Liiily Asia inc.

12/03/2026

｜Liiily Asia CEO Kento Inaba Speaks at the Japan Patent Office’s “I-OPEN Forum 25”

On February 26, 2026, Kento Inaba, CEO of Liiily Asia, spoke at “I-OPEN Forum 25,” held at the open innovation lab MIRAI LAB PALETTE, operated by Sumitomo Corporation.

The forum was organized as part of the I-OPEN Project, promoted by the Japan Patent Office. The program supports “I-OPENERS”—zebra companies, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurs addressing social issues—by connecting them with experts in intellectual property, business, and design to develop solutions through the strategic use of intellectual assets.

During the forum, selected I-OPENERS from the 2025 program gathered to share their initiatives and outcomes. Representing Liiily Asia, Inaba presented the company’s work on community development in rural Vietnam, highlighting a circular regional model that connects agriculture, traditional culture, education, and local economies.

The event was moderated by Ayako Yamauchi of the Creative Center at Sony Group Corporation. The forum opened with remarks from Masahiko Sawazaki of the Japan Patent Office, who served as the 2025 project team leader. In his speech, Sawazaki emphasized that the I-OPEN Project represents a practical expression of the Japan Patent Office’s mission: to create a society where knowledge is respected and where each individual is inspired to exercise their creativity.

Following the presentations, commentary was delivered by Masahiro Samejima, Representative Partner and Attorney at Uchida & Samejima Law Firm. Samejima noted that the role of intellectual property has evolved in the 21st century—from merely building barriers to market entry to expressing the identity and story of organizations and their initiatives.

We also received tremendous support throughout this project from Shiro Yasutaka (Representative, IPTech Patent Professional Corporation / Patent Attorney & Certified Public Accountant) and Yutaka Hasegawa (Representative, MY-THOUGHTS).

Liiily Asia will continue to promote sustainable community development by leveraging intellectual and cultural assets, while strengthening connections between regional communities in Japan and Vietnam.

https://www.i-open.go.jp/forum/

03/03/2026

Courtesy Visit to Governor Tomikazu Fukuda 🍓

We had the honor of paying a courtesy visit to Governor Tomikazu Fukuda of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

For a startup originating from a local region, having the opportunity to meet directly with a prefectural governor is both rare and deeply meaningful. It is only made possible through the steady accumulation of our work and impact. Being given the chance to share our vision with a regional leader is not something we take for granted—it comes with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose.

During the meeting, we presented our circular economy model currently being developed in Vietnam, as well as our initiatives connecting Tochigi and Vietnam through talent and industry collaboration. We also exchanged views on our challenges as a local startup and our future outlook across agriculture, tourism, and education.

Governor Fukuda shared valuable insights on the potential of both Tochigi and Vietnam, as well as on sustainable regional development leveraging local resources. It was truly a meaningful and inspiring opportunity.

Liiily Asia will continue to serve as a bridge between Tochigi and Vietnam, creating new ventures that contribute to the future of local communities 🌏

02/03/2026

｜Appointed as Visiting Associate Professor 🎓

We are pleased to announce that our CEO, Kento Inaba, has been appointed as a Visiting Associate Professor at Sakushin Gakuin University.

Sakushin Gakuin University, based in Tochigi, is recognized for its strong commitment to practical, community-oriented education and the development of future leaders. We deeply resonate with its mission to connect academia with real-world challenges and regional development 🌱

At Liiily Asia, we have been working at the intersection of local communities and Asia, integrating primary industries, community development, and technology to create sustainable value. As a startup, our strength lies in speed, adaptability, and hands-on experience—insights that are increasingly important in shaping modern education 🚀

In an era where industry-academia collaboration is more important than ever, we believe startups can play a meaningful role not only as “industry” but also as contributors to “academia.” By bringing real-world challenges into education, we aim to provide students with practical and impactful learning opportunities 💡

We look forward to learning, co-creating, and taking on new challenges together with students, contributing to the development of future leaders who will shape both local and global communities.

“From local to the next generation—woven into the future.” 🌍

12/02/2026

｜Lunar new year 🧧 ✨

Liiily Asia xin gói lại năm 2026 với lòng biết ơn đến quý khách hàng đã đồng hành cùng chúng tôi trong năm qua và xin được gửi lời chúc năm mới Bính Ngọ bình an và hạnh phúc, nhiều điều như ý đến với tất cả.

03/02/2026

Courtesy Visit to Mayor Mr.Hirayama of Nasu Town, Tochigi 🇯🇵

We recently paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Yukihiro Hirayama of Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.
Nasu Town is home to Liiily Asia’s headquarters and also the hometown of our CEO, Kento Inaba 🏡

During the visit, we shared updates on Liiily Asia’s community development initiatives in Vietnam 🌏,
reported on our activities as a Tochigi Future Ambassador, an appointment commissioned by the Governor of Tochigi Prefecture in May last year,
and introduced our efforts to distribute English-language tourism maps of Nasu Town to travel agencies in Vietnam ✈️

Mayor Hirayama kindly encouraged us, saying:
“Please create systems that generate jobs in Nasu Town through the power of young people.”
His warm words deeply encouraged us and renewed our sense of responsibility 🔥

To the people of Vietnam and Nasu Town,
we will continue to sincerely deliver value, stories, and connections across borders 🤝
Thank you, as always, for your continued support ✨

28/01/2026

｜Nasushiobara City Partnership: “Rimo Skill Room”

Liiily Asia Inc. collaborated as a partner company in the “Rimo Skill Room”, a web skills and remote work training program　organized by Nasushiobara City.

