Brain

What Brain does

BRAIN Co., Ltd. (株式会社ブレイン) is a privately-held Japanese AI image recognition company founded in 1982 (incorporated 1985) and headquartered in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The company develops and sells computer-vision-based business systems built on its proprietary AI-Scan engine, with flagship products including BakeryScan (the world's first AI-powered bakery POS launched in 2013, 1,700+ cumulative units installed), EatScan (cafeteria self-checkout for corporate and school cafeterias), DelicaScan (AI food labeling verification for supermarkets and convenience stores launched 2026), BR-POS (general semi-self POS register), and TEX-SIM (textile CAD system deployed in 17+ countries). Beyond packaged products, BRAIN executes bespoke AI development for specialized applications including Cyto-AiSCAN (cancer cell diagnosis support in collaboration with the National Cancer Center and Louis Pasteur Medical Research Center), BlastSkill AI (tunnel excavation support with Obayashi Corporation), pharmaceutical identification, EC shipping inspection (Kamada Soy Sauce), and SACLA X-ray free electron laser imaging classification.

The company's revenue model combines one-time and subscription-style licensing for hardware-plus-software AI products (BakeryScan, EatScan, DelicaScan, BR-POS), purchase or lease pricing for TEX-SIM, professional services fees for custom AI development with government agencies (METI, Ministry of the Environment) and major corporations, and aftermarket service revenue through a 120-location service network across Japan. Go-to-market is hybrid: product-led growth with self-serve/semi-self checkout for bakery and cafeteria segments combined with enterprise field sales for medical, construction, and industrial deployments. Sales are conducted via direct inquiry, on-site demonstrations, industry trade shows (FOOMA JAPAN, Japan Bakery & Sweets Show, medical conferences), and integration with payment terminal vendors (Verifone, TEC, GLORY) and POS partners (NEC MobilePOS, TEC Smaregi). The company is self-funded with no external venture capital, had a 2025 CEO succession from founder Kambe Hisashi (now Chairman) to Ueno Takuo, and operates from a Hyogo headquarters plus Tokyo sales office.

Name

Brain

Legal name

株式会社ブレイン

Website

https://corp.bb-brain.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BRAIN Co., Ltd. is a Japanese AI image recognition company that builds the proprietary AI-Scan engine powering BakeryScan (bakery POS), EatScan (cafeteria checkout), DelicaScan (food labeling), and medical/pathology AI systems for retail, food service, and healthcare customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Image Recognition Software Systems

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Office Machines, Nec (3579), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH), Radiology AI, CAD & Advanced Visualization Software (HLAHABAJ)

Keywords

• AI image recognition
• POS systems
• Computer vision software
• Textile design CAD
• Medical AI diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Nishiwaki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI Image Recognition POS Systems (BakeryScan, EatScan, DelicaScan): Sale and lease of AI-powered self-checkout systems for bakeries, cafeterias, and food retail. Products include camera units, POS software, and optional payment terminals. Revenue from initial hardware/software purchase plus ongoing maintenance.
2. TEX-SIM Textile Design Software: Sale and lease of textile CAD software. Available for purchase or lease. Includes system installation, training, and ongoing technical support.
3. Custom AI System Development: Bespoke AI system development for specialized applications (medical, tunnel excavation, pharmaceutical, e-commerce). Projects with government agencies (METI, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), research institutions (RIKEN), and major corporations (Obayashi Corporation).
4. BR-POS General POS System: General POS system sales and lease for restaurants, retail, and specialty stores. Supports semi-self checkout and cashless payments. Compatible with various payment terminals.
5. Aftermarket Services: Service network of 120 locations across Japan providing maintenance, repairs, and support for installed systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Brain Co., Ltd. develops and sells proprietary AI image recognition software systems (powered by its AI-Scan engine) integrated with hardware for retail checkout, food labeling verification, textile design, medical pathology workflows, and specialized industrial applications. The company also delivers custom AI development projects for government agencies and major corporations, supported by a national 120-location service network in Japan.

