Japan Network Information Center

What Japan Network Information Center does

Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC) is a Tokyo-based General Incorporated Association (一般社団法人) that operates as Japan's designated National Internet Registry (NIR). Founded in 1991 as a voluntary research group and formally incorporated in 1993, JPNIC manages the allocation and registration of IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6) and Autonomous System (AS) numbers for Japan's internet ecosystem. Its primary customers are Japanese ISPs, telecommunications carriers, and designated IP address management entities that operate internet infrastructure, with major corporate members including IIJ, JPRS, and NTT Communications.

The organization's core technical platform is registry-centric and encompasses WHOIS database services, the JPNIC WHOIS Gateway, the JPIRR Internet Routing Registry, RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) for cryptographic routing verification, and the JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (JP-DRP). Supporting services include IPv4 and AS Number transfer logs, JP domain name escrow, and an extensive knowledge-publishing apparatus: the annual Internet White Paper, a quarterly newsletter, a monthly mail magazine (News & Views), the annual Internet Week conference, on-demand technical seminars, and an Internet Timeline historical archive. The architecture relies on database integrity, policy frameworks, and coordination with the regional registry APNIC and the global registry ICANN.

JPNIC is structured as a non-profit, membership-based corporation. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual membership fees ranging from ¥100,000 for supporting members (賛助会員) to ¥10,000,000 for Fee S-tier large organizations, plus service fees tied to IP address and AS number allocation, assignment, and transfer. The organization has 11–50 employees and is headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Governance is provided by a board of trustees, and the entity has been formally registered as a general incorporated association since 2013 under Japan's reformed incorporated association framework.

Name

Japan Network Information Center

Legal name

一般組合法人日本ネットワークインフォメーションセンター

Website

https://www.nic.ad.jp/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japan Network Information Center is a national internet registry in Japan that provides allocation & registration services of IP addresses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: JPNIC operates as a membership-based non-profit corporation with membership fees as a primary revenue source. Membership categories include regular members (正会員) and supporting members (賛助会員) who pay annual fees.
2. IP Address/AS Number Service Fees: Fees associated with IP address allocation, assignment, transfer, and AS number registration services managed by JPNIC as the National Internet Registry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC) operates as Japan's National Internet Registry (NIR), providing allocation and registration services for IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6) and Autonomous System (AS) numbers. It maintains the WHOIS database and JPIRR (Internet Routing Registry) for BGP routing policies, offers RPKI services for routing security, and manages JP domain name dispute resolution. These services are delivered to designated ISPs, telecommunications companies, and network operators in Japan under a non-profit membership-based model.

Product overview

Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC) operates as Japan's National Internet Registry, providing a portfolio of interconnected internet infrastructure services. The core offering consists of IP address and AS number allocation and registration services, supported by the WHOIS database and JPIRR routing registry. Additional services include RPKI for routing security, IPv4/AS transfer logging, and JP domain name dispute resolution. JPNIC also provides educational and informational resources through its News & Views mail magazine, quarterly newsletters, the annual Internet White Paper publication, Internet Week conferences, and on-demand technical seminars. The organization functions as a non-profit membership-based corporation supported by members including major Japanese internet service providers and telecommunications companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IP Address Allocation and Registration Service JPNIC's primary service providing allocation and registration of IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6) and AS numbers for Japan, functioning as the National Internet Registry. Used by ISPs, telecom companies, and network operators requiring IP resources.
• WHOIS Service A public database lookup service that provides information about registered IP addresses, AS numbers, and domain name registrations in Japan. Used by network operators, security professionals, and researchers for resource registration lookups.
• JPNIC WHOIS Gateway Gateway service providing access to WHOIS database with enhanced search capabilities and API access for querying registration data. Used by network operators and developers for automated registry queries.
• JPIRR (JPNIC Internet Routing Registry) Internet Routing Registry database service that stores and provides routing policy information for BGP4 and other routing protocols. Used by network operators to register and look up BGP routing policies.
• RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) Resource Public Key Infrastructure service that provides cryptographic verification of IP address prefix origin and AS number allocations to prevent route hijacking. Used by network operators for routing security.
• JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (JP-DRP) Policy and procedure for resolving disputes over JP domain name registrations based on trademark and intellectual property rights. Used by trademark holders and domain registrants in Japan.
• JP Domain Name Escrow Three-party joint operation for escrow of JP domain name registry data to ensure data preservation and continuity. Provides data continuity assurance for JP domain registry operations.
• Internet Week Annual major internet technology conference organized by JPNIC featuring sessions on internet infrastructure, security, and governance topics. Attended by internet professionals, network operators, and policy makers.

