Imaginate

What Imaginate does

Imaginate Inc. (株式会社imaginate) is a privately held Japanese entertainment company founded on May 16, 2018 and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, with a registered capital of ¥10,000,000 and 31 disclosed employees. The company operates a vertically integrated talent management and entertainment production business focused on three service lines: talent management and production for idols, YouTubers, and influencers; event and concert production for both owned and third-party clients; and music and video content production. Imaginate manages a roster of 115+ talents (including trainees) across approximately ten idol groups organized under its umbrella HEROINES brand (iLiFE!, GILTY x GILTY, AdamLilith, ガガピエロ, 天使にはなれない, のんふぃく！, i-COL) plus independent acts (TENRIN, ポンポンコッツ, twinpale, 夜光性アミューズ) and two YouTuber groups (花枝ブラザーズ, 叶と姪乃).

The underlying production capability is built around in-house facilities in three Tokyo locations — the Shibuya headquarters and dedicated studios in Shinagawa and Meguro wards — supported by a permanent creative staff of managers, video creators, illustrators, and a dance-lesson curriculum. Event production is delivered at major Tokyo venues (Zepp Tokyo, Shibuya WOMB, Shinjuku BLAZE, Ebisu LIQUIDROOM, TSUTAYA O-EAST, Maihama Amphi-Theatre) and one Osaka venue (Zepp Namba), with ticketing via eplus/e+. The company has a music catalog (e.g., TENRIN's 1st single 'Artifact' released November 2020 with six variants priced at ¥1,250 each) distributed through physical retail and digital channels.

The revenue model is composed of talent management fees, event production revenue (both self-hosted and for external clients), music and merchandise sales, and YouTube content monetization. Talent recruitment runs continuously via year-round and seasonal auditions (e.g., HEROINES Summer Audition 2025) conducted through LINE@, building a top-of-funnel pipeline. Pricing is not publicly disclosed except at the unit level for music releases; services are implied to be quote-based. Founded and led by representative director Watanabe Yuya (渡辺 裕也), Imaginate operates solely within the Kanto region per disclosed operating geographies, with no parent company, institutional investors, or external capital structure disclosed.

Name

Imaginate

Legal name

株式会社imaginate

Website

https://imaginate.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Imaginate Inc. is a Shibuya-based Japanese entertainment company founded in 2018 that provides talent management, event production, and music/video content creation services for a roster of 115+ idols, YouTubers, and influencers across approximately ten idol groups and two YouTuber groups, operating primarily in the Kanto region with event production extending to Osaka.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entertainment Talent Management

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (71141), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Talent Agency & Representation Services (HSACAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creator Talent Management & Representation (MPAAAHAB), Brand Activations & Experiential Campaign Design (MPAAAGAA), Casting & Talent Placement (Sessions, Bands, Touring Musicians) (MPAIAGAM)

Keywords

• Talent management services
• Idol group management
• Entertainment production
• Event concert production
• YouTuber management

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Talent Management & Production: Revenue from training, producing, managing, and promoting idols, YouTubers, and influencers. The company handles talent development, scheduling, marketing, and career management for its roster of 115+ managed artists and talents.
2. Event & Concert Production: Revenue from organizing, planning, and producing live events, concerts, and festivals. Imaginate organizes its own hosted events at Tokyo venues (e.g., Zepp Tokyo, Shibuya WOMB, Shinjuku BLAZE, Ebisu LIQUIDROOM) and produces events for external clients.
3. Music & Video Production: Revenue from the planning and production of music and video content, including music videos, lyric videos, and animation for artists. TENRIN's 1st single 'Artifact' (2020) is an example of music production output.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Imaginate is a talent management and entertainment production company that recruits, develops, manages, and promotes idols, YouTubers, and influencers. The company provides in-house studio facilities (shooting and dance studios), produces music and video content, plans and produces live events and concerts at major Tokyo venues, and offers audition services to discover new talent. Imaginate manages 115+ talents across multiple idol groups and YouTuber groups under its portfolio, including the HEROINES brand.