This program goes beyond technical skill development and aims to nurture people who can actively contribute to their local communities. Through flexible remote work styles, it creates new opportunities for employment, side work, and time-efficient jobs for those raising children or relocating to rural areas.

In support of women who are taking on new challenges within their communities, Liiily Asia participated by providing educational materials.
We hope this initiative will contribute to building a sustainable future for Nasushiobara.

Related Content

📌 Liiily Asia Team Member Interview
◆ Passing Rural Landscapes to the Next Generation
Yusuke Watanabe (Creative Director)
https://note.com/liiilyasia/n/nfc186d855eb8
◆ Where Regional Value Becomes Culture and Literacy
Kento Inaba (Funder / CEO)
https://note.com/liiilyasia/n/n91cf34c6ac8f

📌Liiily Asia Business Overview
https://note.com/liiilyasia/n/n146e6a650d58

Program Overview
* Organizer: Nasushiobara City
* Program: Rimo Skill Room　https://note.com/kyousou_ns

15/01/2026

📢 We’ve updated our note

Not chasing trends. Testing whether we can take root in culture.

At Liiily Asia, our idea of test marketing is not about “what sells,”
but about what truly works within a culture.

This time, we collaborated with a French company to test Japanese products,
targeting French residents in Vietnam, Vietnamese professionals working for French companies,
and French speakers and learners.

Rather than focusing on nationality,
we look at markets through cultural contexts.
The process and insights from this experiment are shared in our latest note.

👉 Read more here

Liiily Asiaの立ち位置宣言 Liiily Asiaは、日本の商品を「海外で売る会社」ではありません。私たちが向き合っているのは、日本の地方が、異なる文化圏の中で本当に通用するのかという問いです。日本好きに向けた安全なテス....

13/01/2026

I was invited to a school in southern Vietnam and joined a tree-planting activity as part of a campaign leading up to the Lunar New Year 🌱

Watching the young people break through the dry, hardened ground with their hoes was truly inspiring.
Their energy, strength, and determination were deeply refreshing.

It may be just one small tree, but I hope it will take root and grow alongside the future of this community.

Thank you for this meaningful opportunity.

09/01/2026

📍 Lam D**g, Vietnam
Where nature and daily life breathe together.

Visiting local communities,
sharing time on the land,
and reconnecting with the colors of rural Vietnam 🌱

07/01/2026

🌾 Passing Rural Landscapes to the Next Generation — Team Spotlight
🎨 Redefining Local Value and the Future Through Design

Liiily Asia Inc. is engaged in community development projects that aim to transform rural regions across ASEAN countries. Guided by the belief that “everything that colors a place has value,” we work side by side with local communities to create systems that address social challenges and unlock regional potential 🌍🤝

At the heart of our brand concept and visual identity is Yusuke Watanabe, who has helped shape and bring Liiily Asia’s vision to life as our Creative Director.
In this feature, we explore how he first became involved with Liiily Asia, the thoughts and intentions behind his creative work, and his outlook for the future 🚀

https://note.com/liiilyasia/n/nfc186d855eb8

✍️ This article was written by a participant of “Rimoskill Room,” a program organized by Nasushiobara City.

Liiily Asia 渡辺さんが描く、デザインで再定義するローカルの価値と未来 ASEAN諸国の地方を変えるコミュニティの開発事業に取り組む株式会社Liiily Asia。「その土地を彩るものすべてに価値がある」という理念のもと、地域の....

30/12/2025

🌏 Regional Community Development Seminar 2025
🎓 Organized by FIWC (Celebrating Its 70th Anniversary)

On December 29, 2025, Kento Inaba, CEO of Liiily Asia Inc., delivered an invited lecture at the Regional Community Development Seminar organized by FIWC, a long-established student organization with chapters across Japan 🇯🇵✨
The seminar was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation 💻🤝

Joining remotely from Ho Chi Minh City 🇻🇳, Mr. Inaba shared his journey from student-led community activities to entrepreneurship 🚀
He also discussed key challenges facing rural communities in Vietnam, including demographic change, agricultural transformation, and sustainability 🌱🌾

In addition, he introduced Liiily Asia Inc.’s initiatives to connect urban and rural areas through technology-driven platforms 🔗📱

This seminar provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue with university students on international perspectives and the future of regional communities 💬🌍

🏛️ Founded in 1956, FIWC is a historic student organization and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025 🎉

27/12/2025

📢 New note article is live!

An Osaka University student has joined Liiily Asia as an intern 🌱

In this note, we share why he chose Liiily Asia and what he is learning through hands-on experience in the field.
For us, internships are not just about work — they are about learning together and growing together.

We hope you enjoy reading it ✨

こんにちわ！私は今、大阪府の山奥に住んでいる22歳の大学院生 矢延です！ この記事は人生に悩める大学院生が休学して何をして、何に悩んでいるのかのまとめた人生の途中物語になります。答えが出た話ではありません.....