A new smart city model centered around one of the largest arenas in the Kansai region, Commons Tech KOBE
More than 10 private companies and Kobe City have started multiple initiatives

WingArc1st Inc. is pleased to announce that it will be working with the following companies, as well as One Bright KOBE, to create a new smart city and revitalize the local area of Kobe by building ICT infrastructure centered around the arena.

• West Japan Railway Company
• Bestie ink.
• Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd.
• TIS Inc.
• Neos Corporation
• Synergy Marketing, Inc.
• North Detail
• Storks Inc.

One Bright KOBE is the operating company of the Kobe Arena Project (*1), which will open on the Kobe Waterfront in April 2025. It will promote this initiative through Commons Tech KOBE, a project announced in 2023 that followed a 2022 business partnership agreement between Kobe City and SMART VALUE for building the future of the city center and waterfront area.

Commons Tech KOBE's initiative
The initiative aims to implement a smart city model, with the arena as the starting point. The initial phase will focus on increasing the number of visitors and improving mobility around the town. It will utilize data collected through the TOTTEI KOBE app (*2), which is scheduled to be released in late December 2024, and beacons installed around the town. By using the app's stamp rally and mission functions, we aim to enable people who come to Kobe for the event to enjoy the city to the fullest before and after the event. In addition, we will work with various local businesses to implement measures to improve mobility and initiatives to improve convenience for visitors, and we will work to create a foundation that will allow us to repeatedly conduct various types of testing in real time.
When GLION ARENA KOBE opens in April 2025, we plan to hold KOBE SMART DAY (tentative name) on a regular basis as an event to raise awareness of revitalizing the city. Through these efforts, we have created a roadmap for Commons Tech KOBE to carry out marketing activities throughout the city. 
This initiative will have a test phase during the first year after the arena opens, with full launch scheduled for April 2026. During the test phase, in addition to collecting data and hosting joint events, we will be seeking further participating organizations and companies to collaborate on migration measures. 

Comment from Kobe city
We hope that the birth of this new entertainment hub will increase the number of visitors to Kobe and lead to an increase in the number of people enjoying the city. In the future, in conjunction with the opening of TOTTEI, we will work with One Bright KOBE on Commons Tech KOBE and proceed with demonstrations of improving mobility in the city center and waterfront areas through people flow analysis and other means. 

Smart Value Group Comment
Role in the project
・Signed business partnership with Kobe City ("Creating the Future of the City Center and Waterfront Areas") to promote the social implementation of smart cities 
・Operation of the ICT model based on the Kobe Arena Project
・Planning and operation of the TOTTEI KOBE app

Representative comment [Smart Value Group Representative Shibuya Jun]
In 2022, we signed a partnership agreement with Kobe City, and have been aiming to build a smart city model in which private companies take risks as true actors in urban development, rather than as service providers that simply provide tools. We believe that the fundamental premise of a smart city is for local stakeholders, such as private companies, citizens, and educational institutions, to come together to build a new public space while fostering collaboration with local governments, with the top priority being convenience for visitors and the creation of a variety of exciting experiences, such as inspiration, empathy, and savings. 
We would like to express our gratitude to the many companies that support us and to the city of Kobe for allowing us to announce Commons Tech KOBE together. We sincerely hope that we can walk the long road ahead with even stronger bonds as driving forces for change in urban development. 

