APLUS Co., Ltd.

What APLUS Co., Ltd. does

APLUS Co., Ltd. (株式会社アプラス) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, that produces and distributes preserved flowers, glass flowers, sola flowers, artificial flowers, interior goods (MDF wood, paper, glass, resin), traditional Yamanaka lacquerware (山中漆器), lacquer interior panels, and OEM production services, alongside a small renewable energy (solar) operation. The company was formed in October 2019 through a renaming of Tanaka Jigyo Co., Ltd. (田中実業株式会社) and is led by Representative Director and President Sakamoto Hirotane (坂本博胤).

The company's core technology combines a proprietary preserved-flower processing method — dehydration, decolorization, and re-dyeing using specialized preservation solutions that yield a 2–5+ year lifespan and natural appearance — with the manual finishing of each petal in high-grade crystal glass for the Glass Flower line. Production also leverages designated traditional Japanese craft techniques, particularly Yamanaka lacquerware, across lacquer tableware, lacquer interior panels for hotels and restaurants, and the YUIYU sub-brand of contemporary plant-inspired lacquerware. Products are assembled in-house at the Ishikawa headquarters, supporting both catalog-based standard SKUs and full-scale OEM customization (custom colors, name insertion, UV printing, original product planning).

APLUS operates a hybrid go-to-market model: B2B distribution to a nationwide network of more than 500 corporate clients spanning department stores, gift shops, hotels, restaurants, and e-commerce operators, supplemented by direct-to-consumer retail through the Douceur (ドゥシュール) lifestyle stores inside Daimaru Umeda (opened December 2020) and Daimaru Kyoto (opened March 2022), pop-up shops at Takashimaya, Marui, and Isetan, plus online channels including Amazon Japan and the Douceur official store. B2B online ordering is handled via the aplus-btb.biz platform, and OEM/private-label work is supported through a dedicated OEM site. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with no identified external investors.

Name

APLUS Co., Ltd.

Legal name

株式会社アプラス

Website

https://aplus-co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APLUS Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer based in Kaga City, Ishikawa, that produces preserved flowers, glass flowers, artificial flowers, sola flowers, traditional Yamanaka lacquerware, and lacquer interior panels, selling through B2B wholesale to 500+ corporate clients nationwide and via its Douceur retail stores and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ishikawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Product Sales: Wholesale and direct sales of preserved flowers, artificial flowers, glass products, wood products, and interior goods to department stores, gift shops, hotels, restaurants, and e-commerce operators. Orders accepted in quantities below full carton minimums.
2. OEM Production Services: Custom original product development and manufacturing services including preserved flower color customization, original crystal product planning, and full-scale OEM production across all product categories.
3. Direct Retail (Douceur Stores): Direct retail sales through company-owned Douceur lifestyle stores in department stores (Daimaru Umeda, Daimaru Kyoto) and pop-up shop operations at major retailers.
4. E-commerce Sales: Online retail through Amazon marketplace, BtoB online shop, and Douceur official online store for consumer and business customers.
5. Renewable Energy: Solar power generation operations contributing to CO2 reduction and climate change countermeasures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

APLUS manufactures and sells preserved flowers, artificial flowers, glass flowers, sola wood flowers, and traditional Yamanaka lacquerware products (including interior panels, tableware, and decorative items), supplying department stores, gift shops, hotels, restaurants, and e-commerce operators nationwide. The company also provides OEM production services for custom flower arrangements, crystal products, and lacquerware, and operates direct-to-consumer retail under the Douceur brand in department stores and through e-commerce channels.

Product overview

APLUS Co., Ltd. operates as a manufacturer and seller of flower gifts and interior products based in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The company operates across six business divisions: Flower Business (preserved, dried, and artificial flowers), Interior Goods Business (MDF wood products, paper, glass, resin items), OEM Production Services, Japanese Lacquerware Business, Lacquer Interior Panel Business, and Renewable Energy Business. The core product portfolio centers on preserved flowers (プリザーブドフラワー), glass flowers (グラスフラワー), and the newly introduced sola flowers (ソラフラワー), complemented by traditional Japanese lacquerware (山中漆器) and decorative lacquer panels (漆芸パネル). Consumer-facing retail is conducted through the Douceur (ドゥシュール) brand stores and pop-up shops, while B2B operations serve department stores, gift shops, hotels, restaurants, and e-commerce operators nationwide via the OrangeDeco catalog. The company maintains domestic manufacturing capabilities and was selected as a Regional Future Leading Enterprise by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preserved Flowers (プリザーブドフラワー) Fresh flowers processed with dehydration, decolorization, and re-dyeing preservation technology to maintain natural beauty for 2-5+ years without water or maintenance. Available in frames, glass domes, boxes, wreaths, and bouquets. For B2B wholesale and B2C gifting customers.
• Glass Flowers (グラスフラワー) Premium preserved flowers arranged in high-grade crystal glass using special drying techniques; each petal is hand-finished without artificial coloring. Designed to last 5-10 years. Includes funeral/offering arrangements and commemorative bouquets for retail and B2B customers.
• Sola Flower (ソラフラワー) 100% natural sola wood flower material characterized by soft colors, delicate lightness, and ethereal quality. Available in 76 stem-type varieties across various colors and sizes. Used for wreaths, swags, wall decorations, and custom arrangements for retail and B2B customers.
• Artificial Flowers (アーティフィシャルフラワー)

