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ITOKI CORPORATION (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) will relocate its Sendai branch, which serves as a hub for the six Tohoku prefectures, and open it as "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI" on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Issues such as difficulty in recruiting and retaining talent due to labor shortages are becoming more serious nationwide, with the impact being particularly severe in regional cities, and there has been an accelerating trend to invest in relocation and renovation of offices as "places that attract, nurture, and utilize people." "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI" will combine the creation of a space that makes use of the local characteristics with the function of serving as a place where diverse stakeholders can interact, and will be reborn as a new base to support the human capital management of companies in the Sendai and Tohoku areas.

ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI：https://www.itoki.jp/showroom/sendai/

In recent years, regional cities have been facing increasingly serious human resource issues, such as increasing difficulties in recruiting and retention, and an outflow of talent to urban areas, leading to a growing need to rethink office environments. As investment in "creating workplaces that attract people" has been gaining attention in the Tohoku region, particularly in Miyagi and Sendai, Itoki has been promoting efforts to evolve its offices from mere "places to work" into "places that attract, develop, and utilize talent" that contribute to organizational strategy.

As part of this, the Sendai branch was rebuilt as "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI." It inherits the concept of "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE" in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, the head office, as "an office where next-generation work styles can be conceived, put into practice, and experienced," and is positioned as a new model base that combines the local characteristics unique to a regional base with a variety of functions such as a showroom, gallery, and laboratory.

In recent years, the Tohoku region has been experiencing a chronic labor shortage, with many companies facing challenges in securing and retaining talented personnel. In addition, the diversification of working styles has made it difficult to increase employee productivity and engagement in traditional offices. Furthermore, the comfort of the working environment in aging office buildings has declined, creating a need for spaces that are attractive to both employees and customers.

In light of this, Itoki has implemented a concrete solution to these challenges at its Sendai site by building deeper ties with the local community and creating an environment in which employees can take pride in their work.

Through the following three challenges, we aim to demonstrate an example of a solution that utilizes the "power of space" in offices, not only to our own company but also to other companies in the Tohoku area that face similar challenges.The symbol of this is "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI."

In response to the challenges of labor shortages and employee retention, ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI has adopted a design that takes advantage of the local area, so that the space itself will inspire pride and motivation among employees. The space is inspired by the zelkova trees lining Sendai's Jozenji Street, and it makes use of locally produced materials and incorporates jazz culture, creating a space where you can feel the essence of Sendai everywhere. This place, where employees can work while feeling connected to the community, has evolved into a workplace of choice for both the company and its employees.

One of the issues with the old office was the lack of comfort and aging, so the design addressed this by incorporating light and greenery to create a bright, open space. By selecting materials with high sound insulation and sound absorption properties, a comfortable environment with a good balance between concentration and relaxation was achieved. In addition, various work points such as sofa seats, high counters, and bench spaces have been provided so that employees can choose depending on their work and mood, resulting in a revamped office where everyone can feel comfortable.

By placing the cafe lounge at the center of the space, the design encourages people to naturally gather and converse regardless of their occupation or position. In addition, the installation of an open meeting space and visual boards promotes the visualization and sharing of ideas. The space has evolved into a place where co-creation can take place, supporting the company's change and challenges.

Furthermore, going forward, we will hold study sessions and events with partner companies and designers, and we also envision using the space as a co-creation hub where local stakeholders can interact and learn from each other. We will continue to evolve as a hub that demonstrates new possibilities for office investment in Sendai and supports the practice of human capital management.

ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE is an office where next-generation work styles can be conceived, put into practice, and experienced, and at the same time, it is a space with a variety of functions such as a showroom, gallery, and laboratory. By fusing the power of technology, such as ergonomics and data utilization, with space and product design that appeals to people's sensibilities, we create, test, and continue to refine next-generation work styles. While constantly updating our own work styles, we will generate innovation through co-creation with various stakeholders and provide even greater experiential value to our customers.

Starting in 2025, major bases across the country will be rebranded as "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE." Starting with the newly relocated and opened "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI," we will continue to disseminate WORK-Style culture through collaboration, while also being rooted in the industries and communities of each city, bringing together workers, designers, and business partners from Japan and overseas.

ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE teaser site: https://www.itoki.jp/special/idh/