Product overview

Imaginate is an entertainment management company that operates a multi-brand portfolio of idol groups and YouTubers. The core offering consists of talent management services including artist development, production, management, and promotion, alongside event production and music/video content creation. The company manages multiple idol groups under the HEROINES brand (iLiFE!, GILTY x GILTY, AdamLilith, ガガピエロ, 天使にはなれない, のんふぃく！) as well as independent groups (夜光性アミューズ, TENRIN, twinpale, i-COL, ポンコツコンポ), two YouTuber groups (花札ブラザーズ, 叶と姫乃), and provides audition services and event production. The company operates its own photography studios and dance studios, and offers production support including video content creation and music production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Talent Management & Artist Development End-to-end talent management service covering training, development, scheduling, marketing, music/video production, and career management for aspiring and active idols, YouTubers, and influencers. Targets individuals pursuing professional entertainment careers.
• Event & Concert Production Services Full-service event production including self-hosted events, new genre event creation, artist/guest booking, production, and on-site operation. Has a track record at major Tokyo venues including Zepp Tokyo, Shibuya WOMB, Ebisu LIQUIDROOM, Shinjuku BLAZE, and others. Targets event clients, promoters, and corporate sponsors seeking live entertainment execution.
• Audition Services Recruitment service offering year-round and time-limited auditions for aspiring idols, YouTubers, and influencers (ages 13-29). Applications accepted via LINE@. Includes web screening, interview, and final camp-based audition. Targets individuals seeking entry into the entertainment industry.
• TENRIN 1st Single 'Artifact' Music Release Physical music release product by 7-member idol group TENRIN. Sold through retail and at events. Targets idol music consumers and fans.
• HEROINES Multi-Act Idol Brand Brand umbrella under Imaginate encompassing multiple idol groups including iLiFE!, GILTY x GILTY, TENRIN, ガガピエロ, 天使にはなれない, AdamLilith, twinpale, and others. Provides a collective brand and event platform (HEROINES FES) for cross-group performances.
• 葉と姫乃 (Kanato to Himeno) YouTuber Channel 2-person YouTube duo specializing in piercings and makeup video content. Targets beauty and lifestyle content audiences on YouTube.
• 花枝ブラザーズ (Hanaeda Brothers) YouTuber Channel 4-member male YouTuber group featured in magazines and media as a 'rising group YouTuber', known for BL (Boys' Love) animation content and unconventional projects. Targets anime and entertainment audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Oricon Daily Ranking #1 achieved by ポンコツコンポ with HEROINES compilation album in January 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• UUUM Inc. Japan-listed MCN managing major YouTubers and creators (Hikakin, etc.). Comparable to Imaginate's YouTuber management arm (叶と姫乃, 花枝ブラザーズ) in representing digital creators, though UUUM is significantly larger and YouTube-focused vs Imaginate's hybrid idol/YouTuber model.

Direct peers

• Oscar Promotion: Japanese idol management agency handling multiple idol groups including RYUTist and Niji no Conductor. Comparable mid-sized talent agency with similar idol group management and live event focus.
• Asobi System: Tokyo-based entertainment company managing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and numerous Harajuku-style idol and fashion talent groups. Comparable to Imaginate in multi-act idol/talent management with strong event production and brand-building expertise.
• WACK Inc. Independent Japanese idol management agency managing BiSH, GANG PARADE, and other alternative idol groups. Most directly comparable to Imaginate as a similarly-sized independent firm managing multiple idol groups under one roof with event production capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Amuse Inc. Japanese entertainment conglomerate managing Southern All Stars, Perfume, and BABYMETAL among others. Operates in artist management, event production, and content creation — comparable breadth to Imaginate but at substantially larger scale.
• LDH Japan: Large Japanese entertainment conglomerate managing EXILE, GENERATIONS, and The Rampage. Comparable in managing multiple male and mixed idol/dance groups with strong event production, though significantly larger and broader in scope.
• Sony Music Artists: Major Japanese talent management arm of Sony Music, managing artists and idol groups with significant production resources. Comparable in managing musical talent with concert/event production, but with much larger corporate backing.
• Stardust Promotion: Major Japanese talent agency managing Momoiro Clover Z, Ebichu, and numerous idol/talent groups across multiple divisions. Significantly larger than Imaginate but operates in the same talent management and idol group production space.
• UP-FRONT GROUP: Japanese talent management conglomerate behind Hello! Project, managing Morning Musume and related idol groups. Larger incumbent comparable in managing multi-group idol rosters with concert and event production.

Others

• DISH// Management (orig. production): Reference for Stardust's idol/male band management; relevant adjacent comparable since Imaginate also runs male YouTuber groups like 花枝ブラザーズ alongside its idol roster.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/imaginate_inc

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 Imaginate