What Clara does

Clara Inc. (クララ株式会社) is a privately-held Japanese corporation operating a dual-segment business model that combines digital transformation (DX) support with mobility services. The DX Support segment provides cloud infrastructure (Clara Cloud, the China-focused Hongtu Cloud with 5-carrier BGP connectivity, and AWS/Azure intermediation), managed services including the Kompira-based MSP Service for Linux, cross-border business consulting for Chinese and broader Asian market entry, and the JaU (ジャーユウ) HR platform for China-Japan bilingual talent placement. The Mobility segment operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries Charichari (bike sharing across multiple Japanese cities), BuyCharichari (bicycle retail), and Wimo (children's bicycles). Clara's customer base is concentrated among Japanese enterprises expanding into China and Asia, Chinese companies entering Japan (particularly in gaming and digital content), and urban mobility consumers in Japan.

The company's revenue model combines recurring cloud subscription fees (with multiple tiered pricing plans across dedicated, virtual, and flexible hosting), professional services fees for consulting engagements, employment placement fees for the JaU HR service (operating under permit 13-ユ-306859), and transaction-based revenue from bike-sharing rentals and bicycle retail. Clara employs between 101-250 staff and operates wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures across Asia, including Clara China in Beijing, FullRoute Pte. Ltd. (a joint venture with NEC BIGLOBE in Singapore), and various Japanese operating subsidiaries. Pricing for the flagship Hongtu Cloud service ranges from approximately 2,210 JPY to 156,000 JPY per month depending on tier and usage, while MSP monitoring services are priced at 2,500 JPY to 10,000 JPY per server per month.

Clara has built an Asia IaaS data center footprint spanning 8 cities (Tokyo, Nagoya, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taipei) across 5 countries, supported by partnerships with China Telecom (CN2 global IP network), Nifty Corporation (Hongtu Cloud infrastructure), Microsoft Japan (Cloud Solution Provider for Azure and Office 365), Exabytes (Southeast Asia), Fixpoint (Kompira automation), Bit-isle, and others. The company maintains ISMS certification (effective April 2024) and was selected by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency as a support partner for the JAPAN Brand Development Support Program in 2022. CEO Kentaro Iemoto, who has over 20 years of China business experience, was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012, signaling the company's positioning as an established cross-border business specialist in the Japan-China technology corridor.

Name

Clara

Legal name

クララ株式会社

Website

https://clara.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Clara Inc. is a privately-held Japanese corporation providing cross-border cloud infrastructure (Clara Cloud, Hongtu Cloud), China-Asia consulting, and the JaU HR platform, alongside mobility services (Charichari bike-sharing, BuyCharichari retail, Wimo kids bikes), serving Japanese enterprises expanding into Asia and urban mobility consumers in Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud Infrastructure & Cross-Border IT Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid Cloud Migration, Modernization & Integration (HDABAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cloud Data Platforms & Analytics Migration (BPAEACAI), Remote Access, Virtual Workspaces & Digital HQ (BPAMAMAL)

Keywords

• Cloud infrastructure services
• Managed IT services
• China market consulting
• Talent recruitment platform
• Bike sharing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shiba

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Infrastructure (Cloud/Hosting): Provides cloud hosting, dedicated servers, and hybrid infrastructure services. Core services include Clara Cloud (dedicated, LG, Flex plans), public cloud intermediary services (AWS, Azure, Alibaba Cloud), and Hongtu Cloud for China operations. Revenue from recurring subscription fees, hourly usage charges, and setup/onboarding fees. The company operates data centers across 8 Asian cities.
2. Business Consulting: Cross-border consulting for China and Asia market expansion, including market research, regulatory compliance, digital marketing, and M&A advisory. Services also cover China enterprise support for Japanese companies entering China and reverse Japan entry for Chinese companies. Revenue from consulting project fees and retainer engagements.
3. HR Solutions (JaU): High-class recruitment scout service for China-capable talent, connecting Japanese/China business professionals with companies seeking cross-border talent. Revenue from placement fees (licensed fee-based employment placement service, permit 13-ユ-306859).
4. Mobility (Charichari, Wimo, BuyCharichari): Share cycle services (Charichari), bicycle retail (BuyCharichari), and ultra-lightweight kids bikes (Wimo). Revenue from bike rental fees, bicycle sales, and related mobility services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Clara Group operates two business segments: a DX Support segment providing cloud infrastructure (Clara Cloud, Hongtu Cloud for China, public cloud intermediary services), cross-border business consulting for Japan-China and Asia market entry, and HR/talent recruitment services (JaU platform); and a Mobility segment encompassing shared cycling (Charichari), bicycle retail (BuyCharichari), and ultra-lightweight children's bicycles (Wimo). The cloud platform spans 8 Asian cities (Tokyo, Nagoya, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei), serving Japanese enterprises expanding into China and Asia and Chinese enterprises entering Japan.

