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/

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.” 🌍

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....

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 🌱