One of Japan’s largest deep tech communities

SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA (SDS) is one of Japan’s largest deep tech startup support hubs, established by Tokyu Land Corporation within the Shibuya Sakura Stage Central Building.

In this project, Konel was responsible for the overall brand design, including the logo design, website, and visual guidelines. The logo’s structure symbolizes both continuity and transformation, overlaying the image of sakura branches extending flexibly in all directions with the growth and evolution of deep tech startups gathering in Shibuya.

A Community Hub Supporting the Growth of Deep Tech

SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA (SDS) is a community hub established by Tokyu Land Corporation in January 2025 at Shibuya Sakura Stage, with the aim of nurturing and supporting deep tech startups.
Fields such as energy, AI, robotics, climate tech, and biotechnology hold immense potential to transform society, yet face challenges such as long R&D timelines, high funding requirements, and barriers to commercialization. To address these issues, SDS was created as a place that leverages Japan’s technological strengths while collaborating with MIT faculty, UTokyo IPC, and the Shibuya City Government, among other domestic and international partners across industry, academia, and government. Through hands-on support and accelerator programs, SDS drives the growth and implementation of startups, serving as a hub for new industry creation in the greater Shibuya area.

From Shibuya Sakuragaoka, Innovation Blossoms into the Future

For the launch of SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA (SDS), Konel was responsible for the brand design, centering on the logo and website.
The logo’s structure mirrors the image of sakura branches extending dynamically in every direction, symbolizing deep tech startups evolving and growing in diverse ways to open new futures. The form embodies both continuity and flexibility, expressing the potential for global expansion and innovation.

While subtly reflecting the “SAKURA” element within the SDS name, the design avoids relying on typical cherry blossom motifs, instead pursuing an authentic and sophisticated expression. Harmonizing with the modern architecture and digital aesthetic of SDS’s space and web presence, the design establishes a consistent and powerful brand experience that embodies the vision of innovation blooming from Shibuya.