Hideyuki Kasuga, Representative Director of hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “the Company”), has been appointed as an Industrial Strategy Advisor for the City of Nagano (Mayor: Kenji Ogihara) effective Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

Click here for the press release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000007.000087264.html

■ Guidelines for the Appointment of Nagano City Industrial Strategy Advisors 

These guidelines establish the necessary provisions for the appointment of Nagano City Industrial Strategy Advisors (hereinafter referred to as “Industrial Strategy Advisors”) in order to utilize the knowledge and experience of highly specialized professionals active in the business community when conducting surveys, analyses, and implementing measures related to the promotion of industry in Nagano City.

■Mission

The Industrial Strategy Advisor, acting under the direction of the Mayor, shall perform the following duties regarding industrial development:
(1) Conduct surveys and analyses of the current situation and other relevant matters
(2) Provide guidance or advice from a professional perspective regarding the promotion of measures implemented by the City
(3) Facilitate connections between measures implemented by the City and activities carried out by businesses and other entities
(4) Other matters deemed necessary by the Mayor

■ Comments from Kenji Ogihara, Mayor of Nagano City

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Hideyuki Kasuga, Representative Director of hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd., has agreed to serve as a “Nagano City Industrial Strategy Advisor,” a position established this fiscal year.

We would like to once again express our gratitude to hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. Given Mr. Kasuga’s ties to our city as a native son, we entered into an “Advisory Partnership Agreement for the Creation of Community Activities” with the company last October. We appreciate their continued cooperation in promoting the SDGs and realizing Smart City NAGANO.
In addition, with Mr. Kasuga personally assuming the role of Industrial Strategy Advisor for our city, we look forward to receiving his guidance and proposals for our city’s urban development and industrial growth, leveraging his expertise, experience, and professional network.

Our city is currently working on a smart city initiative aimed at improving residents’ quality of life and convenience, and starting this fiscal year, we have been conducting demonstration projects in collaboration with companies both within and outside the city.
The vision underlying our city’s smart city initiatives is that of a “Circular City,” based on the principles of a circular economy that minimizes waste generation. This vision aligns perfectly with the corporate philosophy of “regenerating value and creativity” championed by Mr. Kasuga. We therefore expect that his appointment as an advisor will provide a significant boost toward the realization of our smart city.

We ask for your continued support as our city strives to become a destination of choice for people across the country through our innovative initiatives.

■ Comments by Hideyuki Kasuga

My name is Hideyuki Kasuga, and I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as a “Nagano City Industrial Strategy Advisor.”
I spent my childhood in the area around Zenko-ji Temple and grew up in Nagano City until I graduated from high school. After attending university in Tokyo and joining the workforce, I worked as a materials researcher both in Japan and abroad. Now, as an entrepreneur focused on the theme of “environment and resources,” I am promoting business operations aimed at building a circular economy.

By observing Nagano City objectively from both the Tokyo metropolitan area and overseas, I have come to realize anew the city’s latent appeal. Japan has reached the limits of growth in the Tokyo metropolitan area. I believe that in the future, the development of distinctive regional cities will drive Japan’s progress. Since the start of the 21st century, it has become possible for regional areas to promote themselves directly to the world, and that “moment” has now arrived.

I look forward to working with Nagano City to share a long-term vision and strive to build a cultural industrial city that makes the most of its regional characteristics.
Specifically, in coordination with Nagano City’s smart city initiatives, we are exploring ways to develop the city as a “Circular City” and establish it as a global model. To achieve this, we plan to modernize Japan’s unique “traditional circular lifestyle” and create a city where citizens can experience the circular economy firsthand.
Furthermore, through these efforts, we aim to foster the creation of new global circular industries and establish a self-sustaining economic region.

Under Mayor Ogihara’s leadership, I will actively contribute my experience, knowledge, and network and do my utmost to contribute to the development of Nagano City. I sincerely ask for your warm support.

■Profile of Hideyuki Kasuga

Hideyuki Kasuga
Entrepreneur / Producer / Ph.D. (Engineering)
Born in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture

Hide Kasuga Co., Ltd. 1896 Representative Director
Hide Kasuga LABO Director
hk1896 LINKS Co., Ltd. Representative Director
BLANC BIJOU (France) CEO
BLANC BIJOU Co., Ltd. Representative Director

・Biography
1973 – Born in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture
1999 – Completed Master’s program at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Master of Engineering)
Joined Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
2000 – Studied abroad at the University of Aix-Marseille on company assignment (until 2001)
2001 – Stationed at the Paris Research Laboratory (until September 2004)
2006 – Joined NiKKi Fron Co., Ltd. (formerly Nippon Kizai Co., Ltd.) and was appointed Director
2009 – Appointed President and CEO of NiKKi Fron Co., Ltd.
Founded the French subsidiary BLANC BIJOU and became its representative
2011 – Established the Japanese subsidiary BLANC BIJOU Co., Ltd. and became its representative
2012 – Founded hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. and became its representative
Resigned as Representative Director of NiKKi Fron Co., Ltd.
2017 – Founded hk1896 LINKS Co., Ltd. and assumed the position of Representative Director
2018 – Earned a Ph.D. (Engineering) from the Graduate School of Shinshu University
Established the research institute hide kasuga LABO within the Shinshu University International Science Innovation Center
and assumed the position of Director
2019 – Appointed as Visiting Lecturer at Waseda University(Starting in April)
Opened the flagship store gallery de kasuga in Omotesando, Tokyo
2020 – Founded the circular economy consortium Green Composite Hills by hide k 1896


Business Management / Business Creation / Brand Development / Branding Strategy / Circular Economy / Resource and Environmental Chemistry / Composite Application Development / LCA / Polymer Chemistry

・Patent
Patent No. 6612001 "PTFE Recycling Technology"

・Public Offices
【Tokyo】
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Economic Committee, Member
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chiyoda Branch Industrial Subcommittee, Vice Chair
Director, "100-Year Management Association" organized by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
Supporting Member, French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
[Paris]
Member, Japan-France Economic Exchange Committee (under the jurisdiction of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
[Nagano]
Nagano City Industrial Strategy Advisor
Vice President, Nagano Industrial Leaders Club (organized by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun)