Under the umbrella of Pole To Win Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Teppei Tachibana, Stock Code: 3657) HIKE Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Masataka Mikami, we are pleased to announce that HIKE has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Origin Inc. (Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea, CEO: Chen Jae-sik/Song Dae-kyung, hereinafter referred to as Origin), a startup specializing in IP production and business. With this agreement, we will deepen our collaboration to improve the value of IP and content and expand business in Japan and South Korea.

Origin CEO Chen Jae-sik (left) and HIKE CEO Masataka Mikami (right)

■Background 
HIKE is engaged in the total production business, from planning and producing various contents such as animation, games, music, stage, and movies, to commercialization and sales. HIKE is promoting 360° business development of IP that maximizes its value such as animation, games, music, stage, and movies, and has published "ARIA CHRONICLE" and "METALLIC CHILD" produced by Korean development companies in the game business. In addition, "Sarugakucho", which handles game FAQ and tuning, is involved in globally acclaimed titles such as "ELDEN RING" and "Lies of P".

Our partner, Origin, is an IP content startup that raised 13.3 billion won (approximately 1.46 billion yen) last year and is growing by continuously hiring high-level experts in various fields. The company was selected by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups of Korea as a "baby unicorn company" with high potential to grow into a global unicorn company. The company currently owns more than 13 IPs and is currently working on joint IP development projects with Netmarble and LINE GAMES. A new game based on the original IP is scheduled to be released this year, and further remarkable growth is expected in the future.

HIKE and Origin have pledged to work together to increase the value of the IP and content that they develop, and to explore and actively promote cooperation plans that will allow both parties to have synergies in content development and business development. . In particular, in the game and animation fields, we have agreed to promote joint projects that can produce results in the global content market, and to form partnerships in various business areas over the medium to long term.

About The Origin Inc.

A comprehensive IP content startup company established in 2021.
Origin develops and owns multiple IPs, expand into various fields, and provide high-value-added IP by building and executing planning, production, licensing, and business strategies. In addition, Origin has established enthusiastic fan communities in all content areas and have proven overwhelming position in the industry and unique IP development capabilities through our strategy of evolving IP into mega-IP.

Company name: The Origin Inc.
Establishment date: May 27, 2021
CEO: Jung Jae-sik, Song Dae-kyung
Business description: IP planning and production, consulting, IP media strategy, IP licensing business
Official website: https://theorigin.group/

■About HIKE Inc.

As an entertainment company that handles all kinds of IP-based content, including anime, manga, games, and stage productions, we will continue to rapidly take on new challenges and provide IP value domestically and globally.

Company name: HIKE Inc.
Address: JRE Nishi-Shinjuku Terrace 3rd and 4th floors, 3-2-4 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Representative: Representative Director Masataka Mikami
Official website: https://hike.inc/