Key points

On October 20, 2026, Jiji Press Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Katsuhiko Sakai) and Monogatari Transport Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Isamu Igarashi) concluded a capital and business alliance. The two companies aim to deliver the value of Japan's traditional culture, regional culture, traditional industries, and craftsmanship both domestically and abroad by establishing a new cultural distribution system. Jiji Press was established in 1945, and Monogatari Transport was founded in 2022. Attention is focused on their future developments. [1] [2] [3]

Overview of the Capital and Business Alliance and Background of Both Companies' Establishment

On October 20, 2026, Jiji Press and Monogatari Transport announced a capital and business alliance. Jiji Press is a long-established news agency founded in 1945, while Monogatari Transport is a newly established company founded in 2022. Both companies share the common goal of delivering the value of Japan's traditional culture, regional culture, traditional industries, and craftsmanship domestically and internationally. Through this alliance, Jiji Press invested in Monogatari Transport, and President Katsuhiko Sakai of Jiji Press assumed the role of outside director at Monogatari Transport, strengthening collaboration between the two companies. Sources include official announcements from Jiji Press. [1] [2] [3]

Monogatari Transport engages in product planning and development related to Japanese culture and traditional crafts, overseas marketing and sales, and operation of e-commerce platforms. Meanwhile, Jiji Press possesses strong information dissemination capabilities domestically and internationally, as well as robust regional networks, sharing awareness of challenges related to the preservation of traditional culture. By leveraging their respective strengths, the two companies are expected to build a foundation for broadly communicating the value of traditional culture. Sources include multiple press releases. [2]

Purpose of the Alliance and Division of Roles Between the Two Companies

The purpose of this capital and business alliance is to deliver the value of Japan's traditional culture, regional culture, traditional industries, and craftsmanship both domestically and internationally. Monogatari Transport has functions including discovering Japanese cultural and craftsmanship companies, product planning and development, e-commerce, overseas marketing and sales, and business development. It has collaborated with artisans and companies across Japan to consistently develop products and conduct overseas sales. Jiji Press utilizes its long-standing information dissemination capabilities and regional networks and shares awareness of issues related to the preservation of traditional culture. [1] [2]

The two companies aim to leverage their strengths not only to disseminate information and sell products but also to convey the background and stories of Japanese culture, linking these to actual experiences and purchases, and further passing them on to future generations through a new cultural distribution system. Monogatari Transport will be responsible for product planning and development, overseas marketing, and e-commerce platform operation, while Jiji Press will provide information dissemination capabilities, social credibility, and domestic and international networks. This will create a cycle of "knowing → learning → experiencing → buying → sharing," promoting sustainable value creation for Japanese culture. [2]

Comments from Representatives of Both Companies and Future Outlook

Isamu Igarashi, President of Monogatari Transport, pointed out a significant gap between knowing the value of traditional culture and actually experiencing, purchasing, and sharing it. Through this alliance, he expressed the intention to integrate Jiji Press's information dissemination capabilities, social credibility, and domestic and international networks with Monogatari Transport's business development capabilities to unify the cycle of "knowing → learning → experiencing → buying → sharing." This aims to promote the sustainable development of Japanese culture. Sources include official comments from both companies. [2] [4]

Katsuhiko Sakai, President of Jiji Press, stated that their mission is not only to convey the value of traditional culture and craftsmanship thriving throughout Japan domestically and internationally but also to develop new markets and connect to future generations. By combining Jiji Press's information dissemination capabilities and regional networks with Monogatari Transport's youthful ideas and dynamism, and linking with initiatives such as the Traditional Culture Certification "Denken," they plan to cultivate new businesses. Expectations are high for future developments. Sources include official announcements. [2] [4]