Hitotoba Co., Ltd. (Location: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Representative: Yasuhiro Enomoto) will begin operating "Kariba Kitchen" within the commercial facility "Kariba Plaza" in Nishi Ward, Kobe City, on July 4, 2026 (Saturday). This facility aims to be not only a kitchen for those who want to try their hand at the food service business, but also a community hub where local residents can naturally gather and interact through "food." In cooperation with local residents, we will create a new place for community exchange in Nishi Ward, Kobe City, as a new form of shared kitchen that users, the community, and the facility will nurture together. A New Way of Operation, Nurtured Together with Local Residents The characteristic of this project is that local residents are involved not only as "users" but also as "partners who nurture the space." We aim for a shared kitchen that can only be born at "Kariba," by operating together with local supporters and accumulating small daily improvements and new initiatives. Instead of providing a finished space, we will operate through trial and error with local residents. That is what we consider a "community co-creation shared kitchen." We will start with the aim of increasing the "vitality of the space" through our operations. What is the "Vitality of the Space" Pursued by Hitotoba? In parallel with its shared kitchen business, Hitotoba also engages in the roasting and sales of specialty coffee. Representative Enomoto had a strong realization during his time working for a coffee bean wholesaler in his previous job. It was that "the [deliciousness] in various foods is born from the careful work and communication of many people." And through our business, we realize that when people eat flavorful and delicious meals, they naturally become cheerful and generate vitality in the space. ■ A coffee seminar at our head office and roastery. Hitotoba will continue to create opportunities for new connections and challenges to emerge in the c