Product overview

Clara operates a dual-segment business model comprising DX Support (internet service infrastructure) and Mobility businesses. The DX Support segment offers cloud solutions, consulting, and HR services, centered on Clara Cloud as the core platform. Key cloud products include Public Cloud (AWS/Azure), the China-focused Hongtu Cloud (鴻図雲), and MSP services for Linux server automation. The consulting arm provides China market entry and cross-border advisory services, while HR solutions include the JaU recruitment platform for China-Japan talent. The Mobility segment encompasses bicycle sharing (Charichari), bicycle retail (BuyChari), and children's bicycles (wimo), managed through group subsidiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JaU (ジャーヨウ): High-class job hunting scout service specialized in Japan-China business talent with over 3,000 registered members.
• Clara Cloud
• Charichari (チャリチャリ)
• Buychari (バイチャリ)
• wimo

Products and services

• Clara Cloud Cloud infrastructure platform offering dedicated server plans, LG plans, and the Flex series for Japanese domestic and cross-border cloud deployments across Asia. Serves Japanese enterprises needing hosted IT infrastructure.
• Hongtu Cloud (鸿图云) China-focused enterprise cloud service with pay-per-use billing, Japanese/Chinese language support, and BGP connectivity to five Chinese telecom carriers. Two server types available: Type-h (enterprise-grade) and Type-e (cost-optimized). Designed for Japanese companies operating in China.
• Public Cloud Service (AWS/Azure) Public cloud services offering Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure as intermediary/reseller, with migration support services. Targets Japanese enterprises seeking hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
• MSP Service for Linux Managed server operations service featuring automated monitoring, email notification, automated voice calls, and auto-recovery (first-response) capabilities. Supports AWS, Azure, Nifty Cloud, Sakura Internet, and physical servers. Plans include Monitoring & Notification Plan (initial fee 5,000 JPY, monthly 2,500 JPY/server) and First Response Plan (monthly 10,000 JPY/server).
• China Business Consulting Cross-border consulting services covering market research, legal and regulatory compliance (including China cyber security law), digital marketing, M&A advisory, and reverse Japan entry for Chinese companies. Backed by over 20 years of China business experience.
• JaU (ジャーユウ) Recruitment scout platform connecting China-capable professionals with Japanese companies and headhunting firms. Members receive direct scouts from companies seeking Japan-China business talent. Available via web browser, iOS, and Android apps. Operates under licensed fee-based employment placement service (permit 13-ユ-306859).
• Charichari (チャリチャリ) Shared cycling (bike-sharing) service operating across multiple cities in Japan, providing last-mile mobility solutions. Accessed through physical bike docking stations and a smartphone app. Operated by wholly-owned subsidiary Charichari Inc.
• BuyCharichari (バイチャリ) Bicycle retail and buyback service operated by wholly-owned subsidiary BuyCharichari Inc., including the Shiga Otsu flagship store selling new and used bicycles.
• Wimo Ultra-lightweight children's bicycles sold online via wimo.co.jp and operated by wholly-owned subsidiary Wimo Inc.
• Cloud Connection Service (クラウド接続サービス) Network connectivity service linking enterprise on-premises infrastructure to cloud environments, with enhanced Japan-China communication solutions developed jointly with Macnica Networks.
• SCT SECURE Vulnerability Diagnostic Service Security vulnerability assessment and diagnostic service that monitors suspicious activity and issues alert emails upon detection of issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 registered members on JaU platform within 10 months of launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Charichari - Local Governments and Organizations (Bicycle Parliamentary League, Kikyō Town)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Charichari share cycle service collaborates with local governments and organizations. Activities include booth exhibitions at Bicycle Parliamentary League 'Blue Sky General Meeting' (June 2026), disaster response training with Kikyō Town on 10th anniversary of Kumamoto Earthquake (April 2026), and promotion campaigns with film 'License Return!?' (June 2026).
• Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (中小企業庁)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Selected as support partner for Japan Brand Development Support Program (JAPANブランド育成支援等事業), enabling Clara to provide subsidized consulting services (up to 5M JPY per company) for Japanese startups and SMEs expanding to China, including market research, EC mall entry, sales channel development, regulatory consulting, and digital marketing.
• JaU - Companies and Headhunters Using PlatformcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 February 2022JaU recruitment platform connects China-capable professionals (3,000+ members as of February 2022) with Japanese companies seeking China business talent and headhunting firms. Companies and headhunters send direct job scouts through the platform. Service launched March 2021 (iOS/Android); web browser version added February 2022.
• Seiyo Shoji (セイノー商事)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2016Joint venture established with Seiyo Shoji for logistics and cross-border commerce operations. Expansion of Clara's cross-border business consulting into logistics support services.
• Microsoft Japan (日本微软株式会社)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 November 2015Cloud Solution Provider Program (CSP) 1-Tier certification from Microsoft Japan, enabling Clara to offer Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility Suite alongside its cloud services with integrated design, deployment, and operations support.
