Metaphase

What Metaphase does

Metaphase Co., Ltd. (株式会社メタフェイズ) is a Tokyo-headquartered, privately-held Japanese web production agency founded in February 2001, specializing in UI/UX-driven website design, web consulting, mobile app UI, system development, and ongoing site operation. The firm positions itself as a strategic, business-outcome-oriented design partner under the philosophy that effective design — not merely attractive design — is the core deliverable, with services spanning corporate sites, service sites, e-commerce (DtoC), brand sites, campaign sites, recruit sites, and Chinese-language sites. Its technical stack spans CMS platforms (WordPress, MovableType, PowerCMS), Shopify Plus customization, React-based frontend development, PHP-based web applications, and native/webview mobile UI, supplemented by proprietary free tools (Plate responsive template, Website Diagnosis Tool) used for lead generation.

The company operates a sales-led, consultation-based B2B go-to-market, capturing project type, budget, and discovery channel via structured inquiry forms. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with documented budget tiers ranging from approximately ¥1M for entry-level sites up to ¥30M+ for enterprise platform and digital transformation projects. Customer logos span a broad cross-section of large Japanese enterprises — including Toyota, Honda, Kirin, Suntory, Shiseido, Dentsu, Zurich Insurance, NTT Communications, SmartHR, and Jupiter Shop Channel — across automotive, beverage, cosmetics, insurance, telecom, HR tech, retail, and entertainment verticals. Over its 20+ year history, Metaphase claims 7,000+ delivered projects, 51-100 employees, a wholly-owned Shanghai subsidiary (上海メタフェイズ) for cross-border work, and JIS Q 15001 personal information protection certification. The firm is independently owned with no disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

Metaphase

Legal name

株式会社メタフェイズ

Website

https://metaphase.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Metaphase is a privately-held Tokyo web production agency founded in 2001, specializing in strategy-driven UI/UX design, corporate and e-commerce website development, Shopify customization, and ongoing site operations for large Japanese enterprises across automotive, beverage, retail, insurance, and tech.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Web Design and UX/UI Services

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

akta.pro primary industry

Meta-Search & Search Aggregators (BPAMAAAC)

Keywords

• Web design services
• UX UI design
• Web consulting
• Website development
• Creative direction

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Website Production Services: Professional services for website design, development, and launch. Includes corporate sites, service sites, EC sites, brand sites, campaign sites, media sites, recruit sites, community sites, store/facility sites, landing pages, Chinese language sites, and SaaS UI. Pricing varies by project scope with typical budgets ranging from ~100万円 to 3000万円+.
2. UX/UI Design Services: UX design services including service design, brand experience design, UX research, and workshop design/execution support. Focuses on creating ideal user experiences and business outcomes through design thinking and co-creation processes.
3. Web Consulting Services: Consulting services including existing business growth support, new business development support, web marketing support, website analysis, competitive research, and RFP creation support.
4. App UI Production: Mobile app UI design services including native app UI and webview app UI. Focuses on intuitive operation and optimal user experiences for mobile applications.
5. Website Operation/Management Services: Ongoing website operation and management services including website operation outsourcing, website management outsourcing, and PMO (Project Management Office) services for large-scale projects.
6. System Development Services: Web system development, CMS development, and Shopify development/customization services. Includes web application development, EC package integration support, web interaction development, and database construction support.
7. Creative Direction Services: Creative direction including CI/VI development, design guideline creation, and photo/video shooting direction. Supports brand image development and consistent visual expression across all creative touchpoints.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Metaphase is a Japanese web production agency that provides strategy-driven website design and UX/UI services to enterprise clients. Its core services span website production, UX/UI design, web consulting, app UI production, website operation/management, system development (CMS, Shopify, web applications), and creative direction. The firm also offers two complementary free self-service tools: Plate (a customizable responsive design template) and a Website Diagnosis Tool for identifying website improvement opportunities.

Product overview

Metaphase is a Japanese web production company offering a comprehensive suite of digital services centered around UI/UX design. The company provides website creation, UX design, web consulting, app UI production, website operation/management, system development, and creative direction services. Their product portfolio includes two complimentary tools: Plate (a free responsive design template allowing online color and font modifications) and a Website Diagnosis Tool (which aggregates their expertise to identify website issues). The company has completed over 7,000 website projects and specializes in serving major Japanese corporations including Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Kirin Holdings, Suntory, Toyota, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plate: Free responsive design template tool offered by Metaphase for website creation
• Website Diagnosis Tool (网络营销診断ツール)

Products and services

• Website Production (Webサイト制作) Strategy-driven website design, development, and launch services for corporate sites, service sites, EC sites, brand sites, campaign sites, media sites, recruit sites, community sites, store/facility sites, landing pages, multi-language (e.g., Chinese) sites, and SaaS UI. Targeted at Japanese enterprises (BtoC and BtoB) seeking websites tied to business goals.
• UX Design (UXデザイン) UX design services including service design, brand experience design, UX research, and workshop design/execution support. Aimed at clients seeking user-centered design grounded in research and co-creation.
• Web Consulting (Webコンサルティング) Consulting services supporting existing business growth, new business development, web marketing, website analysis, competitive research, and RFP creation. For companies needing strategic digital advice beyond execution.
• App UI Production (アプリUI制作) Mobile app UI design services covering native app UI and webview app UI, focused on intuitive operation and optimal user experience for mobile applications.
• Website Operation/Management (Webサイト運用・運営) Ongoing website operation and management services including website operation outsourcing, website management outsourcing, and PMO (Project Management Office) services for large-scale projects.
• System Development (システム開発) Web system development, CMS development, and Shopify development/customization services. Includes web application development, EC package integration support, web interaction development, and database construction.
• Creative Direction (クリエイティブディレクション) Creative direction including CI/VI development, design guideline creation, and photo/video shooting direction. Supports brand image development and consistent visual expression across creative touchpoints.
• Plate A free responsive design template offered by Metaphase that allows users to modify colors and fonts online and then download and use the template for web projects.
• Website Diagnosis Tool (Webサイト診断) A free diagnostic tool that aggregates Metaphase's expertise to identify issues on websites, serving as a first step for businesses considering website improvement initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shop Shop channel achieved 110% increase in EC sales conversion rate after redesign
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Goodpatch: Goodpatch is a Tokyo-headquartered UI/UX design firm offering strategy, design, and digital product development services to enterprise clients across Japan and globally. Closest direct peer due to overlapping UX/UI focus, Japanese market presence, and similar enterprise client mix.
• Whatever Inc. Whatever Inc. is a Japanese web production company providing website creation, system development, and digital marketing services to enterprise clients. Directly comparable in service stack and Japan-domestic enterprise focus.
• Fringe81: Fringe81 is a Japanese digital agency specializing in digital marketing, web development, and creative production for enterprise clients. Comparable in scale and service portfolio, with similar enterprise client targeting in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• transcosmos: Transcosmos is a large Japanese digital services and BPO company with web production, digital marketing, and contact center operations. Larger scale and broader service portfolio than Metaphase, but overlapping web design and digital experience delivery services.
• Dentsu Digital: Dentsu Digital is the digital services arm of Dentsu Group, one of Japan's largest advertising conglomerates, offering comprehensive digital transformation, web development, and creative services. Significantly larger scale with broader capabilities spanning advertising, consulting, and technology.
• Accenture Song Japan: Accenture Song is the design and experience consultancy arm of Accenture, operating in Japan with global delivery capability. Comparable design-led approach but operates at significantly larger scale with broader strategy and technology integration services.
• IDEO: IDEO is a global design consultancy known for human-centered design and innovation services. Comparable design methodology and outcome-driven approach, but operates at much larger scale with global geographic reach.
• frog design: Frog design is a global design and engineering firm now part of Capgemini Engineering, offering design strategy and digital product development. Comparable in design-led approach and enterprise client focus, with significantly larger scale and global capabilities.
• AKQA: AKQA is a global design and innovation agency part of WPP, offering brand experience design, digital product development, and creative services. Comparable in outcome-driven design approach but operates at much larger scale with global presence.
• Huge: Huge is a global experience design agency offering strategy, design, marketing, and technology services. Comparable in outcome-driven design approach and enterprise client focus, with broader geographic reach and integrated service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/metaphase_co_jp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Metaphase