Quantifiable outcome

• IPv4 address transfer logs maintained and updated regularly
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Japan Registry Service Co., Ltd. (JPRS)coreOthersJPRS is the registry operator for JP domain names. JPNIC works with JPRS on JP domain name management, dispute resolution (JP-DRP), and related services. JPRS handles the operational registration of JP domain names while JPNIC maintains oversight and policy frameworks.
• Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ)supportingOthersIIJ is a major Japanese ISP and one of JPNIC's member companies. As a member, IIJ supports JPNIC's activities and participates in policy development processes.
• NTT CommunicationssupportingOthersNTT Communications is a major Japanese telecommunications company and JPNIC member company. Supports JPNIC activities as a member organization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APNIC: APNIC is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the Asia-Pacific region, performing IP address allocation and registry services at the regional level that JPNIC performs nationally for Japan. Both organizations share the same core function of internet number resource management under the global RIR/NIR hierarchy.
• Korea Network Information Center (KRNIC) / KISA: KRNIC, operated by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), serves as the National Internet Registry for South Korea with an almost identical mandate to JPNIC, including IP allocation, WHOIS, and routing registry services. Both organizations sit at the same level in the APNIC hierarchy and serve comparable national internet ecosystems.
• China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC): CNNIC operates as China's National Internet Registry under APNIC, providing IP address allocation, WHOIS, and domain-related services comparable to JPNIC's offerings in Japan. Both organizations share the same NIR role and similar regulatory-driven moats in their respective national markets.
• RIPE NCC: RIPE NCC is the Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia, performing IP allocation, routing registry, and RPKI services functionally identical to JPNIC's NIR operations. Both organizations are foundational to internet infrastructure in their respective regions.
• ARIN: ARIN is the Regional Internet Registry for North America, providing IP address allocation, WHOIS, and routing registry services directly comparable to JPNIC's portfolio. Both organizations serve as authoritative registries of internet number resources within their respective service territories.
• AFRINIC: AFRINIC is the Regional Internet Registry for Africa, performing IP allocation and registry services with the same functional mandate as JPNIC but in a different regional context. Both are peer registries within the global NRO system.
• LACNIC: LACNIC is the Regional Internet Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean, providing IP allocation and routing infrastructure services analogous to JPNIC's NIR operations. Both organizations perform registry functions at the regional/NIR level of the global internet governance hierarchy.

Emerging players

• Japan Registry Services (JPRS): JPRS operates the registry for JP domain names, a closely related but distinct service from JPNIC's IP allocation mandate. The two organizations have a formal coordination partnership on JP-DRP dispute resolution and domain escrow, with JPNIC providing oversight and policy frameworks while JPRS handles operational registration.

Broad incumbents

• ICANN: ICANN coordinates the global assignment of unique internet identifiers including IP addresses and domain names, overseeing the RIR/NIR system of which JPNIC is a part. ICANN operates at a broader global governance level relative to JPNIC's national scope, but their mandates substantially overlap in IP address allocation policy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JPNIC_info
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7BboGLuldn77sxQmI5VoPw
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.nic.ad.jp
• Instagraminstagram.com/jpnic_info/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japan Network Information Center