Jizoku

Jizoku Inc. is a Japanese AgTech and CleanTech firm focused on creating new revenue streams for the primary agricultural industry through carbon credits. The company was founded on June 28, 2024, by Keiichiro Kataoka, who serves as the CEO. The venture originated from the general incorporated association "Co," which Kataoka established at Hitotsubashi University while researching rural revitalization using carbon credits. In January 2025, Jizoku was certified as the first official university-launched venture by Hitotsubashi University. The founding team also includes members with backgrounds in agricultural sciences, international energy policy research, and global environmental advocacy.

The core of Jizoku's business is a platform that facilitates the creation and monetization of agriculture-derived carbon credits. It addresses the challenge that while agriculture has multifaceted functions like decarbonization and biodiversity conservation, only food production is typically evaluated and monetized. By implementing and verifying methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as altering water management techniques in rice paddies to cut methane, the company generates carbon credits. Advanced technologies, including satellite data monitoring, are used to ensure the creation of high-quality credits. The revenue generated from selling these credits to companies is then returned to the farmers, providing them with a new source of income and supporting sustainable agricultural practices. This model serves both farmers seeking to improve profitability and companies aiming to offset their carbon footprint.

In May 2025, Jizoku successfully raised JPY 71 million (approximately $491K USD) in a seed funding round from investors including Full Commit Partners and HAKOBUNE. This capital is intended to scale up efforts to create and utilize carbon credits both domestically in Japan and internationally. Keywords: carbon credits, sustainable agriculture, AgTech, CleanTech, rural revitalization, climate change, biodiversity, decarbonization, carbon credit generation, satellite monitoring, environmental services, primary industry, Hitotsubashi University, Keiichiro Kataoka, greenhouse gas reduction, J-Credit Scheme, agricultural technology, carbon market