SO-KEN

What SO-KEN does

SO-KEN Corporation (株式会社SO-KEN), headquartered in Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, is a privately held printing technology company that develops and commercializes "Printed XR" (formerly TrickPrint), a proprietary platform of trigger-based print effects. Six distinct technologies are in market: Blacklight Print (UV-reactive, 2010), Solar Print (sunlight-reactive, 2013), Flash Print (camera-flash-reactive, 2018), ReLight Print (back-illumination reactive, 2019), Bellows Print (angle-dependent, 2021), and Hydro Print (water-reactive, 2023). Each technique uses patented data conversion algorithms and specialized inks or media to make hidden imagery appear when exposed to a specific environmental stimulus, delivering cross-reality experiences through print alone without specialized devices. The underlying intellectual property is protected by two registered Japanese patents (6622949 and 7026986) covering layer-less optical-illusion data processing and bellows-style ink-layer formation.

The company monetizes through four streams: direct production and sale of Printed XR products via its website and Tokyo/Osaka showrooms, licensing of satellite production partners (23 in Japan plus partners in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, the USA, and France), a required per-order data conversion service (¥5,500/file plus ¥33,000 setup fee) that acts as a recurring tollgate on every satellite-produced job, and specialty UV-reactive ink resale. Pricing on printed product starts at ¥33,000/㎡ and extends to ¥49,500/㎡ for premium variants. The company maintains formal approval relationships with large-format printer OEMs (EPSON, MIMAKI) and media suppliers (NIP, Rintokku Sign System, IKCS, Bel Advise) to qualify combinations of hardware, RIP software, and substrates for higher-end variants.

Customer logos span cultural institutions (Ninna-ji Temple), postal/government (Japan Post), telecommunications (NTT DOCOMO), toys and entertainment (Bandai, Sammy), education (Shinken Zemi), publishing (graphics), and theme parks (Huis Ten Bosch). Headcount is in the 1-10 employee range, the company is founder-led by CEO Takashi Asao, and there is no disclosed institutional funding, public listing, or M&A activity. Distribution combines direct online and showroom sales with a licensed satellite partner channel that produces Printed XR products locally for end customers.

Name

SO-KEN

Legal name

株式会社SO-KEN

Website

https://trickprint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SO-KEN is a Japanese print technology company that develops and licenses Printed XR, a proprietary suite of six trigger-based printing technologies that reveal hidden designs when exposed to UV light, sunlight, camera flash, back-illumination, viewing angle, or water.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Printing Services

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Support Activities for Printing (32312)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production & High-Volume Printing Systems (HDACAEAJ), Photo Printers & Dedicated Imaging Printers (HDACAEAG)

Keywords

• Large format printing
• Special effect printing
• UV reactive printing
• Print technology licensing
• Specialty ink distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Mino

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Printed XR Product Sales: SO-KEN produces and sells Printed XR products directly to customers. Pricing is based on square meterage with additional fees for basic setup and data processing. The company offers various finishing options including panel mounting and large-format printing.
2. Satellite Partner Licensing: SO-KEN licenses its technology to approved satellite production partners who produce Printed XR products using their own equipment. Partners pay for data conversion services and receive technical support and quality certification.
3. Data Conversion Services: Proprietary data processing service that converts customer design files into Printed XR-optimized formats. This is a required step for all production and generates recurring revenue per square meter processed.
4. Specialty Ink Sales: SO-KEN sells specialized photochromic inks for BlackLight and Solar printing applications. This includes offset inks, screen printing inks, and inkjet systems for large-format production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SO-KEN develops and sells "Printed XR" (formerly TrickPrint), a proprietary print technology that creates visual transformations in printed materials triggered by environmental stimuli such as UV light, sunlight, camera flash, backlighting, viewing angle, or water. The company produces specialty prints in-house and through a satellite partner network, licenses the technology and sells the required specialty inks to licensed printers, and runs a data conversion service that converts standard image files into effect-print files compatible with commodity large-format printers.

