Murashiki

What Murashiki does

Murashiki (村式株式会社) is a Kamakura, Japan-based web production and EC site development company founded in June 2006 by five colleagues who left DNP (Dai Nippon Printing) to build a business around shared values and friendship. The company specializes in end-to-end e-commerce site production, custom web application development, brand building, and business design consulting for Japanese SMBs, established brands, and founders. Its core technology stack spans PHP, Perl, Ruby, JavaScript, Laravel, EC-CUBE, CodeIgniter, and WordPress, deployed on AWS and GAE infrastructure with MySQL/PostgreSQL databases, Memcached/Redis middleware, and Docker-based containerization. The founding team's background in DNP's high-security IC card and embedded systems divisions provides unusual technical depth for a firm of its size, particularly for complex requirements such as high-traffic load distribution and security-intensive applications.

The company operates on a project-based, B2B professional services model with no public pricing; services are individually quoted based on scope and duration, and Murashiki often engages in multi-year client relationships rather than one-off deliveries. Its 'dialogue-first' methodology positions it as a collaborative partner rather than a vendor, treating EC sites as businesses to nurture alongside the client. Notable productized offerings include SERVO FIT (online uniform measurement integrating Bodygram's AI body-scanning API, enabling non-contact sizing from 2 smartphone photos), スマホで年賀状 (Japan's No. 1 New Year's greeting card app, 6M+ cumulative downloads, redesigned annually), and まちのコイン (a community currency platform adopted across 20+ regions). Revenue is generated from EC site production, web production, system development, brand building, business design consulting, and a portfolio of sub-brands covering travel (もも旅旅行社), coworking (Challenge on Ishigaki Island), talent management, and EC seminars.

The company maintains headquarters in Kamakura near JR Kamakura Station (1-minute walk) and a satellite office on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, where CEO Sumiyoshi Yu relocated in 2018. It remains privately held, founder-controlled, and profitable, with 5 consecutive years of revenue and profit growth as of 2024. Notable client outcomes include 800% revenue growth over 7 years for ProKitchen post-redesign, 200% of target sales within 6 months for the same client, and 100% black-ink profitability reported across its EC client base in 2020. Co-founded ventures include iichi (now Pinkoi Japan, Japan's largest handmade goods marketplace with 20,000+ registered makers), established in 2011 as a joint venture with Hakuhodo DY Group.

Name

Murashiki

Legal name

村式株式会社

Website

https://ville.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Murashiki is a Kamakura, Japan-based B2B web production company founded in 2006 that specializes in end-to-end e-commerce site development, custom web applications, brand building, and business design for Japanese SMBs and established brands, operating on a project-based professional services model with multi-year client relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamakura

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EC Site Production & Development: Full-cycle EC and web site production — from planning, concept development, design, and system development through to launch and ongoing operational optimization. Murashiki treats EC sites as businesses to nurture, not deliverables, often engaging in multi-year client relationships.
2. Systems Development & Consulting: Custom system design, development, and consulting for web applications, reservation systems, management interfaces, and platform infrastructure.
3. Co-founded Ventures (iichi): Murashiki co-founded iichi (handmade crafts marketplace) with Hakuhodo DY Group as a joint venture, serving as technology provider and strategic partner during the company's growth into Japan's largest handmade goods platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Murashiki is a Kamakura-based web and EC site production company that designs, builds, develops, and operates e-commerce sites, corporate websites, custom business systems, and brand identities for Japanese businesses. The firm partners with clients as a co-creation team—offering EC business production (planning, design, development, launch, and ongoing optimization), web production, system development, brand design, and business strategy consulting—supported by 15+ years of specialized EC expertise.

Product overview

村式株式会社（Murashiki）は鎌倉 based の WEB・ECサイトプロデュース企業で、ECサイト制作・网站建设・システム開発・ブランド構築・事業設計を主要的サービスとして展開する。他にもSERVO FIT（Bodygram社のAI採寸テクノロジーを活用したオンラインユニフォーム採寸サービス）、スマホで年賀状™（累計600万ダウンロード突破の年賀状作成ECアプリ）、まちのコイン（地域コ...)мун...)ти сил), iichi（日本最大級のハンドメイド品マーケットプレイス、2023年Pinkoi Japanに社名変更）などの自社開発サービスを展開。此外にも才エネルギー・マネジメント事務所、ももと旅行社、ECセミナー、やおよろず相談事務所など独自の副業・越境ECサービスも展開しており、EC専門の技術力を活かした多样的 услуг portfolioを構築している。

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ももと旅行社: Custom travel agency specializing in Ishigaki Island and Yaeyama region tours
• チャレンジ
• 琉球古民家ももと
• やおよろずカウンセ
• 才能マネジメント事務所

