Notice of Filing of Lawsuit Regarding Use of a Similar School Name
株式会社HSGE（本社：東京都港区白金台5-17-1、代表取締役：田中真作。以下「当社」といいます)が運営するHayama International School（以下「HIS」といいます）は、2026年4月10日付をもって、横浜地方裁判所横須賀支部に対し、不正競争防止法に基づく差止等請求訴訟を提起いたしましたので、ここに謹んでご報告申し上げます。
Notice of Filing of Lawsuit Regarding Use of a Similar School Name
HSGE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 5-17-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shinsaku Tanaka; hereinafter "the Company"), operator of Hayama International School (hereinafter "HIS"), hereby announces that on April 10, 2026, the Company filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction and other relief at the Yokosuka Branch of the Yokohama District Court, based on the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
1. History and Name of HIS
Since its founding in 2004, HIS has operated for 22 years from its campuses in Akiya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, and Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, consistently working to provide an international educational environment. The school welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, including children of families stationed at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka. To date, HIS has produced approximately 800 graduates, and more than 16,000 individuals have participated in its educational programs, including summer school.
Through these years of dedicated educational practice, the name "HIS" has become widely recognized as an identifier of our school, not only within the local community but also among the international community in Japan and those involved in international education.
2. Background to the Filing
Recently, a name similar to our school's name "HIS" has come to be used by a third party as the name of a school. In this context, the Company has received a large number of inquiries from stakeholders both within Japan and abroad, and has confirmed numerous instances of inquiries ― including from individuals in the United States ― that appear to reflect confusion between HIS and the school operated by the said third party.
The Company has determined that allowing this situation to continue poses a significant risk of undermining the trust placed in HIS by our current students and their families, our graduates, and all those who have supported HIS over the years. Accordingly, we have decided to seek an appropriate resolution through legal proceedings.
3. Summary of Claims
In this lawsuit, the Company is seeking an injunction against the use of the similar name, based on Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. In the interest of ensuring the fair progress of legal proceedings and respecting the defendant's opportunity to present a defense, we will refrain from disclosing the identity of the defendant and the details of the matter at this stage.
4. Going Forward
We will provide further updates on the details of this matter at an appropriate time as the legal proceedings progress.
The Company is committed to protecting the brand that HIS has built over 22 years and the trust it has earned, and to fulfilling our responsibilities to our current students, graduates, families, and all stakeholders in international education. We look forward to your continued understanding and support.
