What Bird Electronic (Japan) does

Bird Electronic Co., Ltd. (株式会社バード電子, founded 1983, headquartered in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a private Japanese manufacturer and retailer specializing in custom industrial keyboards, premium keyboard accessories, and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary JINYA DISC, an archival jazz record label. The company's core technical capability lies in mechanical flat keyboard design, including proprietary switch architectures (single-common, matrix, binary code output circuits) and durable long-life switches rated for 1,000+ km of actuation. Standard catalog products (FB and S Series industrial keypads, marketed for 30+ years) were discontinued in October 2022 to refocus operations on custom OEM orders and high-margin accessories targeted at premium keyboard enthusiasts — particularly users of PFU's Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) and Topre's REALFORCE RC1.

The product ecosystem comprises two primary segments: industrial/custom OEM keyboards and accessories (vibration-dampening Cushion Mats co-developed with Professor Kazuhiro Shiozawa of Keio University, Type-C keyboard selectors, custom Bluetooth encoder PCBs, dust covers/keyboard roofs), and consumer ergonomic and lifestyle accessories (plywood, vegan leather, lacquered, and silicone palm rests branded "Typing Bed," with premium lacquer-finished variants handcrafted by artisan Saburo Sugitani). Products are sold directly via the company's B-SHOP e-commerce storefront (shop.bird-electron.co.jp) using one-time unit pricing ranging from ¥493 for basic components to ¥23,100 for premium lacquered palm rests, with cash-on-delivery and Amazon Pay payment options.

Bird Electronic's business model is a hybrid e-commerce/industrial-OEM operation serving two primary B2C/B2B segments: industrial equipment manufacturers integrating custom keypads into medical devices, vending machines, parking systems, POS terminals, and amusement equipment (using a quote-based, single-unit minimum OEM channel via email/phone/FAX), and Japanese HHKB/REALFORCE keyboard enthusiasts purchasing accessories through the B-SHOP online store. The JINYA DISC subsidiary generates a parallel revenue stream via CD, DVD, and digital music releases preserving the works of Masayuki Takayanagi, distributed through Disk Union retail channels. All operations run from the single Kawasaki headquarters, with no disclosed headcount, no external funding, no executive team beyond Representative Yasunori Saito, and distribution confined exclusively to the Japanese domestic market.

Name

Bird Electronic (Japan)

Legal name

株式会社バード電子 (Kabushiki Kaisha Bird Electron)

Website

https://bird-electron.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bird Electronic (Japan) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer, founded 1983 in Kawasaki, that designs and produces custom OEM mechanical keyboards/industrial keypads and premium accessories (palm rests, dust covers, dampening mats, USB/Bluetooth encoders) for HHKB and REALFORCE keyboard enthusiasts, and operates the JINYA DISC archival jazz record label as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Distribution is domestic-only via its B-SHOP e-commerce storefront and Disk Union retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Computer Keyboards & Input Devices

NAICS

Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

akta.pro primary industry

Keyboards & Keypads (HDACAFAA)

Keywords

• Mechanical keyboard accessories
• Industrial keypad manufacturing
• Custom OEM keyboards
• HHKB keyboard accessories
• Mechanical keyboard switches

Headquarters

HQ city

Kawasaki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Keyboard and Keyboard Accessory Sales: Bird Electronic generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of mechanical keyboard switches, industrial keypads, HHKB accessories, and custom/OEM keyboard products via its B-SHOP e-commerce platform. Products range from low-cost individual components (LC-1S at ¥493) to premium custom palm rests (up to ¥23,100). Standard one-time purchase model with no recurring fees.
2. JINYA DISC Record Label: A specialized record label dedicated to preserving and publishing the works of Masayuki Takayanagi and related jazz musicians. Revenue from CD, DVD, and digital music releases. Distribution handled through Disk Union.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bird Electronic Co., Ltd. manufactures custom and OEM mechanical keyboards and industrial keypads (including legacy FB and S series and current matrix/USB/Bluetooth encoder boards) and produces a branded line of HHKB and REALFORCE keyboard accessories such as palm rests (Typing Bed), keyboard covers (Keyboard Roof), vibration-dampening cushion mats, keyboard cases, and the Type-C POKE202 keyboard selector switch. The company also operates the JINYA DISC record label, which preserves and releases the jazz recordings of Masayuki Takayanagi and related musicians on CD, DVD, and digital formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JINYA DISC: Record label sub-brand operated by BIRD Electron, originally founded in 1989 and transferred to the company in 2005.

