Boardwalk
Boardwalk operates ticket board, Japan's largest electronic ticketing platform with 13M+ members, providing end-to-end mobile ticketing, fan club management, e-commerce, and live video streaming for entertainment promoters, artists, and sports organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Boardwalk does
Boardwalk (株式会社ボードウォーク) is a Tokyo-headquartered data marketing company that operates ticket board, the largest electronic ticketing service in Japan with 13M+ registered members and 2.6M cumulative downloads of its LIVE QR PLUS smartphone app. Founded in 2010 as a Dentsu group company, the company provides end-to-end mobile ticketing spanning ticket application, lottery-based allocation, payment processing, issuance, and venue admission, combined with integrated fan club management, closed e-commerce (ec board) for merchandise, and the neo bridge live video streaming platform.
The platform's underlying technology combines FeliCa NFC, QR codes, and a proprietary time-limited rotating QR code system in the LIVE QR PLUS app that prevents screenshot-based ticket fraud, with optional facial photo registration for identity verification and offline functionality for network-disruption resilience. The platform supports multiple ticket formats (QR, electronic stamp via QuickPASS, app-based) and integrates with payment providers (PayPal, d Payment, AEON Pay), convenience store networks (~50,000 stores), and complementary event technologies (Arub MyPass for COVID/PCR integration, Evolve Technology for walk-through threat detection). Multi-language support (Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified/Traditional Chinese) is in place via the streaming platform.
Boardwalk generates revenue through transaction fees on tickets sold across its platform (concerts, sports, theater, cinema), commissions and direct sales on merchandise via ec board, professional service fees for fan club website design and management, fees on the 定価トレード (official resale service) that allows ticket holders to resell at original price, and transaction fees on neo bridge streaming. Its customers span major J-pop and K-pop artists (L'Arc~en~Ciel, namie amuro, EXILE/TRIBE, SMTOWN LIVE, SHINee, TWICE, Mr.Children), sports organizations (LEGEND boxing, DAZN), fashion (Tokyo Girls Collection), film (Tokyo International Film Festival), and traditional performing arts. Key shareholders are Dentsu, NTT DoCoMo, and Dream Incubator; the company raised 5 billion JPY in 2015 and has operated without subsequent external funding rounds.
Boardwalk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boardwalk
- Legal name
- 株式会社ボードウォーク
- Website
- https://boardwalk-inc.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Boardwalk operates ticket board, Japan's largest electronic ticketing platform with 13M+ members, providing end-to-end mobile ticketing, fan club management, e-commerce, and live video streaming for entertainment promoters, artists, and sports organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boardwalk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Ticketing Platform
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Ticketing Platforms & Box Office Systems (MPAGAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ticketing Platforms & Primary Ticketing (MPAIAFAD), Pricing, Yield Management & Anti-Fraud Services (MPAGAJAH), Event Marketing, Ticketing & Registration Management (HSACAAAM), Sports Event Promotion & Ticketing (MPAGAMAH)
Keywords
Where Boardwalk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Boardwalk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales / Transaction Fees: Boardwalk earns transaction fees on tickets sold through its ticket board platform. The platform handles ticket applications, lottery-based allocation, payment processing, issuance, and venue admission. Revenue is generated per ticket sold across concerts, sports events, theater, cinema, and other entertainment categories.
- EC / Merchandise Sales: Boardwalk operates ec board and official artist online stores for merchandise, digital content, and music/video product sales. Revenue is generated through product sales commissions and direct sales of artist-branded goods, including limited-edition collaboration items.
- Fan Club Management Services: Boardwalk provides fan club website design, operation, content production, exclusive ticket pre-sales, and limited merchandise to artists and their management. Services are billed as professional/managed services to artist management companies and promoters.
- 定侕トレード (Official Resale Service): Official electronic ticket resale service allowing ticket holders who can no longer attend an event to resell tickets at the original purchase price. Boardwalk manages the transaction, issues new tickets to buyers, and retains a fee from the trade.
- neo bridge Video Streaming: Online event streaming platform generating revenue through ticket sales for live-streamed performances and archived content. Integrated with fan club membership and merchandise sales for a comprehensive digital entertainment experience.
