[Social Good Neighbors] The More You Drink, the More You Donate: “KIFUBAR for STARTUP” Event Report

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, “KIFUBAR for STARTUP”—an event featuring presentations by residents of a social apartment complex who have launched their own businesses—was held at “Graphic Grill & Bar” in HOTEL GRAPHY in Shibuya.

This event supports the challenges and activities of residents living in the social apartment complex through a unique system where “the more you drink, the more you donate.” Approximately 40 people attended, including residents, their friends, and individuals considering moving into the social apartment complex.The speakers’ presentations sparked lively interaction among the attendees, making for a lively evening.

What exactly is “KIFUBAR”?

KIFUBAR is a cash-on-site bar event based on the concept of “the more you drink, the more you donate.” A portion of the participation fees and drink sales is allocated to donations. Since its inaugural event in 2017, it has been held more than 80 times and has raised a cumulative total of over 2.1 million yen in donations.
To date, we have collaborated twice with the “Social Good Neighbors (SGNs)” project run by Global Agents Co., Ltd., which operates social housing. The event is also well-known as a platform where residents tackling social issues take the stage.

Five Speakers This Time! 40 Participants Cheered on the Residents

This edition of KIFUBAR is a special edition designed to support the entrepreneurial ventures, independent initiatives, and activities of social apartment residents. Five groups of speakers presented on their respective projects.

● Order-Processing Busters, Inc. (World Neighbors Kiyosumi-Shirakawa)

With the motto “Eliminate manual order processing in companies using AI,” they develop and provide systems that streamline manual tasks on the front lines. The presenter himself founded the company and serves as its CEO. While donations are appreciated, he mentioned they are currently looking for partners to collaborate with. His explanation was easy to follow, and he also helped energize the venue.

● Call Butler (Social Apartment Mitaka)

An on-demand interpretation and guidance service for international visitors to Japan. Utilizing AI, the service handles phone reservations and inquiries on behalf of users. Amid growing inbound tourism demand, the service’s high practicality—addressing the need to alleviate the stress of not speaking Japanese—was particularly impressive. The co-founder met his partner at a social apartment and is currently seeking collaboration partners.

●trunk9 (Social Apartment Eda)

Operating under the concept of “supporting those who chase their dreams” using a bicycle food cart. As the only creative-sector representative among the speakers, they brought a fresh perspective to the event, including their business model.

●What’s Up Japan! Guide (World Neighbors Kiyosumi-Shirakawa)

They offer local sightseeing tours for international travelers. This project aims to connect international visitors with the local community while uncovering the area’s unique charms.

●onigiri-Tsumugu- (Neighbors Musashi-Nakahara)

They sell original T-shirts featuring kanji names for international visitors. The business was launched by residents who met after moving in, making it a prime example of a venture born from a social apartment community. The brand name “onigiri” embodies the desire to give shape to “your true self,” and they reportedly plan to expand beyond T-shirts into other businesses targeting inbound tourists in the future.

At this event, there was a noticeable number of participants who were considering moving into the social apartment. Their reasons for attending ranged from simple ones like “I want to talk to the residents” and “I want to know what kind of people live there” to more specific motivations such as “I’m interested in starting a business or becoming self-employed and want to be inspired” and “I want to hear from people working toward self-realization.”

After the presentations, lively networking took place among the participants. Starting with self-introductions, people could be seen sharing their challenges and aspirations all around the venue, and the entire space was filled with positive energy.

“KIFUBAR for STARTUP” was a valuable event where, despite its casual format, participants formed strong connections and supported one another’s endeavors.

This event aligns deeply with Global Agents’ corporate philosophy: “Realizing a society where people can strive toward self-actualization.” It was an evening where we experienced a virtuous cycle: within the setting of “social apartments”—a place to live—people took on new challenges, and others who resonated with their aspirations gathered to support them.

We plan to hold KIFUBAR on a regular basis going forward. Whether you were able to attend this time or not, we look forward to seeing you at the next KIFUBAR.

(Reporting: Hashimoto / Text: Hayashi)

▼What Is the Social Good Neighbors Project?
These days, we’re hearing terms like “ethical,” “food waste,” and “SDGs” more and more. Many people want to do something positive for society but aren’t sure exactly what to do. This project began with the idea of using social apartments as a platform to start making a positive difference in the world—little by little—and “together, in a fun way.”
Through various social good activities, we’ll take on challenges that we’re all eager to try together, creating opportunities to gradually shift our awareness.