Quantifiable outcome

• Preserved flowers maintain beauty for 2-5+ years with proper storage
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• rooms (ルームス)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Exhibited YUIYU brand lacquerware products at rooms PARK exhibition at Shibuya Hikarie, introducing the new plant-inspired lacquerware brand.
• Daimaru Department Store (大丸)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2022Operates Douceur flagship stores within Daimaru Umeda and Daimaru Kyoto department stores, featuring preserved/artificial flowers and lifestyle products.
• Marui Family Mizonokuchi (マルイ ファミリー溝口)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 March 2022Hosted pop-up shop featuring preserved flower arrangements, dried flower arrangements, and floral materials in the event space.
• MUMCA (マムカ)minorOthers · 2 March 2022Ishikawa-based craftsperson Maruya Makiko's tableware and cup brand, featured for sale at Douceur Kyoto store alongside APLU's own products.
• Glass Studio Caret (ガラス工房 カレット)minorOthers · 2 March 2022Glass artist Akutomo Nobutaka's studio based in Kaga City, Ishikawa. Vases and glass pieces featured for sale at Douceur Kyoto store.
• Isetan Mitsukoshi (伊勢丹)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 February 2022Participated in 2022 Hanahana Festival (花々祭) at Isetan Urawa store with spring/summer gift products.
• Ishikawa Industrial Creation Support Organization (石川県産業創出支援機構)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Participated in organized booth at Tokyo International Gift Show with support from the organization, showcasing Kutani ware-based flower arrangements and lacquer panel products.
• Takashimaya Osaka (大阪タカシマヤ)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2021Hosted pop-up shop selling preserved flower arrangements and spring gift products in the women's apparel section.
• Itobashi (いとばし)minorOthers · 7 April 2021Ethical fashion brand collaborating with APLUS on the Takashimaya pop-up shop, combining clothing with floral arrangements for lifestyle presentations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wedgwood: Iconic international tableware and home lifestyle brand (Fiskars group). Comparable to APLUS's YUIYU lacquerware and lacquer interior panels for premium tableware and decorative interior product positioning across hotel/restaurant channels.
• Royal Copenhagen: Premium Danish tableware and home lifestyle brand with craft heritage and collectible decorative positioning. Comparable to APLUS's YUIYU lacquerware for premium craftsmanship branding and decorative interior products sold via department stores and specialty retailers.
• Nitori Holdings: Japan's largest home furnishings retailer offering furniture, interior goods, and decorative items at scale. Comparable as a broad incumbent shaping pricing expectations in Japanese interior goods, although at the opposite end of the value spectrum from APLUS's craft-premium positioning.
• Francfranc: Japanese home decor and lifestyle brand with nationwide retail stores selling interior goods, artificial florals, and gifts. Comparable to APLUS for interior goods, preserved/artificial flowers, and lifestyle retail positioning, though operating at far larger scale.
• Karimoku Furniture: Japanese wood furniture manufacturer applying traditional joinery and craftsmanship to modern interior products. Comparable to APLUS for use of regional Japanese woodcraft heritage (Kaga/Ishikawa vs. Aichi), in-house manufacturing, and craft-led premium positioning.
• Muji (無印良品): Ryohin Keikaku's broad lifestyle brand covering home furnishings, stationery, and interior goods across Japan and globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the Japanese interior/lifestyle goods retail space where APLUS competes for the same household budget.

Emerging players

• Afternoon Tea LIVING: Japanese lifestyle brand operated by SAZABY LEAGUE selling floral arrangements, tableware, and interior accessories through department store concessions. Comparable to Douceur's department store retail model and floral/lifestyle product mix.

Direct peers

• Hibiya Kadan (日比谷花壇): Japan's largest specialty florist chain operating retail florist shops, corporate flower services, and gift delivery nationwide. Most directly comparable to APLUS's Douceur retail and B2B floral/gift business model.
• Aoyama Flower Market (青山フラワーマーケット): Major Japanese florist retail chain with in-station flower shops and lifestyle floral offerings. Comparable to APLUS for retail florist positioning and urban department store / station retail footprint.

Others

• Floral Network Japan (flower delivery cooperatives): Japan's nationwide florist delivery network (Hana Cupid) enabling inter-shop flower orders and gift delivery. Comparable as a channel infrastructure layer relevant to APLUS's preserved flower gifting and B2B floral distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aplusco5459
• Instagraminstagram.com/douceur_osaka.umeda

Compliance3 records

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 APLUS Co., Ltd.