Product overview

SO-KEN offers Printed XR (プリンテッドXR), a proprietary changing-print technology platform with six distinct product types: Blacklight Print (UV light-reactive, 2010), Solar Print (sunlight-reactive, 2013), Flash Print (camera flash-reactive, 2018), Relight Print (back-illumination reactive, 2019), Bellows Print (angle-dependent, 2021), and Hydro Print (water-reactive, 2023). These technologies enable printed materials to transform, reveal hidden designs, or change appearance based on specific environmental triggers without requiring electronic devices. The company also provides supporting services including data conversion (required for production), a satellite store licensing program for production partners, and specialty UV-reactive inks for offset/screen printing applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blacklight Print

Quantifiable outcome

• Creates memorable experiences that drive social sharing and word-of-mouth conversation

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• EPSON (エプソン)coreTechnology or IntegrationEPSON large-format printers (SC-S80650, SC-V7000) are approved for Printed XR production. These printers with white ink capability can produce Flash Print, ReLight Print, and Bellows Print products when combined with SO-KEN's data conversion service.
• MIMAKI (ミマキ)coreTechnology or IntegrationMIMAKI large-format printers (JV300, JV300 Plus, UCJV300) with white ink are approved for Printed XR production. These printers support all major Printed XR technologies including Flash Print, ReLight Print, and Bellows Print through RasterLink RIP software.
• NIP (ニップ)supportingTechnology or IntegrationNip NSG1200-54 PET synthetic paper (1370mm x 30m, ¥900/meter) approved for Bellows Print production.
• Rintokku Sign System (リンテックサインシステム)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMultiple approved media products: GMP-15MH (Bellows Print, ¥1,300/meter), GUV-03N5 (ReLight Print transparent PET, ¥1,100/meter), and GSP-07L (ReLight Print silicone micro-adhesive, ¥1,400/meter).
• IKCSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationIKCS YFP-01 reflective sheet vinyl with adhesive (1240mm x 45.7m, ¥4,800/meter) approved for Flash Print production.
• Bel Advise (ベルアドワイズ)supportingTechnology or IntegrationBel Advise VS-FLS reflective media approved for Flash Print production.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Roland DG: Roland DG manufactures wide-format inkjet printers and print/cut devices for signage, vehicle wrapping, and specialty graphics. It serves the same sign-and-display customer base that SO-KEN addresses through its satellite partner network.
• Durst Group: Durst is a European manufacturer of industrial inkjet printing systems for signage, decor, ceramics, and packaging. Its production printing systems compete for the same commercial print-shop budgets that fund Printed XR equipment.
• Seiko Epson: EPSON produces large-format signage printers (SC-S80650, SC-V7000) with white ink capability that are approved for Printed XR production. As a global OEM partner to SO-KEN and a dominant force in commercial inkjet, EPSON is a comparable incumbent in the same large-format print ecosystem.
• Toppan Printing: Toppan is a major Japanese printing group operating across commercial printing, packaging, security, and décor. As a diversified incumbent, it competes for enterprise promotional print budgets that SO-KEN addresses with experiential displays.
• Mimaki Engineering: MIMAKI is a major Japanese manufacturer of large-format inkjet printers and cutting plotters used in sign, graphics, and industrial print. Several MIMAKI printer models (JV300, UCJV300) are officially approved to produce Printed XR, making it both a technology partner and the closest comparable incumbent in production large-format printing.
• HP (HP Large Format / Latex / PageWide): HP's Latex, PageWide XL, and DesignJet lines serve commercial print shops producing signage, displays, and specialty graphics. HP is a leading large-format incumbent with overlapping end-customers in the sign and display market SO-KEN targets.
• Dai Nippon Printing (DNP): DNP is one of Japan's largest printing conglomerates, producing commercial print, packaging, decorative materials, and electronic devices. It is a broad incumbent in Japan's print services market with overlapping enterprise customers in publishing, packaging, and promotional print.
• Fujifilm (Graphic Systems): Fujifilm's Graphic Systems division supplies inkjet presses, plates, inks, and workflow software to commercial printers globally, including UV-curable inkjet systems used in signage and specialty print. It addresses the same large-format commercial print ecosystem.
• Agfa-Gevaert (Digital Print & Chemicals): Agfa supplies inkjet inks, printing plates, and specialty coatings for sign & display and industrial print applications. As a major ink and consumables supplier to the large-format industry, it is comparable to SO-KEN's specialty ink and consumables revenue stream.
• Canon (Production Printing): Canon's production printing division (imagePRESS, Colorado series) supplies commercial and large-format presses used by print service providers worldwide. Canon competes for the same print-shop customers that SO-KEN's satellite program recruits.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trickprintsoken
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChEQqXWCjKQQTHZMVQDttrA/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/trickprint
• Instagraminstagram.com/soken.trickprint
• TikToktiktok.com/@printedxr
• Pinterestpinterest.jp/soken0455/trick-print
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/so-ken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 SO-KEN