ASIBA Creative League 4th

How can I create my own world beyond today’s “correct answers”?

In an era where economic rationality and “socially acceptable answers”
—which demand a
strong sense of accountability—are increasingly emphasized, creating what you truly want to create has become far more difficult for
young entrepreneurs than one might imagine.

That is precisely why, moving forward, we must
boldly strike a balance between “creating what we want to create” and
“navigating society’s complex dynamics to scale our ventures as viable businesses.”

However, it’s difficult to overcome this contradiction alone.

With a new ecosystem, diverse funding models, and peers who share the same challenges, we can surely overcome
today’s barriers and bring our creative vision to life in society.

We look forward to welcoming the
“creators of the future”—those who refuse to simply conform to society and strive to go beyond
today’s “right answers.”

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Resources Available Through the ASIBA Creative League

“No space,” “no funding,” “no connections.” We’ve prepared resources to remove every barrier creators face. A production hub available 24 hours a day, up to 400,000 yen in development funding, and collaborations with a diverse range of partners—these are the keys to making your creative vision a reality.

Mentoring and Buddy Program
For four months, you’ll be supported by mentors—senior professionals active in various fields—and a peer buddy who can offer advice from your own perspective.
Collaboration with ASIBA Partners We collaborate with ASIBA partners—including companies
, local governments, media outlets, and investors—to provide testing grounds, assets, and opportunities for collaboration.
Access
to ASIBA’s Production Hub “YOHJOH (Kameido)” You’ll receive an invitation to “YOHJOH (Kameido),” a production hub available 24 hours a day. Tools and equipment are generally available free of charge. (Some costs, such as materials, may apply.)
Two-Tier Financial Support We will provide the following two tiers of development funding
during the program period. Neither requires repayment.
Prototype Support: 100,000 yen (tax included); Implementation Support: Up to 300,000 yen (tax included)

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A Diverse Community of Practitioners

Mentors active across various fields, community partners who support implementation, and buddies who walk alongside you as equals.

The ASIBA Creative League brings together a diverse group of practitioners dedicated to helping you move forward with what you “want to create.” Rather than acting as teachers who provide “correct answers,” they serve as “companions” who share perspectives and techniques for connecting with society. Through ongoing dialogue, they help you maintain your creative passion and act as partners who help expand your project beyond existing frameworks, rather than confining it within them.

Rather than focusing on the specifics of the BUDDY
project or the business itself, a peer from your generation—who can consult with you on an equal footing about your approach to the project, your decision-making principles, and how you engage with yourself—will serve as your dedicated mentor for four months.

Yu Yamaji (blankspace, Inc.)
Yu Kato (dot-hzm, Inc.)
Haruka Okumura (Certified NPO The Third Family)
Rintaro Nakajo (University of Tokyo)

PROGRAM PARTNERS We provide tailored support for
each project, including matching participants with mentors, companies, and government partners; technical assistance; and customized adjustments to the program content.

Yuta Nihei (ASIBA, General Incorporated Association)

COMMUNITY PARTNERS We create opportunities for co-creation and collaboration with key players in various fields, including
companies, local governments, media, and accelerators.

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Moving Back and Forth Between Concept and Implementation

ASIBA Creative League is a hands-on program that rapidly cycles between conceptualization and implementation. It begins with an immersive experience at a retreat, proceeds to the presentation of prototypes during mid-program presentations, and, following refinement through dialogue with mentors and peers, culminates in the final成果発表 “ASIBA ATLAS.”

April 18, 4:00 PM–9:00 PM MEETUP
April 24–26: KICKOFF CAMP
To kick off the program, participants will stay at a facility in or near Tokyo to engage in team-building activities, brainstorm ideas, and participate in workshops with mentors.
May 9, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Seminar #1
May 23–24: MIDTERM DEMO DAY A milestone to ensure
ideas don’t remain mere concepts. Participants will bring prototypes—things that “work” and “can be touched”—to exhibit and present. Based on the feedback received here, we will move on to the implementation phase in the second half of the program.
June 6, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Seminar #2
June 20, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Seminar #3
July 4, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Seminar #4
July 18, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM Seminar #5
August 1: Final Presentation This final presentation will serve as the culmination of the
four-month program. We will invite guests and members of the public to attend as we present the implemented projects to the community.

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Along with the Seven Perspectives

In Phase 3, the seven core values that the program holds dear were clearly articulated. These values serve as the guiding philosophy behind the program’s overall design, as well as practical guidelines that participants internalize over the course of three months.

Creative: Refining
One’s Self-Perception—Identifying the contours of what one desires and wishes to create. This involves not only analyzing the market and social environment but also confronting one’s own voice and feelings of unease, while maintaining a perspective that does not abandon one’s intrinsic will or convictions.
Entrepreneurship
: Refining Your Perspective on Society—Taking on the challenge of making “creation” a reality amidst society’s complex dynamics. Expanding your understanding of the means and methods necessary to “keep creating”—including commercialization and cash flow management—and earnestly striving to bring the world you truly wish to create into society.
Cycle
: The Cycle of Inquiry and Practice—Formulate your own questions and put them into practice. Explore new questions through practice and drive your own unique cycle forward.
Action
: Getting Hands and Feet Moving—Rather than just thinking with your head, use your hands to create things. Instead of imagining things in a room or on a computer, go out to the field and into the real world to gain a genuine perspective.
Involve
: Engage Others—We actively involve not only clients and users but also colleagues and those directly affected, building proactive rather than passive relationships.
Question
: Question the Present—Question existing structures and current norms, and “just give it a try”—even with things others would never even consider doing.
Assemble
: Tackle Challenges as a Group—Even though we could move forward alone, we find value in coming together in solidarity and co-creating as a group to reach even further.

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