Cocone

What Cocone does

Cocone Corporation is a Tokyo-headquartered digital entertainment company founded in September 2008 by Chun Yang Hyun that develops and operates a portfolio of avatar-driven mobile applications under the ENSAPIA Group holding structure. Its core product line centers on the Pokecolo series (Pokecolo, Pokecolo Twin, and the March 2026 launch POKEUNI/Pokecolo Universe) — avatar dress-up and social interaction apps collectively serving 40M+ cumulative users with 140,000+ items — alongside the Livly Island pet-simulation franchise (14M+ users, winner of Google Play Best of 2021 Entertainment category) and the hange online game portal (60M+ registered users, 70+ titles). Underlying technology includes proprietary avatar customization systems, a Digital Ontos digital-world platform, an AI-powered item maker in POKEUNI, and text/avatar generation AI ('Chumie') introduced in Pokecolo in September 2024.

The company monetizes through a freemium model with in-app purchases of virtual items, limited-time gacha (lottery) features, and collaboration event items, with pricing in virtual currency on a pay-as-you-go basis and no subscription requirement for core functionality. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via iOS App Store and Google Play, with localized versions in Japanese, English, Chinese (Traditional), and Korean. Cocone generates top-of-funnel demand through high-frequency IP collaborations with major Japanese/Korean entertainment franchises (Nijisanji VTubers, TREASURE K-pop, Sanrio, Disney, Blue Lock anime, pixiv illustrators) and events including the ENSAPIA Digital Art Contest.

Cocone operates as a subsidiary of ENSAPIA Corporation (formerly cocone ONE Corporation), following a May 2023 holding company restructuring. The group comprises wholly-owned operating subsidiaries covering engineering (Cocone Engineering K.K.), back-office services (Cocone Business Partners), education (Cocone Education, operating preschools), and regional entities spanning Korea, China, Hong Kong, US, UK, and Estonia. As of July 2024, consolidated headcount stood at 452 employees. In November 2025, Mai Ishiwatari succeeded founder Chun Yang Hyun as President and Representative Director, with Hyun continuing as Chairman of the Board. The group is currently rebranding to ENSAPIA, with subsidiary name changes scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026.

Name

Cocone

Legal name

Cocone Corporation (ココネ株式会社)

Website

https://cocone.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cocone Corporation is a Tokyo-based digital entertainment company operating avatar and digital world mobile apps including the Pokecolo series (40M+ users), Livly Island (14M+ users), and the hange game portal (60M+ users), monetizing through freemium in-app purchases and IP collaboration events across global markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Avatar Social Mobile Apps

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Goods & Digital Item Commerce (skins, cosmetics, DLC) (MPAFAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Billing, Subscription & Entitlement Management (IAP orchestration) (MPAFAJAC), Creator/Affiliate Monetization & Commerce (UGC revenue share, referrals) (MPAFAJAJ)

Keywords

• Avatar mobile apps
• Digital fashion platform
• Social mobile gaming
• Virtual item marketplace
• Avatar customization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. In-app Item Purchases: Freemium model where core app access is free. Revenue generated from virtual item purchases including avatar fashion items, accessories, room decorations, and other customization content. Users purchase virtual currency to acquire desired items.
2. Premium Content/Gacha: Limited-time gacha (lottery) features with premium items, collaboration event items, and special edition virtual goods drive significant revenue during promotional periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cocone develops and operates freemium mobile applications that let consumers build and customize avatars, dress them in digital fashion, decorate virtual rooms, raise digital creatures, and socialize with other users in real time. The portfolio spans the Pokecolo avatar series (Pokecolo, Pokecolo Twin, POKEUNI/Pokecolo Universe), the Livly Island pet-simulation series, and supporting games (hange portal, Chocotto Land, Cats Atelier, Sencil, Purenista, conpeito by SELFY, Hello Sweet Days). Monetization is via in-app purchases of virtual items, gacha events, and IP-based collaboration content, distributed globally on iOS and Android with localized content in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