• D2C / Shanghai Oriental Pearl DISH Co. (上海东方明珠迪尔希文化传媒有限公司)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2015Advisory services for D2C and Shanghai Oriental Pearl DISH Co. (subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group) for joint venture establishment in China (Shanghai Free Trade Zone) for game development, localization, publishing and operations. Also advisory for Gree's 'Shoumetsutoshi' (消滅都市) game China expansion to OPD2C.
• Bit-isle Inc. (株式会社ビットアイル)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2015Collaboration for China enterprise Japan market entry consulting and Japanese IT infrastructure. Bit-isle provides Tokyo central data center (OEM) to Clara while Clara provides China-side consulting and sales through group companies. Enables Chinese companies to access Japanese IT infrastructure for EC, mobile games, and entertainment content distribution.
• Nifty Corporation (ニフティ株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2015Joint service for Hongtu Cloud (鴻図雲) enterprise cloud for China, based on Nifty Cloud technology infrastructure. Clara provides Asia market expertise and Chinese-language support while Nifty provides cloud platform technology. 3,500+ Nifty Cloud customers referenced. Joint service expanded with new Type-e server tier in April 2015.
• China Trust Commercial Bank (中國信託商業銀行)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2014Advisory service collaboration with Taiwan's largest commercial bank. Leverages China Trust's banking network and Clara's cross-border advisory network to provide M&A and business partnership support to companies across Asia including Japan. CTBC operates 147 branches in Taiwan and 100 overseas offices across 11 countries.
• Exabytes Network Sdn. Bhd.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2014Business partnership with Malaysia's largest server hosting company for Asia cloud and consulting business. Includes technology collaboration, talent exchange, mutual infrastructure sharing, joint service development, and Japanese mobile game/video content expansion to Southeast Asia. Clara transferred Usonyx Pte. Ltd. subsidiary to Exabytes as part of this deal. Capital partnership (partial equity investment by Clara in Exabytes) also under consideration.
• China Telecom / China Telecom Global (中国電信)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2014Business partnership with China Telecom for CN2 network (global IP network) connectivity. Clara sells CN2 network services in Japan and uses it within Hongtu Cloud infrastructure for China connectivity. Partnership includes IDC collaboration, IPLC services, and mutual personnel exchange across ASEAN operations. Hong Kong node established February 2014.
• FullRoute Pte. Ltd. (Joint Venture with NEC BIGLOBE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2013Joint venture with NEC BIGLOBE (BIGLOBE) established in Singapore in October 2013 (capital: 800,000 USD) to provide ASEAN IT infrastructure services (data center, network) to small and medium ISPs and content providers. Clara contributes Asian market expertise while BIGLOBE provides global connectivity. Targeted 100M JPY revenue in ASEAN by fiscal 2016. Head: Shirata Makoto.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): Global hyperscaler that Clara resells and supports in Japan/China (Public Cloud Service). AWS directly competes with Clara's Clara Cloud and JP7 Series while simultaneously being a partner via the AWS Partner Network.
• Tencent Cloud: Major APAC hyperscaler especially strong in gaming (Clara has gaming customers like Gree) and China enterprise — overlaps with Hongtu Cloud and Clara's Asia gaming-channel partnerships, including at Tokyo Game Show.
• KDDI / IDC Frontier: Major Japanese telecom and data center operator with cloud offerings (KDDI Cloud, IDC Frontier) — directly competes with Clara for enterprise hybrid-cloud, connectivity, and managed services in Japan.
• Alibaba Cloud: Largest China-based hyperscaler with global presence and strong Japan/APAC footprint — competes with Hongtu Cloud for China workloads and with Clara's AWS/Azure resale bundle, but at vastly greater scale.
• Microsoft Azure: Global hyperscaler that Clara resells under CSP 1-Tier; Azure is a direct competitor to Clara Cloud and the underlying IaaS of Hongtu Cloud for cross-border Japan-China workloads.
• NEC BIGLOBE: Japanese ISP and cloud division of NEC — co-owner of FullRoute Pte. Ltd. with Clara for ASEAN IT infrastructure and a broader incumbent in Japanese hosting/network services.

Direct peers

• Sakura Internet: Major Japanese independent cloud and hosting provider offering IaaS, dedicated servers, and managed services across domestic data centers — directly comparable to Clara Cloud and JP7 Series for Japanese enterprise and developer workloads.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Leading Japanese carrier-independent cloud and network services provider (IIJ GIO) with enterprise hybrid-cloud, managed services, and connectivity — overlap with Clara's hybrid infrastructure, MSP, and cloud-connect offerings.
• GMO Internet Group: Large Japanese internet conglomerate providing cloud hosting (GMO Cloud), domains, and managed IT for SMB and enterprise — directly competitive with Clara Cloud on dedicated-server and hybrid-cloud offerings.

Regional players

• Exabytes: Malaysia-based hosting provider and Clara partner (acquired Usonyx Pte. Ltd. from Clara) — comparable regional peer for Southeast Asian shared/managed hosting, focused on SMB and SEA expansion rather than China-Japan cross-border.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/claraonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/claraonline.inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clara-online-inc.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Clara