Products and services

• Industrial Mechanical Keypads and Switches (FB, S, LFB, CFB Series) Custom and OEM mechanical keypads and switches with 1,000+ km switch life, supporting single-common and matrix circuit configurations, binary code outputs, and customizable keytop layouts. Designed for integration into industrial control panels, factory machinery, medical devices, vending machines, parking equipment, broadcasting gear, amusement machines, and POS systems. Available from 1 unit with custom configurations.
• Keyboard Roof (Keyboard Cover) Acrylic cover for the key section of HHKB and other mechanical keyboards, designed to protect against dust and accidental operation. Available in multiple variants including 3mm acrylic for HHKB and REALFORCE RC1, and a polycarbonate translucent 20th Anniversary special edition (carmine red and cobalt blue). Registered trademark (キーボードルーフ).
• Typing Bed (Palm Rest) Ergonomic palm rest for HHKB and other keyboards, available in plywood (¥6,800), vegan leather (¥6,800), silicone with uroko lattice UV coating (¥4,000–¥4,400), and premium handcrafted urushi lacquer finishes (¥20,000–¥23,000 tax-exclusive) by urushi artisan Saburo Sugitani. Registered trademark (タイピングベッド). Designed to improve typing posture and reduce wrist fatigue.
• Keyboard Bridge Registered trademark (キーボードブリッジ) covering a keyboard accessory product line. Bird Electronic has issued notices distinguishing the Keyboard Bridge mark from the generic descriptor "keyboard cover" to prevent trademark dilution.
• Keyboard Pod (Keyboard Carrying Case) Neoprene carrying case designed for HHKB keyboards. Trademark application in progress (キーボードポッド) at ¥4,800 per unit.
• Cushion Sheet Mat / NonSlip Mat Vibration-dampening keyboard mat made from 3mm thick micro-cell polymer sheet with embossed bottom for grip. Reduces keystroke impact and noise and prevents keyboard slippage. Available in HHKB and REALFORCE RC1 variants. Registered trademark (クッションマット). Concept originally conceived by Professor Kazuhiro Shiozawa and productized by Bird Electronic. Priced at ¥4,300.
• Type-C Keyboard Selector (POKE202) Mechanical toggle switch device that switches one Type-C keyboard between two PCs. Features metal toggle switch design and also functions as a physical disconnect switch for security. Registered trademark (POKE / ポケ). Launched June 2025.
• HHKB Lacquer Palm Rest (Urushi Finish) Premium HHKB palm rest handcrafted by urushi artisan Saburo Sugitani using traditional Japanese maki-e lacquer techniques with tin, copper, brass powders, and blue lacquer finishes on a natural wood base. Available in four variations (S1 tin powder, S3 copper powder, S4 brass powder, S5 blue lacquer) at ¥21,000–¥23,000 tax-exclusive.
• JINYA DISC Music Releases Record label dedicated to preserving and publishing the works of Masayuki Takayanagi and related jazz musicians on CD, DVD, and digital formats. Operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bird Electronic Co., Ltd. since 2005. Distribution handled through Disk Union physical and online jazz specialty retail stores in Japan.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Disk Union (株式会社ディスクユニオン)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDisk Union serves as the primary distribution partner for JINYA DISC music releases. Jazz recordings published by JINYA DISC are distributed through Disk Union's physical record shops and online sales channels. This partnership provides access to the established jazz collector and enthusiast retail network in Japan.
• Saburo Sugitani (杉谷三朗)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaburo Sugitani is a lacquerware artist based in Toba, Mie Prefecture, selected as one of the '100 Leading Contemporary Japanese Lacquerware Artists.' He collaborates with Bird Electronic to produce exclusive HHKB-compatible palm rests using traditional Japanese lacquer techniques (maki-e with tin, brass, and copper powders, and blue lacquer finishes). Each piece is individually handcrafted.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Omron Corporation: Omron is a major Japanese industrial components manufacturer producing switches, sensors, and relays used in industrial control panels and equipment. Overlaps with Bird Electronic's industrial keypad OEM customer base in factory automation and vending/parking equipment.
• Hoffmann + Krippner: German manufacturer of custom industrial input devices, membrane keypads, and OEM keyboard solutions. Comparable as a custom/low-volume industrial keypad manufacturer serving similar embedded and industrial applications.
• NKK Switches: NKK is a major Japanese manufacturer of industrial switches and keypads serving OEM customers across industrial equipment, medical, and broadcast markets — directly overlapping Bird Electronic's industrial OEM customer base in factory machinery, medical devices, and broadcasting equipment.
• Cherry GmbH (Cherry MX): Cherry invented the MX mechanical switch used in mechanical keyboards globally. While Cherry competes more in the broad mechanical switch market rather than Bird Electronic's HHKB/REALFORCE niche, the companies share a heritage in mechanical switch engineering and industrial/consumer crossover positioning.
• Grayhill Inc. Grayhill manufactures custom and standard industrial keypads, switches, and human-machine interface components. Comparable as a broad-line industrial input device supplier competing for similar OEM design wins in medical, industrial, and POS applications.
• EAO AG: Swiss manufacturer of industrial keyboards, keypads, and HMI components for transportation, industrial machinery, and medical equipment. Comparable as a global incumbent in industrial input devices with overlapping customer verticals to Bird Electronic's industrial keypad business.

Direct peers

• PFU Limited (HHKB): PFU manufactures the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB), the anchor product for Bird Electronic's largest accessory ecosystem. The two companies are deeply complementary — PFU makes the keyboard, Bird Electronic makes the palm rests, roofs, mats, and selectors — making PFU the closest direct peer in target customer and ecosystem alignment.
• Topre Corporation (REALFORCE): Topre manufactures REALFORCE premium electrostatic capacitive keyboards, the second anchor brand for Bird Electronic's accessory business (with RC1-specific roof and cushion mat products launched in 2025). Highly comparable as another Japanese premium mechanical/capacitive keyboard maker serving the same enthusiast base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/birdelectron_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdelectron

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Bird Electronic (Japan)