News Technology Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Junki Miura; hereinafter "News Technology"), operator of THE TOKYO TAXI VISION GROWTH (hereinafter "GROWTH")—Tokyo’s largest-scale taxi signage media network※—announces that Shinichiro Ikeuchi, General Manager at Sanrio Co., Ltd., and Junki Miura, CEO of News Technology, will jointly speak at the "Nikkei Cross Trend FORUM 2026" scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Under the theme of "customer touchpoints in the AI era," this session will explore how brands can foster empathy and emotional connection through serendipitous encounters, drawing on News Technology’s concept of "disposable time" and Sanrio’s unique non-financial metric, "Sanrio Time." ※ As of March 2023, our taxi signage network covers 11,500 vehicles within Tokyo’s 23 wards and the Musashino transportation zone. With 26,983 corporate taxis operating in the area (according to the Kanto Transport Bureau), this represents approximately 42% coverage. Session Overview In an age where AI optimizes information exposure, how should brands create serendipitous moments that foster empathy and emotional attachment? Building on News Technology’s concept of "disposable time" and Sanrio’s proprietary non-financial indicator "Sanrio Time," this session will examine the future of customer engagement, using case studies such as the "Hanamaru Ghost Taxi"—a project that brought comfort during commutes. Date and Time |Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 14:00–14:30 Theme |Rethinking Customer Touchpoints for Brands Chosen in the AI Era: From "Sanrio Time" —Designing Experiences That Spark Empathy Through Serendipity— Speakers |Shinichiro Ikeuchi, General Manager, Sanrio Co., Ltd. (Division of IP Management 2, Brand Management Division / Division of Domestic IP Production 2, Sales Division) Junki Miura, CEO, News Technology Inc. Venue |Tokyo Convention Hall (Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) Session Content |• Changes in information exposure and marketing in the AI era • Understanding "