Product overview

Cocone operates a multi-product digital world and avatar platform portfolio centered around three core business areas: Digital World, Avatar, and Game services. The Avatar portfolio is led by the Pokecolo series (Pokecolo, Pokecolo Twin, and the March 2026 launch POKEUNI/Pokecolo Universe), collectively serving 40+ million users with 1.2 million+ fashion item types and 30 billion digital assets. The Livly Island sub-portfolio (Livly Island and May 2026's LIVING with LIVLIES) offers pet simulation and post-apocalyptic lifestyle experiences. Additional avatar services include Sencil (dress-up battle), Purenista (adult dress-up), and Hello Sweet Days (Sanrio IP). The Game portfolio spans hange (70+ title portal, 60M+ registered users), Chocotto Land (fantasy MORPG), and Cats Atelier (puzzle game). All services emphasize free self-expression through avatars, with recent AI integration through Pokecolo's text generation AI 'Chumie' and POKEUNI's AI item maker feature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pokecolo (ポケコロ): Avatar dress-up app launched in 2011, serving over 25 million customers with 140,000+ items for fashion and interior coordination.
• Pokecolo Twin (ポケコロツイン)
• Pokuni / Pokecolo Universe (ポケユニ)
• Livly Island (リヴリーアイランド)
• LIVING with LIVLIES: Worlds of What Ifs
• Sencil (センシル)
• Cats Atelier / Nya Nyaha (猫のニャッホ～ニャ・ミゼラブル～)
• hange (ハンゲ)
• Purenista (ピュアニスタ)
• Chocotto Land (チョコットランド)
• conpeito by SELFY
• Hello Sweet Days (ハロースイートデイズ)

Products and services

• Pokecolo (ポケコロ) Foundational avatar dress-up mobile app launched in 2011 with 25+ million users and 140,000+ items, enabling users to customize avatars, coordinate fashion, decorate rooms/interiors, and socialize within the app. Target users are mass-market consumers interested in digital self-expression and social play.
• Pokecolo Twin (ポケコロツイン) Twin avatar dress-up app launched in 2020 with 18+ million downloads; features paired avatars called "Cocoron" that can be dressed in coordinated outfits and various fashion styles. For mass-market mobile consumers who enjoy avatar styling and social interaction.
• POKEUNI / Pokecolo Universe (ポケユニバース) Latest entry in the Pokecolo series (March 2026) offering highly detailed avatar customization (face, body, clothing, accessories), a real-time multi-avatar communication space ("Party") with chat/voice/emotes, and an AI-powered item maker that lets users individually or collaboratively generate original fashion items. For mass-market consumers wanting cutting-edge avatar expression plus generative AI creation.
• Livly Island (リヴリーアイランド) Avatar pet-simulation app featuring mysterious "Livlies" creatures (alchemy-born beings that eat insects and produce gem droppings), with a custom creature creation system for body color, patterns, and part placement/size. 14+ million users globally; Google Play Best of 2021 Entertainment Category Grand Prize winner.
• LIVING with LIVLIES: Worlds of What Ifs Post-apocalyptic slow-life game-like app (May 2026), the latest title in the Livly Island series. Players play a soul entity that explores the wasteland by possessing AI-generated Livlies creatures, crafts items through alchemy, and builds its lifestyle.
• Sencil (センシル) New fantasy dress-up battle game where users coordinate fashion items and engage in dress-up battles with other players. Features story sections with celebrity voice actors. For mobile gamers who want a competitive fashion-battle experience.
• Cats Atelier / 猫のニャッホ～ニャ・ミゼラブル～ Heartwarming story-driven match-three puzzle game featuring protagonist Niagho and unique characters; adapted into a TV anime in 2019. For casual mobile gamers.
• hange (ハンゲ) Online game portal site offering 70+ casual-to-midcore game titles under a single account; 60+ million cumulative registered users. For Japanese-market online gamers wanting a wide menu of casual titles.
• Purenista (ピュアニスタ) Adult-oriented dress-up app that treats dress-up as the core "play" itself rather than a supplementary feature, offering a space where users can express themselves freely. For adult consumers who want avatar and dress-up play without the lighter thematic framing.
• Chocotto Land (チョコっとランド) Classic fantasy MORPG with simple controls featuring 1,000+ monster types, 7,000+ equipment types, and 500+ pet breeds. Playable on PC and smartphone. For Japanese casual-MMO players wanting long-running, collection-driven gameplay.
• conpeito by SELFY App launched June 2024 that lets anyone create beautiful illustrations and share them with the world. For general consumers who want a simple social illustration tool.
• Hello Sweet Days (ハロースイートデイズ) Official Sanrio-licensed avatar dress-up app featuring Hello Kitty, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, Pompompurin, and Cinnamoroll. Users enjoy conversations with characters in Smile Town while collecting fashion and furniture items. For Sanrio-IP fans and general consumers who want character-branded avatar play.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 million+ customers served with avatar apps
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Nijisanji (にじさんじ)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2026Collaboration with Nijisanji VTubers including Rize Helesta, Ange Katrina, and Kagami Hayato for Livly Island events, and Debidebi Debiru & Lunlun for Pokecolo Twin collaborations.
• TREASUREcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026Collaboration with global K-pop boy group TREASURE (JUNKYU, ASAHI) for Pokecolo Twin avatar items, voice items, and promotional campaigns.
• SanriocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial licensed Sanrio character apps including Hello Sweet Days featuring Hello Kitty, My Melody, and other Sanrio characters.
• DisneycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPeriodic collaborations featuring Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Sleeping Beauty in Pokecolo apps.
• pixivcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with pixiv illustration platform for the Pokecolo Twin Illustration Contest, where winning designs are implemented as in-app items.
• Various Anime IP HoldersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborations with anime series including Blue Lock, Wind Breaker, and others for avatar items and promotional events.
• Various IllustratorsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDrops. project featuring popular illustrators creating exclusive avatar items for Pokecolo apps.
• Sweets ParadiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLimited-time collaboration cafes at Sweets Paradise restaurants featuring Sanrio x Livly Island collaborations.
• ROUND1minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLivly Island collaboration campaigns at 100 ROUND1 stores nationwide.
• Tokyo Girls CollectionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Tokyo Girls Collection fashion events with avatar and fashion presentations.
• Anycolor Inc. (Nijisanji)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLicensed VTuber content featuring Nijisanji talents for avatar and game collaborations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zepeto: Direct peer — Zepeto operates one of the largest avatar-based social platforms with virtual item commerce and virtual spaces, serving global Gen Z users. Highly comparable to Cocone's Pokecolo/POKEUNI product line in business model (freemium + virtual goods) and target audience.
• IMVU: Direct peer — IMVU pioneered avatar-based social chat with a deep virtual goods marketplace (creator economy for 3D items), in the same freemium IAP model as Cocone. Closest Western analog to Cocone's avatar commerce flywheel and community dynamics.
• REALITY (Wright Flyer Live Entertainment): Direct peer — REALITY is a Japanese avatar live-streaming and social app with virtual item monetization, owned by GREE. Direct competitor in Japanese avatar-driven social entertainment with overlapping user base with Pokecolo and Livly Island.