Products and services

• EC Site Production & EC Business Production End-to-end e-commerce site production and ongoing EC business operation support covering planning, concept, design, system development, launch, and continuous optimization. Includes sales improvement, customer acquisition, and operational improvement consulting. Used by SMBs and established Japanese brands seeking to grow online sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800% revenue growth over 7 years for ProKitchen EC client after full redesign
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iichi株式会社 (now Pinkoi Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011First joint venture between Murashiki and Ad Plus Venture株式会社 (博報堂DYグループ) to create iichi LLP (later incorporated as iichi株式会社). Murashiki provided technology development and co-developed the business vision from zero. iichi grew into Japan's largest handmade crafts marketplace with 20,000+ makers. iichi subsequently rebranded as Pinkoi Japan, expanding to cross-border Asian EC. Murashiki's co-founder 平井雅人 and other members transitioned to iichi full-time.
• 株式会社QWAN — まちのコインcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMurashiki serves as technical advisor for the regional community currency platform 'Machino Coin', contributing to the concept design, technical architecture, and service specification. The platform enables community-building through a regional currency system, with 20+ regions adopted.
• 面白法人カヤック (Kayac)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing creative partnership spanning multiple projects including Toshimaya EC redesign, 生牧草バンク, 石垣島チャレンジ coworking space, and regional events. Kayac's CEO 柳澤大輔 is described as '村式の兄貴' and was a key mentor during Murashiki's founding. Murashiki supports Kayac Zero's operations. Partnership involves co-creation of digital experiences combining Murashiki's technical depth with Kayac's creative direction.
• 株式会社カヤックゼロ (Kayac Zero)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMurashiki built the reservation management system, member portal, and on-site payment integration for Challenge — Ishigaki Island's largest coworking and workation space operated by Kayac Zero. Design was provided by Kayac (parent company).
• Ad Plus Venture株式会社 (博報堂DYグループ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst institutional joint venture partner for iichi. Ad Plus Venture (博報堂DYメディアパートナーズを含む) co-invested with Murashiki and Kayac to launch and scale the iichi handmade marketplace. This partnership provided Murashiki with its first major joint venture experience and access to Hakuhodo's brand and marketing network.
• 株式会社中央牧草センター — 生牧草バンクminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMurashiki collaborated with Kayac on the 'Namaboku-so Bank' cloud gifting service for retired horses. Murashiki handled payment system development, admin UI design, and system architecture while Kayac provided creative direction.
• 株式会社BuddyingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesign partner for the Jodo Shu てらかつナビ project. Buddying provided design work while Murashiki handled requirements definition, system design, and development. Both are Kamakura-based companies within the local creative ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 面白法人カヤック (KAYAC): Creative technology firm also based in Kamakura, doing web/EC development, branding, and digital experiences. Murashiki and KAYAC are long-standing partners and have co-developed projects (Toshimaya, 生牧草バンク, Challenge coworking), making them the closest comparable in size, philosophy, geography, and service mix.
• 株式会社PARTY: Tokyo creative agency producing digital experiences, brand campaigns, and interactive web projects for major Japanese and global brands. Comparable to Murashiki in combining creative direction with technical web execution for enterprise clients.
• Good Design Company: Tokyo-based branding and design firm creating brand identities, retail experiences, and packaging. Comparable to Murashiki's brand building, logo/packaging/site design, and full-service brand work for established Japanese clients like Angle innerwear and Toshimaya.
• 株式会社ペンシル (Pencil): Fukuoka-based EC consulting and web production firm that designs, builds, and operates EC sites with a focus on conversion optimization. Comparable to Murashiki's end-to-end EC site production and ongoing optimization model for Japanese SMBs.
• biotope: Japanese brand and design agency that creates brand experiences, design systems, and business design. Directly comparable to Murashiki's brand building & design and 事業設計 (business design) practices, serving similar Japanese SMB and enterprise clients.
• TYMOTE: Tokyo-based branding and design agency creating brand identities, design systems, and creative direction. Closely comparable to Murashiki's brand building, package design, and creative work for established Japanese brands.
• 株式会社flag: Creative agency offering web production, graphic design, and branding services to Japanese SMBs and mid-market companies. Closely comparable to Murashiki in service mix, target segment, and B2B project-based delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• BASE (BASE株式会社): Japan-leading SMB EC platform serving over 1.5 million shops with self-serve store building. Adjacent competitor to Murashiki's EC production work for the smallest end of the SMB market, but operates a SaaS platform rather than custom development services.
• GMOメイクショップ (MakeShop): Largest domestic EC platform in Japan by shop count, operated by GMO Pepabo. Competes with Murashiki's custom EC builds for the same Japanese SMB segment by offering a self-serve SaaS alternative, but operates a fundamentally different platform model rather than bespoke development.
• Shopify (Japan): Global EC platform with growing Japan presence, plus a large partner agency ecosystem that builds Shopify-based stores. Represents a structural threat to Murashiki's bespoke EC production model by absorbing mid-market projects into template-based builds with partner agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Murashiki