www.sun21.co.jp/
We are an IT company that operates a system integration business and a foreign resident support business under the corporate philosophy “To become a globally-renowned company based on our mission ‘connect people with people’ “. We actively hire globally, and by connecting people, create new value and deliver innovation to the world.

Participation in a practical industry-academia collaborative program at the University of Texas was reported in the media.

Published：
September 19, 2024

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Please check our press release for more details:
UTD’s Naveen Jindal School of Management supports a Japanese venture’s expansion into the U.S. 

　SUN conducted an industry-academia collaboration program with the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, U.S.A. This program supported SUN’s plan to expand into the U.S. market with “KURASHI STUDY”, a Japanese language learning application developed and marketed by SUN.

■SUN Aims to Expand Japanese Language Education Apps into the U.S. Market
SUN has developed the Japanese language education application ” KURASHI STUDY”, which is sold in 19 countries worldwide. SUN is also promoting the digitalisation of Japanese language education by developing “HANASU PLUS”, an online Japanese language learning service for companies, and an online lesson teaching platform. Because of these efforts, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has chosen SUN for its “Global Challenge Program for Small and Medium Enterprises in Tokyo”. With the support of this program, SUN has begun preparations to enter the U.S. market in 2023.

■What about The Global Development Initiative program
The Global Development Initiative (GDI) program is a practicum, a major component of a required semester-long undergraduate class, IMS4350 Global Market Entry Strategies at the Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, that is led by Professor Hubert Zydorek, Director, Center for Global Business, Naveen Jindal School of Management. The program involves developing defined market research and other market entry strategies for companies outside the USA that aim to enter the US market. It also equips students with the necessary skills to succeed and navigate the complex global business environment.

Lawrence P. Howorth, president of Howorth International, LLC, a company that provides international market entry consulting services in the U.S., serves as a program leader, and a team of experienced business expert mentors and students work together to support foreign companies in their entry into the U.S. market. SUN participated in the GDI from January to April 2024 and received the final report/presentation of the market study by project members on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

■Final Proposal
The students have been researching and analysing for three months to formulate a strategy for SUN’s entry into the U.S. market. The final presentation included reports on company analysis, market analysis (industry statistics, market segmentation, and competition), SWOT analysis, and geographic attractiveness. Full-scale, high-quality consulting reports were presented, including an understanding of the market size, analysis of market needs, and recommendations for target markets to enter the U.S. market. Students also interviewed industry professionals through an extensive network at the University of Texas. Feedback on SUN’s services was received from an assistant professor involved in Japanese language education and a personnel manager at a major Japanese company, including specific suggestions for localising services for entry into the US market.

■Program members(partial)
Lawrence P. Howorth
Program Lead for the GDI / President and Founder of HOWORTH International, LLC
Over the past seven years, the GDI Program has engaged with 42 international companies in over 15 countries. The Companies benefit from USA market research and market entry advice provided by our GDI teams, mentors, and program participants, and the students benefit from the learning experience of working in the “real world” international business environment.

Shumpei Nakasone
CEO of SUN Co., Ltd
First, I sincerely thank the students and the other members who supported them. They were serious about a small company in a country with a 15-hour time difference and spent a lot of time researching and developing a strategy to enter the U.S. market. In October 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the US Department of State agreed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in education, including enhancing Japanese language education in the US. This will be a great business opportunity for us as a Japanese language education service provider. We will certainly use the valuable information gained from this project in our future business development and service improvement and contribute to the education industry in Japan and the United States.

Student for the GDI
Nathan Banh (Global Business/Pre-Law)
Nadia Vilaisaeng (B.S. Global Business & Marketing)
Leonardo Castro (B.S. Global Business)
Bifei Xu (B.S. Global Business)
Hilary Nguyen (B.S Global Business & Marketing)

■Related Press Release
https://www.sun21.co.jp/en/news/global-challenge-program-us/

 ■About SUN Co., Ltd
We are an IT company that operates a system integration, Web design, and foreign resident support business under the corporate philosophy “To become a globally renowned company based on our mission ‘connect people with people’.” We will actively hire globally, and by connecting people, we will create new value and deliver innovation to the world.
https://www.sun21.co.jp/

■About the “Global Development Initiative (GDI)” at the Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas
The “Global Development Initiative (GDI)” program, offered by the Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, aims to provide high-value support to foreign companies aspiring to expand their business into the U.S. market. Conducted each spring and fall semester, the program pairs university students with business mentors and foreign companies looking to grow in the U.S. market. The teams collaborate on market analysis, application of global knowledge, and the development of strategies for entering the U.S. market. The program’s primary focus is to equip university students with the skills required for developing market entry strategies for international companies and succeeding in the complex global business environment. https://jindal.utdallas.edu/centers-of-excellence/cgb/global-development-initiative/

SUN hold the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou”　(Children’s Cafeteria) on 7 September (Saturday).

■Outline
Name: SUN Children’s Cafeteria
Date: 7 September 12:00-14:00
Details: Provide meals (Somen noodle, Watermelon) and activities (Wind chime Painting）
Eligibility: Children over 3 years old to high school students and their parents/guardians
Location: SUN Corporation Head Office (3F Noax Building, 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Website: https://www.sun21.co.jp/kodomo-shokudou

■Message from SUN Kodomo-Shokudou
We would like to tell the children who will be leading the future that;
The world is created through connections with people.
The world is vast, and it is close to you.

We want children to connect with people through food and learn about a new part of the world through interactions outside of school.
With this in mind, we started the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou”.

■About SUN Kodomo-Shokudou
Kodomo-Shokudou is a children’s cafeteria where kids in hardship can enjoy free or low-cost meals and a community of friends with similar circumstances and caring adults. SUN, which aims to “connect people with people” as its corporate philosophy, agreed with the purpose of the Kodomo-Shokudou (children’s cafeteria), which acts as a base for community interaction and opened the “SUN Kodomo-Shokudou” at its head office in Minato-ku, Tokyo. SUN Kodomo-Shokudou is a member of the “Minato-ku Children’s Cafeteria Network” established by Minato-ku.

Purpose of the program
To share meals with children who eat alone and to create a community space where parents can get advice from each other
多Creating Opportunities for Multicultural Coexistence
Activating Internal Communication and Increasing Motivation through Social Contribution
Creating a Community across Generations or Regions (to be determined)

For more details, please take a look at the press release below.

“ 人と人をつなぐ ” こども食堂をOPEN 地域貢献と多文化共生を目指し、食を通じたコミュニティスペースを提供

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