Tsubame

What Tsubame does

Tsubame Industries Co., Ltd. (ツバメインダストリ株式会社) is a Yokohama-based robotics company founded in August 2021 by Ryo Yoshida that designs and manufactures ARCHAX, a piloted humanoid robot capable of transforming between a 4.5-meter bipedal robot mode and a wheeled vehicle mode. The 3.5-ton machine is battery-powered (DC300V) with 26 joint degrees of freedom and is operated by a pilot seated inside using two joysticks, two pedals, and a touch panel, with safety systems compliant with ISO/IEC Guide 51 and ISO 12100. Core technology is built around a welded steel frame clad in FRP, with components sourced from leading Japanese industrial suppliers including Nabtesco precision reducers, Oriental Motor actuators, Antex slew bearings, and Misumi automation parts.

The company's business model rests on ultra-luxury positioning: a reference price of 400 million yen per ARCHAX unit with the initial production run limited to 5 units targeting wealthy individuals globally, with deliveries scheduled for 2025. Distribution combines direct sales with a global auction channel via SBX Cars (Supercar Blondie), supplemented by a leasing business launched in June 2024 for events and corporate promotions, tiered corporate sponsorship programs (Platinum 30M yen, Gold 10M yen, Silver 3M yen), and merchandise through BOOTH and SUZURI. A special design variant, ARCHAX Plus, has been developed in collaboration with director Shoji Kawamori.

Tsubame operates with 9 employees and registered capital of 95 million yen as of July 2023. The company has built brand visibility through appearances at Japan Mobility Show 2023, Gundam Factory Yokohama, Anime Japan 2024, and SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024, and has secured technical support partnerships with major Japanese industrial component manufacturers. Revenue and unit sales have not been publicly disclosed.

Name

Tsubame

Legal name

ツバメインダストリ株式会社

Website

https://tsubame-hi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tsubame Industries is a Yokohama-based robotics company founded in 2021 that designs and manufactures ARCHAX, a battery-powered piloted humanoid robot that transforms between robot and vehicle mode, selling limited production units to ultra-high-net-worth individuals globally at 400 million yen each.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Piloted Humanoid Robotics

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Service & Hospitality Robots (HDAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Piloted robotics
• Humanoid robot manufacturing
• Robot leasing services
• Robot merchandise retail
• Custom robot design

Headquarters

HQ city

Edogawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Robot Product Sales: Sale of Archax piloted robots - fully bespoke production, 5 units initial production run, delivered approximately 1 year from order. Reference price 400 million yen including 1 year maintenance.
2. Robot Leasing Services: Leasing business for events, demonstrations, lectures, and promotional activities. Includes robot mode demonstration, remote operation, piloted operation demonstrations, and explanations in Japanese/English.
3. Sponsorship Programs: Corporate sponsorship tiers: Platinum sponsor (30 million yen, max 1 company), Gold sponsor (10 million yen, max 4 companies), Silver sponsor (3 million yen, max 10 companies). Includes poster branding, press release mentions, photo usage rights, and event participation.
4. Merchandise Sales: Miniature models (1/35 scale), catalogs, t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, smartphone cases, clear files, acrylic keychains, and glasses sold through BOOTH and SUZURI platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Tsubame Industries designs, manufactures, and sells the ARCHAX piloted humanoid robot—a 4.5-meter tall, 3.5-ton bipedal machine that transforms between robot mode and vehicle mode. The company also offers event-based leasing services for demonstrations and exhibitions, tiered corporate sponsorship programs, and branded merchandise including mini models, apparel, and accessories through its own online storefronts.

Product overview

Tsubame Industries develops and manufactures the ARCHAX, a mass-produced piloted robot that transforms between robot mode and vehicle mode, enabling users to experience piloting a large robot as depicted in science fiction. The main product portfolio centers on the ARCHAX core robot platform and the specialized ARCHAX Plus variant with custom exterior design by director Masaharu Kawamori. The company also offers ancillary merchandise including 1/35 scale mini models, apparel (t-shirts), and branded goods (mugs, tote bags, keychains, smartphone cases, clear files) sold through BOOTH and SUZURI platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Archax: A piloted humanoid robot capable of mode transformation between robot mode and vehicle mode. Full height of 4.5 meters, weight 3.5 tons, 26 joint degrees of freedom, battery-powered (DC300V), maximum speed 10 km/h in vehicle mode. Reference price of 400 million yen with 1 year maintenance included.
• Archax Plus