Participating companies

1) WingArc1st Inc.	Role in the project ・Providing an integrated platform that utilizes data from Commons Tech KOBE to visualize mobility in the city of Kobe ・Providing Dr.Sum, the database engine for the data analysis marketing platform, and MotionBoard, the visualization tool ・Jointly hosting KOBE SMART DAY (tentative name), an event to raise awareness of revitalizing the city Comment from Representative Director [Jun Tanaka, Representative Director, President and CEO] WingArc1st is very pleased to be able to participate in the smart city concept that utilizes data-driven ICT infrastructure. Through our data utilization technology and knowledge, we will contribute to the further development of Kobe by improving the flow of people and mobility across the city, centered around GLION ARENA KOBE, which will be a new landmark for Kobe, and by supporting the revitalization of the city.
2) West Japan Railway Company	Role in the project ・Building beacon infrastructure that can track the flow of people in the Sannomiya to Waterfront area and link with the TOTTEI KOBE app ・Consider utilizing company assets to promote shopping trip measures Comment from the representative [Masaharu Kunihiro, Director and Hyogo Branch Manager of Kinki Regional Headquarters] We are very pleased that JR West will be participating in the Commons Tech KOBE project as it gets fully operational. While leveraging our strengths as a railway operator, we will also fully utilize the power of data solutions, which we have positioned as a new pillar of our management, to evolve the connections between people, towns, and society, and move people's hearts. We aim to contribute to the sustainable development of the Kobe area.
3) Bestie Ink.	Role in the project ・Planning and implementing city circulation measures linked to events ・Promoting local waterfront events Representative comment [Representative Director Jinsuke Ezaki] As a media company, we will support Commons Tech KOBE by producing events and content that can be enjoyed using all five senses, with a focus on sports. This project will excite visitors: if you go to TOTTEI, you can discover, experience, and taste something new.
4) Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd.	Role in the project ・Consider products, services and information provision to provide a space where visitors can move around safely and with peace of mind Comment from the CEO [Director and Executive Managing Officer Masamichi Asahi] I am very pleased to be a part of Commons Tech KOBE and contribute to creating new appeal for Kobe. With GLION ARENA KOBE at the center, we will work to put into practice our strengths in risk management knowledge and know-how, as well as the use of digital solutions cultivated through telematics technology, etc., so that we can connect people with people and people and cities safely and securely, while contributing to the sustainable development of the entire region.
5) TIS Inc.	Role in the project ・Provision of Kyakushiru, a payment-based customer behavior visualization service that supports the payment function (TOTTEI PAY) to be installed in the TOTTEI KOBE app ・Providing people flow data based on payment usage in Kobe City ・Consider data utilization measures to improve the payment experience for visitors to the arena and Kobe city, as well as for affiliated stores, and to increase mobility Comment from the CEO [Managing Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Digital Innovation Business Division, Isao Otokita] I feel very honored to be able to participate in the Commons Tech KOBE project, which is taking place in Kobe City. While supporting the cashless experience at GLION ARENA KOBE, we will utilize the data obtained through Kyakushiru to provide visitors with new experiences and contribute to improving the value of the entire city. We hope that this project will become a model case for new urban development that will spread throughout Japan.
6) Neos Corporation	Role in the project ・Providing a stamp rally function that leads to increased mobility ・Register of information about facilities in the area linked to the TOTTEI KOBE app ・Planning and implementing tourist promotion measures in collaboration with the TOTTEI KOBE app and local shopping districts (Store coupons, local campaign registration) Comment from the CEO [Masashi Ikeda, CEO] I am truly honored to be able to take part in this groundbreaking project that involves the entire region. We will utilize our B to C solution know-how and app development technology to work toward delivering a smart city model by providing content and information platforms that convey the appeal of the region. We look forward to providing visitors and local residents with a new and valuable experience and contributing to the further development of Kobe City.
7) Synergy Marketing, Inc.	Role in the project ・Provision of CRM infrastructure through marketing SaaS, Synergy!  ・Planning and executing fan marketing using TOTTEI ID Comment from the representative [President and CEO Hiroshi Okudaira] I am truly happy to have the opportunity to participate in the Commons Tech KOBE project. We will work together to advance this project, applying the extensive CRM know-how we have cultivated over more than 20 years, to create "TOTTEI fans" who will want to come back to TOTTEI Kobe, not just for concerts and sporting events, but for people who visit for a variety of other reasons.
8) North Detail (Smart Value Group)	Role in the project ・Development, operation and continuous enhancement of the TOTTEI KOBE app and database
9) Storks Inc. (Smart Value Group)	Role in the project ・Providing data when the Kobe Storks play their home games at GLION ARENA KOBE ・Joint implementation of KOBE SMART DAY and tourist promotion measures

Reference:
(*1) About the Kobe Arena Project
The Kobe Arena Project is a privately-established and privately-operated arena creation project by a consortium of three companies, SMART VALUE, NTT Urban Development, and NTT Docomo Inc., as part of the Shinko Pier West District (Second Pier) redevelopment project, for which the city of Kobe opened a public call for proposals in 2020. 
In August 2022, Smart Value signed a business collaboration agreement with Kobe City aimed at "Creating the future of the city center and waterfront areas." The goal is to improve mobility to the surrounding areas based on the next-generation arena, as well as contribute to regional revitalization through the social implementation of digital innovation and co-creation between industry, government, and academia.

One Bright KOBE, the operating company of the Kobe Arena Project, has as its raison d'être "Raising the heart rate of the world," and will work to create daily excitement at GLION ARENA KOBE, which will be built on the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Once open, the arena will serve as the home arena for the B.LEAGUE and Kobe Storks, and is also planned to host a variety of events, including music concerts and MICE.

(*2) About the TOTTEI KOBE app
This is a new venue app that aims to maximize your experience at TOTTEI and in Kobe before and after events. In addition to event information and ticket functions that allow you to search for events that interest you, TOTTEI Pay, which is our unique cashless platform, will also feature a function that issues miles, coupons, and badges through various missions. The beta version will be released in December, with the full version scheduled to launch in March 2025.