What MELON does

MELON, Inc. (株式会社Melon) is a Tokyo-based mindfulness platform company founded in April 2019 by Hashimoto Daisuke, a former Citigroup and Oaktree Capital Management finance executive. The company operates Japan's first online mindfulness service, delivering live instructor-led meditation classes via Zoom, an on-demand video library (MELON TV) of 300+ classes, a stress assessment tool, journaling features, and a structured 10-week habituation program. MELON monetizes through three primary streams: a B2C individual subscription (MELON ONLINE) at 4,950 JPY/month, a B2B corporate program (MELON for Biz) priced at a flat 45,000 JPY/month per organization, and a one-time instructor certification course (講師養成講座) at 324,500 JPY. Its programs are grounded in neuroscience research (DMN suppression, polyvagal theory) and validated through a 2022-2023 joint study with Waseda University demonstrating effect sizes in depression and anxiety that the company reports as larger than standard CBT or antidepressants.

The company serves approximately 150+ enterprise clients including Sony, Mitsui, KDDI, SMBC Nikko Securities, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Richemont, Kenedix, England Rugby, and others, with roughly 9,000 employees participating in corporate programs. MELON also extends into adjacent verticals: a free children's mindfulness program in Japanese elementary schools, a free 2-month service for individuals with depression and anxiety (used by hospitals like Sapporo Otachi Hospital for return-to-work rehabilitation), a 1on1 mental block release coaching program, and most recently (March 2026) menopause and beauty-industry self-care programs under Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Be Smart Tokyo Inclusive project with METI Femtech Subsidy backing. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales (with named major logos, bespoke contracts, and co-hosted seminars) for B2B with self-service online enrollment, a 2-week free trial, and a LINE-based loyalty stamp card for B2C. In January 2024 the company raised 120 million JPY (~$815K USD) in a pre-Series A round from Toranomon Impact Capital; total disclosed capital is 99 million JPY. MELON was named a FINALIST at the Well-being Awards 2026 and relocated its headquarters in March 2026 to support business expansion. The company is privately held with 1-10 employees.

Name

MELON

Legal name

株式会社Melon

Website

https://the-melon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MELON is a Tokyo-based online mindfulness platform serving Japanese consumers and corporates. It delivers live and on-demand meditation classes via Zoom and MELON TV, plus a corporate program for 150+ enterprises, grounded in Waseda University-validated neuroscience research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mindfulness and Corporate Wellness Services

NAICS

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/Workplace Mindfulness & Stress-Reduction Programs (HSADAJAG), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Mindfulness-Based Coaching & Training (MBSR/MBCT-style) (HSADAJAB)

Keywords

• Online mindfulness platform
• Corporate wellness programs
• Meditation subscription services
• Stress management training
• Mindfulness instructor certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Minato

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. MELON ONLINE Individual Subscription: Monthly subscription for individual consumers accessing online mindfulness classes, MELON TV video library, stress checker, and journaling tools. Delivered via web and mobile platform with 2-week free trial and monthly billing.
2. MELON for Biz Corporate Program: B2B enterprise subscription providing team-wide access to mindfulness programs, pulse surveys, and organizational reporting. Contract-based monthly/annual pricing tailored to team or organization size. Includes implementation support and customization.
3. Instructor Training Course (MELON講師養成講座): One-time fee for a professional mindfulness instructor certification program, training participants to become qualified mindfulness meditation instructors. One-time perpetual license model with upfront payment.
4. 1on1 Mental Block Release Program: Individualized one-on-one coaching program focused on releasing mental blocks and self-limiting patterns. Sold as a separate program offering from the standard subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

MELON provides an online mindfulness meditation service combining real-time instructor-led classes (delivered via Zoom) with an on-demand video archive (MELON TV, 300+ classes), supported by stress assessment tools and journaling features. The company sells this service to individual consumers through a monthly subscription (4,950 JPY/month) and to corporations through a fixed-rate enterprise plan (45,000 JPY/month) with pulse surveys and organizational reporting. Programs are grounded in neuroscience research on Default Mode Network (DMN) suppression and validated through joint Waseda University research demonstrating measurable improvement in depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, and resilience outcomes.