Broad incumbents

• Roblox Corporation: Broad incumbent — Roblox is the global leader in UGC avatar-driven virtual worlds with a massive item marketplace. Operates at vastly larger scale than Cocone but competes for the same avatar/digital-self-expression user mindshare, especially in Western markets.
• GREE Inc. Broad incumbent — GREE is a long-established Japanese social/mobile gaming company with avatar social apps (GREE Social, Avatar Town/REALITY) and gacha-driven monetization that directly mirrors Cocone's business model. Comparable in market and genre focus.
• DeNA Co., Ltd. Broad incumbent — DeNA operates major mobile/IP-games portfolio (Nintendo partnerships, Mobage platform) and has pursued avatar/social gaming initiatives. Comparable in Japanese mobile gaming scale, IP licensing playbook, and gacha mechanics.
• HoYoverse (miHoYo): Broad incumbent — HoYoverse leads the global live-service gacha + virtual character economy (Genshin Impact, Honkai), with very high ARPU per avatar character. Comparable in virtual goods commerce mechanics and Asian IP positioning, though at much larger AAA-game scale.
• Cygames, Inc. Broad incumbent — Cygames is one of Japan's largest mobile/PC game publishers (Uma Musume, Granblue Fantasy) with extensive IP licensing and merchandise operations. Comparable on digital item commerce, IP collaboration engine, and Japanese mobile-first DNA.

Regional players

• NHN Japan (LINE / LY Corporation): Regional peer — NHN Japan (now part of LY Corp / LINE) is the parent lineage of Cocone's founder and currently operates Hangame/Hange in Japan. Overlapping ownership history and shared gacha/avatar gaming DNA make it the closest domestic Japanese comparable for monetization mechanics and platform infrastructure.

Others

• Sanrio Co., Ltd. Adjacent/licensor — Sanrio is a key IP licensor to Cocone (Hello Sweet Days app) and a creator of avatar/character entertainment. Comparable less as a direct competitor and more as a partner/letterspace in the digital character commerce ecosystem that defines Cocone's category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cocone_pr
• Facebookfacebook.com/cocone.corp/?locale=ja_JP
• Instagraminstagram.com/cocone_corporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cocone

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Cocone