NIPPON STEEL KOWA REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masahiro Miwa; hereinafter "Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate") and Asilla Inc. (Head office: Machida, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Go Onoue; hereinafter "Asilla") have entered into a capital and business alliance agreement to enhance facility operations and create new real estate services through the use of AI and people-flow data.
Through this alliance, the two companies will combine Asilla's behavior recognition AI technology and expertise in people-flow data analysis with Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate's expertise in real estate development and facility operations, in order to advance the digital transformation of facility operations at office buildings, commercial facilities, mixed-use complexes and similar properties.
In recent years, the real estate industry has been called upon to address a wide range of challenges, including more sophisticated facility operations, leaner staffing, improved user experience and reduced environmental impact. Expectations are rising for initiatives that capture how facilities are actually used as data and apply that data to operational improvements and the creation of new services.
Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate develops and operates large-scale office buildings and mixed-use complexes, notably in the Akasaka and Toranomon areas, and works to create comfortable, reassuring spaces for facility users while pursuing sustainable facility operations.
Since its founding in 2015, Asilla has focused on the research and development of behavior recognition AI that understands human behavior from video, and offers products including the AI-powered security system "AI Security asilla" and "asilla BIZ," a platform that visualizes people-flow data.
To date, the two companies have conducted verification and operational trials of the AI security system and people-flow data applications at facilities operated by Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate. Having confirmed through these initiatives that people-flow data can contribute to more sophisticated facility operations, the two companies decided to enter into this capital and business alliance in order to further advance their collaboration.
In October 2024, the two companies launched a proof-of-concept trial of the AI-powered security system "AI Security asilla" at AKASAKA INTERCITY AIR (Minato-ku, Tokyo), where Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate has its head office. In December 2025, the scope was expanded to Shinagawa Intercity (Minato-ku, Tokyo). The companies then extended their collaboration into the use of people-flow data, beginning operation of "asilla BIZ" in May 2025.
Through these initiatives, the companies have confirmed that quantitatively understanding facility usage and congestion levels opens up possibilities for applying people-flow data across a range of areas of facility operations, including security, operations and service improvement.
Under this alliance, the two companies will jointly explore the following themes.
1. Joint study of facility operations DX using people-flow data
The companies will examine initiatives that capture facility usage, congestion levels and other conditions, and translate them into greater operational efficiency, an improved user experience and higher operational quality.
2. Proof-of-concept and verification at properties owned and operated by Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate
At office buildings, commercial facilities, mixed-use complexes and other properties, the companies will verify the effectiveness of AI and people-flow data applications as well as the operational challenges involved.
3. Joint creation of new real estate services and areas of collaboration
The companies will jointly explore new services and business opportunities that make use of people-flow data, in fields such as security, disaster preparedness, area management and smart building operations.
Through this alliance, the two companies aim to create a next-generation model for facility operations using AI and people-flow data, and to contribute to spaces that are more comfortable and reassuring for the people who use them.
Guided by our corporate philosophy of "Communicating with People, Creating the City," we have long been engaged in the development and operation of office buildings and mixed-use complexes. We believe that in order to keep providing comfortable and reassuring spaces for facility users, it is essential to accurately understand how our facilities are actually used and to apply those insights to our operations. Through our collaboration with Asilla to date, we have seen first-hand the potential for behavior recognition AI and people-flow data to bring new value to facility operations. Through this capital and business alliance, we will bring together the knowledge and technologies of both companies as we work to create a next-generation model for facility operations and deliver new value to our customers.
We are truly honored to have concluded this capital and business alliance with Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate. Together with Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate, we have held repeated discussions and conducted verification on the potential of AI-powered security and people-flow data in the real-world setting of building operations.
The potential of behavior recognition AI is not limited to the domain of safety. Through this alliance, we will work alongside Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate to create new value that contributes to greater comfort and convenience for the people who spend time in these facilities.
Representative: Masahiro Miwa, President and CEOHead office: 1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, TokyoBusiness: Comprehensive real estate business, including the development and leasing of office buildings and commercial facilities, and the development and sale of condominiumsWebsite: https://www.nskre.co.jp/english/
Representative: Go Onoue, Representative Director and CEOHead office: 1-4-2 Nakamachi, Machida, TokyoBusiness: Development and provision of products and solutions based on behavior recognition AIWebsite: https://en.asilla.com/