Product overview

MELON operates as a comprehensive mindfulness platform offering a dual-market approach: MELON ONLINE serves individual consumers with live and on-demand meditation classes via Zoom, while the corporate MELON for Biz division provides organizational stress management solutions. The product ecosystem includes instructor training, one-on-one coaching, a 10-week habit formation program, stress assessment tools, and a LINE-based loyalty program. A notable social initiative provides free mindfulness education to elementary schools nationwide. All offerings are grounded in scientific research, including a Waseda University joint study demonstrating effectiveness for depression and anxiety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MELON ONLINE Online mindfulness meditation subscription for individual consumers, providing real-time instructor-led classes via Zoom and on-demand access to a library of 300+ classes (MELON TV) including basics, sleep, concentration, body scan, journaling, and compassion meditation. Priced at 4,950 JPY/month with a 2-week free trial. Includes stress checker, journaling, and a 10-week habituation program.
• MELON for Biz (Corporate Program) B2B corporate mindfulness program providing customized stress care, mental health, and team training for organizations. Includes pulse surveys, stress visualization dashboards, team-level reporting, trial lessons, and implementation support. Priced at 45,000 JPY/month flat rate for the entire organization with unlimited employee access.
• MELON Instructor School (MELON講師養成講座)
• 1on1 Mental Block Release Program (メンタルブロック解放プログラム) One-on-one personalized coaching program focused on releasing mental blocks and self-limiting patterns through individualized mindfulness-based sessions. Sold as a separate program offering from the standard MELON ONLINE subscription.
• Children's Mindfulness Video Program (子供向けマインドフルネスプログラム) Free mindfulness video program for elementary school students (grades 4-6) developed with child-friendly animations and simple breathing/body-scan exercises. Validated in a study involving 279 students across 7 schools showing 71% stress improvement. Provided free of charge nationwide.
• Free Mindfulness Program for Depression and Anxiety 2-month free access to the full MELON mindfulness program for individuals diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders. Part of a social contribution initiative based on Waseda University research findings, and used by medical institutions as a return-to-work rehabilitation program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19% stress reduction (1-month post-implementation corporate program)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• パラマウントベッド株式会社 (Paramount Bed)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Paramount Bed co-hosted a seminar with MELON on May 25, 2026 titled 'Stress checks alone change nothing — Sleep Management as the Next Step in the Lost 30 Years.' The seminar targeted HR professionals and executives, addressing sleep and women's health in the context of human capital management.
• 株式会社ACCELStarsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026ACCELStars co-hosted the May 2026 seminar with MELON, contributing expertise on human capital management and sleep data. The joint seminar addressed sleep management ROI, human capital disclosure, and employee performance improvement.
• 伊藤忠テクノソリューションズ株式会社 (伊藤忠 Techno Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026伊藤忠テクノソリューションズ is the smart service implementation promotion operator for Tokyo's Be Smart Tokyo project. Under this program, MELON was selected as a smart service provider to implement mindfulness-based self-management programs for working women in care and beauty industries. CTC provides implementation support and promotion of MELON's programs within the government-backed initiative.
• Starts Care Service Co., Ltd. (スターツケアサービス)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Starts Care Service is a nursing care welfare company partnering with MELON for the Be Smart Tokyo project. Starting March 2026, MELON provides a mindfulness-based menopausal care program targeting female nursing care welfare workers aged 40-50s. The program addresses menopause symptoms that threaten career continuity in the care industry.
• Fast Beauty Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Fast Beauty operates hair salons and is partnered with MELON for the Be Smart Tokyo project. Following a trial program, MELON will provide a full-scale mindfulness self-care program for hairdressers and salon staff from March 2026, targeting high turnover, physical strain (back pain, hand eczema), and mental exhaustion in the beauty industry.
• 内科・精神科 大谷地病院, 早稲田大学 (additional research partners)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Additional research collaboration on mindfulness effects on depression and anxiety, with clinical application in psychiatric rewWork settings.
• 早稲田大学 (Waseda University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Waseda University conducted joint research with MELON (2022-2023) demonstrating that MELON's online mindfulness program significantly improves depression and anxiety. Research conducted with 140 participants using evaluator-blinded RCT methodology. Dr. Toru Takahashi (Waseda, Human Sciences) served as research lead. This is Japan's first evidence of online mindfulness effectiveness for clinical populations.
• 札幌・大谷地病院 (Sapporo Otachi Hospital)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Sapporo Otachi Hospital in Hokkaido adopted MELON's program as part of its rewWork (return-to-work) rehabilitation program for employees recovering from depression. Hospital provides clinical environment and patient access while MELON provides the mindfulness curriculum, delivered monthly via 2 sessions of 90 minutes each by MELON instructors online.
• NPO法人共育の杜 (Kyoyu no Mori)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Non-profit organization 共育の杜 collaborated with MELON to verify the effectiveness of the children's mindfulness video program in elementary schools. The NPO provided academic support for the pilot study across 7 schools involving 279 children, using validated measurement scales developed with academic reviewers.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Insight Timer: Insight Timer operates a large free/paid meditation library with live classes and a teacher marketplace, closely aligned with MELON's online mindfulness platform structure. While global in scope, the live-class-via-Zoom model and on-demand archive (MELON TV) mirror Insight Timer's content approach. MELON differentiates via Japanese instructors, Waseda-validated program design, and corporate procurement features.
• Awarefy: Awarefy is a Japanese-developed mental wellness app offering CBT-informed journaling and emotion tracking with a B2C subscription model. It is a direct Japanese-market competitor to MELON ONLINE on individual consumers, with overlapping content categories (stress, anxiety, sleep). MELON differentiates via live instructor-led Zoom classes and corporate B2B infrastructure that Awarefy lacks.
• Waking Up: Waking Up is a subscription mindfulness app offering daily meditation content with a science and philosophy orientation, comparable to MELON's academically grounded program design. Both target professionals seeking evidence-based mindfulness rather than pure lifestyle content. Waking Up is global/English-first; MELON serves Japanese professionals with localized research and corporate sales infrastructure.

