“From Hamamatsu to Space” Collaboration Event at Suzuki Plaza

“From Hamamatsu to Space” Collaboration Event at Suzuki Plaza

01/30/2025　Corporate Activities, Digital Printing

In collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation and ALTILAN Inc., Roland DG hosted an event “From Hamamatsu to Space: A Space Journey with the Space Jimny” on December 8, 2024. The event featured the display of the Space Jimny, a wrapped vehicle designed to inspire exploration and curiosity about space. Visitors could also enjoy driving simulators to experience operating the Space Jimny on the moon’s surface and create original stickers. The wide array of activities attracted numerous families and brought lively energy to the event.
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Experiencing the excitement of space for all ages

The event was held on the first floor of Suzuki Plaza in Hamamatsu City and recorded over 500 visitors, exceeding the typical number of attendees. Visitors enjoyed taking photos in front of the Space Jimny, driving it on the moon via a driving simulator, and learning about space at ALTILAN’s booth. The event brought the fascination and excitement of space to both children and adults alike.

Roland DG showcased the VersaSTUDIO BN2-20 desktop inkjet printer/cutter on-site to produce custom stickers. Using Antigro Designer’s web app, Sticker Builder, visitors inserted their photos into astronaut suits and spaceships to create personalized stickers. Guests took photos of themselves or their families, enjoyed the sticker-making process, and watched as the BN2-20 printed and cut the stickers. The completed stickers were then attached to a space-themed event banner, offering visitors the feeling of embarking on a journey into a space environment.

Experiencing the thrill of driving on the moon
The bustling event venue

Taking a commemorative photo with the Space Jimny
Visitors creating their sticker designs

Personalizing designs using the web app
Visitors captivated by the sticker printing process

The event banner covered with stickers
Visitors attaching their stickers to the event banner

How the collaboration began

The spark for this collaboration occurred at Wednesday Night Cafe, a weekly business networking event in Hamamatsu City attended by our representative to seek out fresh technologies and build connections. The collaboration was formed to harness the skills, insights, and strengths of Hamamatsu-based businesses with a shared vision of regional revitalization and new business creation.

Suzuki Motor Corporation provided the Jimny and the venue, ALTILAN Inc. provided its expertise in the space business, new business development, and systems engineering for event planning and project management, while Roland DG contributed its printing technology, with each organization playing its role in preparing for the event.

The design concept of the Space Jimny was a collaborative effort, with creative input from all three companies. The final design, created by KUVEL DESIGN Creative Director Hiroto Akahori, featured intricate details inspired by robots and spacecraft to captivate children with the excitement of space.

The vehicle wrap was produced using the TrueVIS AP-640 resin printer and carefully applied to the vehicle by skilled craftsmen at Kiyoshi Kanbanten, a local user of our products.

Regarding the finished product, Akahori commented, “The meticulous design details, including rust and weathered textures, were faithfully reproduced, making the final result deeply satisfying.” Additionally, Akahori designed the Space Jimny logo stickers that were distributed to attendees who participated in surveys at the space learning booth.

Hiroto Akahori, Creative Director at KUVEL DESIGN
The process of wrapping the Space Jimny

Visitors shared dreams like “I want to visit the moon.”
Space Jimny logo stickers

Exploring future possibilities

This event, which leveraged the strengths of three Hamamatsu-based companies, attracted a diverse audience, including first-time visitors to Suzuki Plaza, Suzuki fans, local media, and employees from all three companies. Feedback from attendees included, “Both kids and adults had fun. We hope to see this event again in the future.”

Our representative shared, “We were able to bring our vision of leveraging our strengths among Hamamatsu-based companies to life. We aim to continue promoting open innovation and support revitalizing Hamamatsu by highlighting the appeal of local companies, especially with contributions from younger generations.”

In January 2025, the three companies plan to visit elementary and junior high schools in Hamamatsu City with the Space Jimny to host lectures on space and its possibilities. We’re excited to inspire children with the fascination of space and help nurture their dreams. We remain committed to contributing to local revitalization through similar initiatives.