Products and services

• ARCHAX A mass-produced piloted humanoid robot that transforms between robot mode (4.5m height) and vehicle mode, operated by a pilot inside using two joysticks, two pedals, and a touch panel. Battery powered (DC300V) with 26 joint degrees of freedom, max speed 10 km/h in vehicle mode, and international safety standard compliance. Targeted at ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking a luxury sci-fi experience.
• ARCHAX Plus (Kawamori Director Special Model) A premium special edition of ARCHAX featuring a custom exterior designed by renowned mechanical designer and anime director Shoji Kawamori, known for Macross Valkyrie transformation mecha and Aquarion series. Sold globally as a high-end customization variant.
• ARCHAX Leasing Service Leasing service for events, exhibitions, demonstrations, lectures, and promotional activities targeting event organizers and corporate marketing teams. Includes full demonstration capability with explanations in Japanese and English.
• ARCHAX Merchandise (Mini Models, Apparel, Accessories) Branded merchandise and collectibles for individual fans of the ARCHAX robot, anime and robotics enthusiasts. Includes 3D-printed 1/35 scale mini models with movable joints, t-shirts with various design themes, mugs with wireframe blueprint styling, acrylic keychains, tote bags, smartphone cases, clear files, and glasses.
• ARCHAX Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program offering branding benefits including poster placement, press release mentions, photo usage rights, site links, branded apparel, event participation, and press conference panel access for Platinum tier sponsors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Limited to 5 units in initial production run with delivery in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SBX Cars (Supercar Blondie)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 July 2024Global auction platform partnership for Archax robot sales. Supercar Blondie is a popular automotive content creator with millions of followers. Archax auction held on SBX Cars platform in July 2024, targeting international wealthy customers.
• 株式会社ミスミ (Misumi)coreTechnology or Integration · 25 December 2023Technical support contract. Misumi provides mechanical components and FA factory automation parts. Their meviy platform provides AI-powered instant quotes and same-day shipping for mechanical parts, supporting rapid prototyping and development.
• ナブテスコ株式会社 (Nabtesco)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 November 2023Technical support contract for precision reducer RV supply. Nabtesco holds approximately 60% world market share in precision reducers for medium-to-large industrial robot joints. Nine RV precision reducers per Archax unit enable smooth motion in waist rotation and driving functions. Nabtesco was formed in 2003 through merger of Tein Shoji and Nabco.
• オリエンタルモーター株式会社 (Oriental Motor)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 November 2023Technical support contract. Supplies hollow rotary actuators DGII series (alpha step AZ series) for head mechanism, compact electric cylinders DRS2 series for hand (finger) mechanism, compact electric cylinders DRS2 series for wrist, and alphaSTEP battery-free absolute sensors and AZ series for backpack section. Oriental Motor develops precision small motors and control circuits.
• 株式会社アンテックス (Antex)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023Technical support contract for Archax robot development. Antex supplies large-diameter slew bearings: 756mm internal gear specification for body and 365mm external gear specification for front wheel conversion. Antex is a precision bearing manufacturer founded in 1917, known for hydraulic excavator slew bearings with high Japan and overseas market share.
• 河森正治監督 (Director Masaharu Kawamori)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023Collaboration with renowned anime director Masaharu Kawamori for special design exterior. Designer of Macross Valkyrie transformation mecha and director of Aquarion series. Project to develop and sell 'Archax Plus' special edition model with unique exterior design. Kawamori is 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Theme Project Producer.
• 株式会社ジパング (Zipangu)minorOthersPartner company listed in partnership section of company website.
• 株式会社アイガヴァー (Aigava)minorOthersPartner company listed in partnership section of company website.
• ヤマタホールディングス株式会社 (Yamata Holdings)minorOthersPartner company listed in partnership section of company website.
• BA-TSU ART GALLERYminorOthersPartner company listed in partnership section of company website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tesla: Develops the Optimus humanoid robot alongside its EV business. Comparable as a well-capitalized broad incumbent pursuing general-purpose bipedal humanoids, with overlapping luxury consumer brand positioning via Tesla's EV line.
• Boston Dynamics: Developer of the Atlas bipedal humanoid robot and Hyundai-owned robotics leader. Comparable as a leading humanoid robot platform developer, though Atlas targets industrial/warehouse use rather than piloted luxury.
• Toyota Motor: Developed the T-HR3 and Punyo humanoid robots. Comparable as a large Japanese incumbent with bipedal humanoid robot R&D, though Toyota's focus is on in-home assistance and mobility research.
• Honda Motor: Developer of ASIMO and ongoing humanoid bipedal robotics research. Comparable as a large incumbent advancing bipedal humanoid robot platforms, though Honda's programs target mobility/assistance rather than luxury piloted mecha.

Emerging players

• Apptronik: US-based humanoid robot startup developing the Apollo platform. Comparable as an early-stage bipedal humanoid robot company targeting commercial labor applications, with some overlap in supply chain with Japanese component suppliers.
• Figure AI: US-based humanoid robot startup (Figure 01/02) targeting commercial deployment. Comparable as an early-stage humanoid robot company, though focused on autonomous labor rather than piloted luxury experiences.
• Sanctuary AI: Canada-based humanoid robot startup developing the Phoenix platform with a focus on AI-driven general-purpose humanoids. Comparable as an early-stage humanoid robotics company pursuing general-purpose capability rather than luxury piloted use.
• Agility Robotics: US-based developer of the Digit bipedal humanoid robot. Comparable as an early-stage humanoid robot company targeting logistics and warehouse applications rather than luxury piloted experiences.
• 1X Technologies: Norway-based humanoid robot startup behind NEO Beta. Comparable as an early-stage bipedal humanoid robot developer, though pursuing household and commercial service use cases.

Direct peers

• Suidobashi Heavy Industry: Japanese maker of Kuratas, the most well-known prior piloted bipedal mech robot. Closely comparable as a Japan-based, limited-edition piloted humanoid robot aimed at collectors and tech enthusiasts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Tsubame_HI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Tsubame_HI
• Facebookfacebook.com/TsubameInds.en
• Instagraminstagram.com/tsubame_hi/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tsubame-industries

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Tsubame