Emerging players

• 7 Cups: 7 Cups combines peer support, AI chat, and therapist access with an enterprise offering, overlapping with MELON's mental health and corporate wellness scope. Both sell to enterprises seeking accessible mental health support, though MELON emphasizes instructor-led mindfulness classes while 7 Cups emphasizes peer/community support.
• Lyra Health: Lyra Health provides mental health benefits for employers including therapy, coaching, and mindfulness content, comparable to MELON for Biz in serving corporate wellness buyers. MELON is narrower (mindfulness-focused) but matches Lyra's enterprise sales motion and outcome-measurement approach. Both compete for the same corporate HR mental-health budget category.
• Modern Health: Modern Health is an employer mental health platform combining therapy, coaching, and self-guided content with global enterprise distribution, comparable to MELON for Biz in targeting corporate wellness buyers with measurement-driven programs. MELON competes on Japan localization, neuroscience differentiation, and lower per-organization pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Calm: Calm is a global meditation and mindfulness app with B2B (Calm Business) and B2C offerings, comparable to MELON ONLINE and MELON for Biz in product structure but with vastly larger content library, English-first content, and global brand recognition. MELON differentiates via Japanese-language localization, neuroscience-backed program design, and enterprise pricing adapted to Japanese HR procurement.
• Headspace: Headspace is a global mindfulness and meditation platform offering Headspace for Work for enterprise clients, directly comparable to MELON's B2B+B2C dual model. Both target corporate wellness buyers and individual consumers with subscription-based guided meditation content. MELON positions as the Japan-specialized alternative with locally validated clinical research.

Regional players

• Mitsufuji (wellness subsidiaries): Japanese wearable textile and ESG-focused company that has expanded into corporate wellness monitoring, comparable to MELON's enterprise wellness positioning within the Japanese corporate market. Both target Japanese HR buyers and corporate wellness procurement, though Mitsufuji focuses on hardware/biometric monitoring rather than mindfulness content delivery.

Others

• Sansan / Eight Wellness (corporate wellness programs): Sansan's Eight and related business card platforms have expanded into employee benefits and corporate wellness offerings in Japan, representing the broader enterprise HR-tech ecosystem in which MELON for Biz competes. MELON partners with this category (e.g., co-hosted seminars) while competing for the same HR mental-health budget allocations.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MelonMeditation
• Facebookfacebook.com/themeloncom
• Instagraminstagram.com/melon_meditation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-melon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MELON