Kurashiki City and the animation production studio “ENGI Co., Ltd.” Sign a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Regional Development

On July 7, 2026, Kurashiki City and ENGI Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano Ward, Tokyo)—a member of the KADOKAWA Group that produces animation—signed a comprehensive partnership agreement regarding regional development.

At the signing ceremony held that same day at Kurashiki City Hall, Kurashiki Mayor Kaori Ito and ENGI Co., Ltd. President Junichiro Tamura attended and signed the agreement.They confirmed their commitment to combining Kurashiki City’s historical and cultural resources with ENGI’s world-class animation production technology to create new regional value suited to the digital age.

Mayor Kaori Ito (left) and Junichiro Tamura, President and CEO of ENGI Co., Ltd. (right), pose for a commemorative photo holding the agreement.

■ Comments at the Signing Ceremony (Excerpts)

Kaori Ito, Mayor of Kurashiki City

“I am deeply encouraged to welcome ENGI Co., Ltd., with its world-class digital animation technology, as a partner.This collaboration demonstrates our city’s clear policy of investing in the future by fostering growth in the animation sector and striving to become a region that can supply outstanding animation talent. I am confident that the rich natural environment and historic landscapes our city boasts will provide the ultimate creative environment for all creators. I strongly look forward to works that will captivate the world being born right here in Kurashiki.”

Junichiro Tamura, President and CEO, ENGI Co., Ltd.

“It is an honor to have concluded this comprehensive partnership agreement with the City of Kurashiki, a place where history and culture thrive.Currently, while global demand in the animation industry is expanding, there is a major challenge in the shortage of creators. Now that the development of internet infrastructure has made location-independent production possible, there is great significance in nurturing talent in a wonderful environment like here in Kurashiki.

The majority of our animators are women, and we believe this industry can make a significant contribution to women’s participation in the workforce. Centered on Kurashiki City, we will attract talent from across Okayama Prefecture and neighboring prefectures to build an environment here where anyone can thrive in the animation industry.”

■ Purpose of the Agreement and Key Areas of Collaboration

The purpose of this agreement is to fuse Kurashiki City’s rich regional resources with ENGI’s world-class animation production technology to create new regional value and promote sustainable regional development.

Going forward, we will collaborate and cooperate on the following matters:

(1) Matters related to the regional clustering of the digital content industry, centered on animation

(2) Matters related to establishing a human resources development system for the digital content industry, centered on animation

(3) Matters related to enhancing the appeal of regional resources and promoting tourism through the use of digital content centered on animation

(4) Fostering awareness within the region regarding the digital content industry, centered on animation

■ About ENGI Co., Ltd.

[Company Overview]

Company Name: ENGI Co., Ltd.

Address: 1-13-8 Chuo, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Junichiro Tamura, President and CEO

Established: April 4, 2018

Kurashiki Studio Opened: April 1, 2020

URL: https://engi-st.net

Business Activities: KADOKAWA Corporation,

　　　　　　　　　 Ultra Super Pictures Co., Ltd.

　　　　　　　　　 a hybrid digital animation production studio

　　　　　　　　　 a hybrid digital animation production studio.

　　　　　　　　　 Under the motto “Entertainment Next Generation Innovations,”

　　　　　　　　　 we produce cutting-edge visual content by making full use of the latest technologies.

Notable Works: *Medalist*, *Little Shark on the Go*,

　　　　　　　　　 "Ghost Concert: Missing Songs," etc.

*Medalist* (C) Tsuruma Ikada, Kodansha / Medalist Production Committee

Out and About Little Shark (C) Penguin Box・KADOKAWA／Out and About Little Shark

■About Kurashiki City

Located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, Kurashiki is a core city with diverse attractions, including the “Kurashiki Bikan District,” known for its beautiful streetscape of white-walled buildings, and “Kojima,” the birthplace of Japanese-made jeans. In recent years, as an SDGs Future City, it has been focusing on sustainable urban development.

[Municipal Overview]

Municipality Name: Kurashiki City

Address: 640 Nishi-Nakashinden, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

Representative: Kaori Ito, Mayor of Kurashiki

URL: https://www.city.kurashiki.okayama.jp/

Kojima Jeans Street

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter