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ITOKI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) has opened a new base, "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SHANGHAI," in Shanghai, China.

Our company is Workplace Business in the Japanese market from a product-based sales business ("Office 1.0") to a space-based solution provision business ("Office 2.0"), and further to a work style-based office DX business ("Office 3.0") that utilizes data and AI.

The newly opened "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SHANGHAI" will leverage this expertise to expand "Office 1.0," which focuses on furniture manufacturing and sales in the Chinese market, and serve as a base for promoting the transformation to "Office 2.0," a workstyle design business that provides high-value-added workstyle consulting, spatial design, construction, and operational improvement as an integrated service. We aim to strengthen our proposals to local Chinese companies and expand our business in the Chinese market.

Our Chinese operations have primarily focused on manufacturing and selling office furniture to Chinese and Japanese companies. However, amidst changing business environments and work styles, offices are no longer merely workspaces; they are now expected to serve as a management foundation supporting productivity improvements, talent acquisition and retention, and the cultivation of corporate culture.

Shanghai, in particular, is home to a diverse range of companies, including those in manufacturing, finance, and technology. As competition for highly skilled talent continues among companies, investing in the work environment and improving the employee experience has become a crucial management issue, and office needs are becoming more sophisticated and diverse.

Against this backdrop of market conditions, our company will expand its business domain from primarily manufacturing and selling furniture to providing workstyle design services that support companies in solving their management and organizational challenges.

The new office will house the relocated office of Novo Workstyle Co., Ltd., which is responsible for the Shanghai Workplace Business under the umbrella of its Chinese subsidiary, ITOKI China Holding Co., Ltd., and will be operated under the "ITOKI" brand.

The office is open to the public as a working showroom that combines showroom and work functions. Visitors can not only view products and the space, but also experience how employees actually work and how the office is operated.

Furthermore, leveraging our expertise in office construction cultivated in the Japanese market, we understand the challenges related to work styles and organizational management. We provide a one-stop service, from spatial design and construction to operational improvements, utilizing workstyle consulting.

In the Chinese market, furniture manufacturing, sales, design, and installation are typically handled by separate companies. Our company manages and provides these services end-to-end, reducing the decision-making burden on our client companies and enabling the creation of workplaces based on a consistent concept. *

Our company has utilized its own offices as a practical platform for investing in human capital. In particular, since relocating our offices in Tokyo at the end of 2018, we have been carrying out large-scale renovations every one to two years, reflecting our concept of advanced work styles.

As a result, the employee engagement score, which indicates how proud employees are of their company, rose from 40% in 2021 to 82% in 2024, maintaining a high level. In addition, the percentage of employees who feel that their productivity has improved increased by 44% when comparing 2017 (before and after the relocation of the head office) and 2022, and the internship application rate increased by 40% when comparing the graduating class of 2024 and 2025.

Leveraging the knowledge accumulated through these practical experiences, we support Chinese companies in solving management challenges such as improving productivity, internal communication, and talent acquisition and retention.

The design concept for our new office is "CROSSOVER".

First, we conducted interviews with local management, employee surveys, and workshops. After understanding the challenges related to the work environment, we incorporated into the design a space where "focus, interaction, and rest" are seamlessly connected.

From the main entrance of the office to the work area, we have placed "THE LINE," a circulation route that connects the organization across departments and positions. "THE LINE," which consists of a continuous passageway, high counter, desks, and benches, can be used for multiple purposes, such as a workspace, a cafe counter, a place for casual conversation, and even as a space for holding internal and external events in front of the large display.

Furthermore, we have installed height-adjustable desks in the concentration area on the 45th floor of the building, taking advantage of the view, creating a well-being space that combines refreshment and concentration.

Furthermore, the office offers an environment where employees can choose their workspace according to their work needs, including options for dialogue and hybrid meetings. The design also features elements that show respect for the local area, such as the reuse of bricks actually used in Shanghai and the incorporation of Shanghai's symbolic place names into the meeting rooms.

Koji Minato President and Representative Director ITOKI CORPORATION

"This place is not just a showroom. It's a working showroom where you can experience how we work, collaborate, and create value. Shanghai is one of the world's most dynamic business cities. Here in Shanghai, we want to explore new possibilities for the future of working together with you. 'ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SHANGHAI' is the embodiment of that vision."

Shitsu Tsutsui, Chairman and General Manager, Ito Ki (China) Investment Holdings Co., Ltd.

"First, we ourselves will practice new ways of working and consider the work styles required in China. We will then use the results of that experience to propose solutions to our clients, and grow our business as a base where we can collaboratively create everything from work styles to space design and operation."

*The services offered may vary depending on the project. Also, due to licensing requirements and other factors, the contracting party may differ for each service.