Aichi businesses highlight disaster recovery and manufacturing DX

In Aichi Prefecture, Kokotomo Farm is hosting a photo exhibition titled “Until a ‘Place I Want to Return To’ is Created” at its Kakuozan store through November 1. The exhibition documents a decade of volunteer work in Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, following the damage caused by Typhoon No. 10 in 2016. The display features photographs and videos tracing the town's recovery and the personal connections formed between staff and residents.

Separately, the Kariya-based startup GEMBA has secured 45 million yen in a seed funding round led by ANOBAKA, with participation from Hekishin AOMI Fund and Hiroshima Venture Capital. GEMBA develops digital solutions to modernize manufacturing sites, specifically targeting the replacement of paper and Excel-based management. The company plans to use the funds to strengthen its sales and support teams and to accelerate the development of “GEMBA AI,” which aims to utilize field data to support decision-making and transfer expert knowledge.