Product overview

BRAIN Co., Ltd. offers a portfolio of AI-powered image recognition products and business systems. The core product line includes BakeryScan (world's first AI bakery checkout), EatScan (cafeteria self-checkout), DelicaScan (food labeling verification), BR-POS (POS register), and TEX-SIM (textile CAD). These are unified by the proprietary AI-Scan image recognition engine platform, which applies computer vision technology across bakery, food service, medical, and industrial applications. Medical AI products (Mappe Check, Specimen Check) extend the AI-Scan platform into pathology workflows. The product ecosystem supports cloud integration for multi-store operations and connects to various payment terminals for comprehensive point-of-sale solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BakeryScan (パン識別AIレジ) World's first AI-powered image recognition POS system for bakeries that identifies multiple bread and pastry items via camera in approximately 1 second. Enables semi-self checkout and drastically reduces new-staff training time. Over 1,700 units installed domestically and internationally since 2013.
• EatScan (食事識別AIレジ)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced checkout time: 15 seconds → 8 seconds per customer (BakeryScan)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National Cancer Center (国立がん研究センター)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Experimental deployment of Cyto-AiSCAN cancer cell diagnosis support system from 2023. Medical institution partner for validation and clinical application of AI diagnostic technology.
• Obayashi Corporation (株式会社大林組)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint development of tunnel blast excavation support AI system (ブラストスキルAI™). AI predicts tunnel face hardness from images and creates optimal explosive loading patterns. Developed jointly with Mack Co., Ltd.
• Louis Pasteur Medical Research Center (路易・パストゥール医学研究センター)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint development partner for AI cancer cell diagnosis support system. Dr. Dobashi's observation 'bread looked like cancer cells' initiated collaboration in 2017. Joint development of Cyto-AiSCAN system under METI's Strategic Basic Technology Advanced Development Support Program. National Cancer Center joined for experimental use from 2023.
• RIKEN / SACLA (理化学研究所 / SACLA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Technical cooperation for SACLA imaging data filtering. World's highest performance X-ray free electron laser facility generates massive imaging data (60 frames/second) requiring AI-powered high-speed analysis and classification.
• Mitsubishi Corporation (三菱商事)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistorical partnership from 1985 onwards for global distribution of textile CAD systems. Mitsubishi Corporation distributed TEX-SIM worldwide, enabling international expansion to 17+ countries.
• Mack Co., Ltd. (マック株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner with Obayashi Corporation for tunnel blast support AI system.
• Kamada Shoji (鎌田商事株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustomer-turned-development partner for EC shipping inspection system. Kamada Shoyu's inspection challenges led to custom AI inspection system development. System integrated with existing sales management system from June 2023.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NCR Voyix: Global provider of POS and self-checkout technology to retail and hospitality. Comparable to Brain in selling AI-augmented checkout systems to food retail and restaurant operators, though at global scale rather than Japan-focused.
• NTT Data: Large Japanese IT services and consulting firm with AI, retail, and government system offerings. Comparable to Brain as a Japan-headquartered AI/IT vendor serving enterprise and government, including contracts with METI-adjacent agencies.
• Toppan Holdings: Japanese printing and digital solutions company with AI image recognition and security offerings. Comparable to Brain in developing computer vision solutions for Japanese enterprise and government clients, though at much larger corporate scale.
• Fujitsu Limited: Global ICT company with retail solutions, AI services, and POS-related offerings. Comparable to Brain as a Japan-headquartered vendor of enterprise AI and in-store technology, though Fujitsu operates at substantially greater scale and across many more verticals.
• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions: Provider of POS systems, self-checkout, and retail technology solutions to global grocery and convenience store chains. Comparable to Brain as an established POS and in-store technology vendor competing for the same retail customers as BakeryScan, EatScan, and DelicaScan, though at much larger scale and breadth.
• NEC Corporation: Japanese systems integrator with extensive retail, AI, and face/image recognition offerings. Comparable to Brain in selling AI and POS technology to enterprise and government clients in Japan; significantly larger and broader in product scope.

Emerging players

• Cybernet Systems (Japan): Japan-based AI solutions and 3D/CAD software provider with machine vision offerings. Comparable to Brain in providing AI/ML engineering services and image-based industrial software to Japanese enterprise customers.
• ABEJA: Japan-based AI company providing AI/ML engineering services and computer vision solutions to enterprise customers. Comparable to Brain as a Japanese AI engineering and image recognition vendor serving enterprise and industrial use cases.
• Preferred Networks: Japan-based deep learning company developing computer vision and AI platforms across industrial and consumer applications. Comparable to Brain in applying proprietary AI image recognition technology to vertical use cases, though with stronger backing and a broader product footprint.
• LPixel Inc. Japanese medical AI company focused on pathology and life-science image analysis. Comparable to Brain's medical AI work (Cyto-AiSCAN cancer cell diagnosis), competing for similar pathology and clinical-research customers in Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCds7e5aJiYkIsCBP_NOdOUg
• Facebookfacebook.com/brain.co.jp

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 Brain