- 3D Technology Solutions (historical): Boardwalk previously served as the Japan distributor for Covisento's 3D integrated management solutions, providing facility management and simulation systems for commercial and public facilities.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Boardwalk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boardwalk operates the ticket board electronic ticketing platform, Japan's largest electronic ticket service with 13 million+ registered members, providing end-to-end ticketing for concerts, sports, movies, and theater events via QR codes, FeliCa NFC, and the proprietary LIVE QR PLUS app with time-limited rotating QR codes for anti-scalping protection. Beyond ticketing, the company offers fan club management services, ec board closed e-commerce for merchandise, neo bridge live video streaming, and the 定価トレード official resale service for fan-to-fan ticket transfers at face value.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ticket board Japan's largest electronic ticketing platform with 13 million+ registered members, providing mobile-first ticketing for concerts, sports, movies, and theater events via QR codes and FeliCa NFC. Covers ticket application, lottery-based allocation, payment processing, issuance, and venue admission from a single mobile phone.
- LIVE QR PLUS Smartphone app-based electronic ticket with time-limited rotating QR codes that change at set intervals to prevent screenshot-based ticket fraud. Includes optional facial photo registration for identity verification at entry. Works offline the day before the event. 2.6 million cumulative downloads as of January 2026.
- 定価トレード (Official Resale Service) Official fan-to-fan ticket resale service that lets ticket holders resell electronic tickets at face value if they cannot attend. Boardwalk manages the transaction, issues new tickets to buyers, and retains a transaction fee.
- ec board (Closed E-commerce Platform) Closed online store platform integrated with ticket board member authentication, enabling organizers to sell exclusive merchandise tied to ticket purchase data and fan club membership status.
- neo bridge (Video Streaming Platform) Online video streaming platform enabling real-time and archived live event delivery with fan communication features including open/closed chat, video/voice chat, tipping, merchandise integration, and fan club linkage. Supports multilingual delivery (Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified/Traditional Chinese).
- Fan Club Management Services Professional managed services providing fan club website design, operation, content production, exclusive ticket pre-sales, and limited merchandise to artists and artist management companies.
- QuickPASS (Electronic Stamp Ticket) Hybrid electronic ticket combining digital convenience with stamp-based entry. Venue staff use a physical electronic stamp device to mark tickets on attendees' smartphones, targeting smaller-scale and longer-duration events. Powered by playground's Quick Ticket technology.
- MyPass PCR Test Integration Integration between ticket board and Aruba's MyPass COVID-19 infection control solution. Ticket remains invalid until a negative PCR test result is confirmed, enabling infection-control-aware event entry management.
- QR Code Ticket QR code-based electronic ticket used since service launch. Tickets are scanned at venue entry gates using dedicated readers. The QR code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Corporation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved over 13 million registered members, making ticket board the largest electronic ticket service in Japan
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Boardwalk
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Boardwalk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature7 records
Boardwalk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- イオンスマートテクノロジー株式会社 (AEON Smart Technology)supportingPartnership enabling iAEON app integration with ticket board, allowing AEON Pay mobile payment for ticket purchases on the platform.
- イオンフィナンシャルサービス株式会社 (AEON Financial Service)supportingAEON Pay mobile payment service integrated into ticket board as a payment option for ticket purchases, expanding payment method choices for consumers.
- 東京ガールズコレクション (TGC) / エンタメ領域マイナンバーカード実証実験supportingBoardwalk participated as an implementation partner in a demonstration experiment for using My Number cards in the entertainment sector, conducted at the Tokyo Girls Collection event in March 2024.
- PayPal JapansupportingPayPal added as a payment method on ticket board, enabling 4.3 million Japanese PayPal users to purchase tickets through their PayPal accounts.
- NTTファイナンス / d払い (d Payment)supportingNTT DoCoMo's d Payment integrated as a payment option on ticket board, providing access to 81 million+ d Point Club members for ticket purchases.
- 株式会社アルム (Arub / MyPass)supportingBoardwalk integrated Arub's MyPass COVID-19 solution with ticket board, enabling PCR test results to be linked to electronic ticket status. This was first used at the LEGEND boxing event where 4,160 participants underwent PCR testing with results tied to ticket validity.
- DAZNsupportingJoint 'ファン活応援キャンペーン' promoting DAZN sports streaming subscriptions to ticket board members, targeting sports fans during major international sporting events.
- エボルブテクノロジー社 / ナスクインターナショナル (Evolve Technology / NASK International)supportingBoardwalk deployed Evolve Technology's EVOLV EDGE walk-through threat detection system at the SMTOWN LIVE 2019 Tokyo Dome event as a demonstration experiment. This was the first such deployment at a live entertainment venue in Japan, targeting knife and weapon detection.
