Nippon Television Announces Capital and Business Alliance with Nature Innovation Group, Developer of “i-Kasa” Umbrella Sharing Service
Nippon Television Press Release: October 23, 2025 Capital and business alliance with Nature Innovation Group, operator of the umbrella sharing service “i-Kasa” ~Our third impact investment, and the first with an “environmental” theme~ Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo;
Representative Director, President and CEO: Hiroyuki Fukuda; hereinafter “the Company”) has entered into a capital and business alliance (hereinafter “this Alliance”) with Nature Innovation Group, Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Teruji Marukawa; hereinafter “NIG”), operator of the umbrella sharing service “i-Kasa.” The investment amount is 350 million yen. This Alliance is part of “impact investment,” which aims to solve social issues in a way that is both economically viable and measures and manages the resulting social impact. This marks the third impact investment undertaken by the Group and the first investment focused on the environment.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/77859/106/77859-106-985d943b1180e11cf7e86e887925ef5c-1600×900.png
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/77859/106/77859-106-e7340149964924d0ace7fedeabc4a992-433×479.jpg “Good for the Original umbrellas created by “Planet” and installed in various locations around Tokyo. ■Background of this partnership: Reducing CO2 emissions by solving the problem of disposable umbrellas In its 2025-2027 Medium-Term Management Plan, the Nippon TV Group has prioritized contributing to solving social issues, such as reducing CO2 emissions, and is engaging in impact investing as one means of achieving this. The alignment between the Nippon TV Group’s priorities and the iKasa service’s mission of “eliminating disposable umbrellas” and its business model led to this investment. The two companies have previously collaborated, including producing original umbrellas for Nippon TV’s environmental campaign “Good For the Planet.” Going forward, we will continue to raise consumer environmental awareness and contribute to solving social issues, such as CO2 reduction, through campaigns linked to the program. ■Key Indicators In this partnership, which is part of impact investment, we have set the following two key indicators. 1: CO2 Reduction Goal: By the fiscal year ending May 2032, we aim to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by 1,626.3 tons more per year than the current level. This is equivalent to an area of forest approximately the size of 39 Tokyo Domes. 2: Percentage of users who feel uncomfortable using disposable umbrellas We aim to create a society where purchasing disposable umbrellas is not the norm and to raise consumers’ environmental awareness. The following is a simplified logic model that graphically illustrates the social impact that NIG aims to achieve in setting indicators.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/77859/106/77859-106-f2ca6ec9d21f5ef369840eaca025125e-1540×808.jpg For a detailed version of the logic model and each impact indicator, please visit the NTV Co-Creation Lab website. URL:
https://lab.ntvhd.co.jp/topics/2025/10/nature-innovation-group.html ■About Nippon TV Group’s Impact Investment This partnership marks the Group’s third “impact investment,” which involves continuously measuring and managing social impact from the investment consideration stage onward. The investment themes are “environment,” “DE&I,” and “creator support,” and the Group has made two impact investments in “creator support” to date. As part of our “NTV Co-Creation Lab” activities, we are researching and practicing impact investing in cooperation with Casely Inc. (Head office: Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Masaki Kouchi). ■Nature Innovation Group Overview Representative: Teruji Marukawa Address: Believe Shinjuku 8th floor, 1-26-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Established: June 2018 URL: https://www.i-kasa.com/company
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/77859/106/77859-106-ff85f6d70f526352cb1ef362f0f36193-1610×371.png “i-Kasa” is Japan’s first full-fledged umbrella sharing service, launched in December 2018 with the mission of “comfortable and happy on rainy and sunny days” and “eliminating disposable umbrellas.” Instead of having to buy a plastic umbrella every time you encounter a sudden downpour, users can rent a durable and sustainable “i-Kasa” umbrella at a station or around town, and return it to the nearest umbrella spot once the rain stops, allowing them to travel hands-free and conveniently while contributing to the environment. Currently, the app has over 800,000 registered users, and the service is available in over 2,000 locations throughout Tokyo, including Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station, as well as in 12 prefectures including Kanto, Kansai, Aichi, Okayama, Fukuoka, and Saga. Amid rising temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events such as sudden heavy rain due to climate change, we aim to reduce our environmental impact and create a comfortable society, rain or shine. Register for the “i-Kasa” app here: https://www.i-kasa.com/ End