- playground株式会社 (Quick Ticket / QuickPASS)supportingBoardwalk integrated playground's QuickPASS electronic stamp ticket technology into ticket board, enabling a hybrid electronic ticket format where venue staff use a physical electronic stamp to validate tickets on attendees' smartphones. QuickPASS targets smaller-scale and longer-duration events.
- 株式会社NTTドコモ (NTT DoCoMo)coreNTT DoCoMo supports Boardwalk's NFC R&D for ticket board, providing specification development assistance for NFC ticketing, device application development support, server application development, and global PR and sales cooperation. DoCoMo is also a major shareholder and provides the d Payment integration.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Boardwalk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lawson Ticket (Lawson Entertainment / HMV): Operates one of Japan's largest electronic and physical ticketing platforms, directly competing with ticket board for concerts, sports, and entertainment events across the same promoter client base in Japan.
- e+ (e-plus / Entertainment Plus): Major Japanese electronic ticketing platform serving the same concert, sports, and live entertainment segments, offering QR-code and app-based ticketing with comparable promoter and artist relationships.
- Pia (Pia Corporation): Pioneer of Japanese electronic ticketing, operating a full-service ticketing platform for concerts, sports, theater, and cinema — competing head-to-head with Boardwalk's ticket board for the same event organizer clients.
- Confetti (Wands Corporation): Japanese live entertainment ticketing and event production company running an electronic ticketing platform with promoter, artist, and fan club capabilities comparable to ticket board.
Broad incumbents
- Ticketmaster: Global ticketing incumbent with growing Asia-Pacific footprint; offers the same end-to-end ticketing plus resale and venue management services that Boardwalk provides to Japanese promoters, but at vastly greater scale.
- Eventbrite: Global self-serve ticketing and event platform with a broad consumer and SMB focus; overlapping in core ticketing technology and analytics but serving a different segment than Boardwalk's enterprise promoter base.
- AXS: International electronic ticketing and live entertainment platform owned by AEG; comparable mobile ticketing, anti-fraud, and venue access solutions targeting major arenas and stadiums, including Asia-Pacific expansion.
- Live Nation Entertainment: Global live entertainment conglomerate combining concert promotion, ticketing (via Ticketmaster), and venue operations — a strategic peer to Boardwalk's full-stack fan engagement model at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- DICE: Mobile-first ticketing and event discovery platform with strong anti-scalping features (verified fan, face-value resale) that closely mirror Boardwalk's LIVE QR PLUS positioning, competing for the same modern fan demographic.
Regional players
- U-NEXT (USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS): Japan-based video streaming and content platform with adjacent live event streaming and ticketing-adjacent capabilities; comparable to Boardwalk's neo bridge streaming service and Japanese consumer entertainment focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boardwalk social profiles
Digital presenceBoardwalk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boardwalk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Boardwalk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boardwalk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boardwalk
What does Boardwalk do?
Boardwalk operates the ticket board electronic ticketing platform, Japan's largest electronic ticket service with 13 million+ registered members, providing end-to-end ticketing for concerts, sports, movies, and theater events via QR codes, FeliCa NFC, and the proprietary LIVE QR PLUS app with time-limited rotating QR codes for anti-scalping protection. Beyond ticketing, the company offers fan club management services, ec board closed e-commerce for merchandise, neo bridge live video streaming, and the 定価トレード official resale service for fan-to-fan ticket transfers at face value.
Is Boardwalk a public or private company?
Boardwalk is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Boardwalk founded?
Boardwalk was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Boardwalk based?
Boardwalk is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Boardwalk make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales / Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are EC / Merchandise Sales, fan Club Management Services, 定侕トレード (Official Resale Service), neo bridge Video Streaming and 3D Technology Solutions (historical).
Who are Boardwalk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lawson Ticket (Lawson Entertainment / HMV), e+ (e-plus / Entertainment Plus), Pia (Pia Corporation) and Confetti (Wands Corporation). Broad incumbents are Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, AXS and Live Nation Entertainment. DICE is listed as an emerging player. U-NEXT (USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS) is listed as a regional player.
Does Boardwalk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boardwalk.
What industry is Boardwalk in?
Boardwalk's product category is Electronic Ticketing Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAJAA, Primary Ticketing Platforms & Box Office Systems, with a secondary code of MPAIAFAD, Ticketing Platforms & Primary Ticketing. Its NAICS code is 711310 and its SIC code is 7900.