Sonet

What Sonet does

Sonet (株式会社ソネット) was a Japanese private software development and maintenance company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. The company built and supported custom enterprise software and operated a proprietary product line called the 楽経シリーズ (Rakkei Series), a business management software suite aimed at Japanese enterprise and regional business customers. Sonet's core technology centered on conventional software development, maintenance services, and packaged business solution provision rather than on advanced or emerging technology stacks. Its operating model combined custom development contracts with packaged product sales to business customers primarily within the Tohoku region, supported by a small headcount of 1-10 employees and a horizontally-segmented customer approach.

On April 1, 2026, Sonet was absorbed into Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd. (アクシスITパートナーズ株式会社) through an absorption-type merger, with Sonet ceasing to exist as a separate legal entity and continuing as the Yamagata Office of the surviving parent company. The stated rationale was to strengthen the management foundation and enable further business expansion by combining the technical capabilities and resources of both companies. All of Sonet's existing contracts were transferred to Axis IT Partners. The surviving entity maintains headquarters in Tottori with sales and operations offices in Tokyo and Osaka, and displays a Tokyo Stock Exchange listing indicator, suggesting it is a publicly listed parent. Pricing, revenue model, and customer composition data are not publicly disclosed for either pre-merger Sonet or the merged Axis IT Partners entity.

Name

Sonet

Legal name

株式会社ソネット (Kabushiki Kaisha Sonet)

Website

https://sonet-inc.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sonet is a Japanese private software development and maintenance company founded in 1993 in Yamagata Prefecture, providing the Rakkei Series business solution software and custom enterprise software services to regional Japanese business customers until its 2026 absorption merger into Axis IT Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tsuruoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Core offering

Sonet is a Japanese software development and IT solutions company that provides the 楽経シリーズ (Rakkei Series) business management software suite along with custom software development, maintenance, and solution services to enterprise customers. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, the company operated with 1-10 employees focused on enterprise software needs until its April 2026 merger with Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd.

Product overview

Sonet is a software development and maintenance company that provides the 楽経シリーズ (Rakkei Series) as its primary solution offering. Founded in 1993 and centered in Yamagata Prefecture, the company specializes in software development, maintenance, and solution provision. In April 2026, Sonet merged with Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd., operating under the new entity name アクシスＩＴパートナーズ株式会社 (Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd.) with a Yamagata Office maintaining the operational base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 楽経シリーズ (Rakkei Series) A comprehensive business management software suite providing solutions for enterprise operations, offered by Sonet as its primary solution offering for business customers in Japan.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd. (アクシスＩＴパートナーズ株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026On April 1, 2026,株式会社ソネット (Sonet) completed an absorptive merger with Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd. The merger was undertaken to strengthen the business foundation and enable further business expansion. Sonet's existing contracts were succeeded by Axis IT Partners. Post-merger, the company operates as Axis IT Partners Co., Ltd. Yamagata Office, combining the technical capabilities and resources of both entities to provide higher-value-added services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Nomura Research Institute (NRI): Major Japanese IT consulting and systems integration firm serving financial institutions and large enterprises with custom software and advisory services. A broad incumbent in the same space as Sonet but at much larger scale and scope.
• NTT Data Group: Largest Japanese IT services firm, offering system integration, custom software development, and outsourcing globally. Operates broadly in the same space as Sonet but as a global incumbent with vastly greater scale and capabilities.

Emerging players

• Works Applications Co., Ltd. Japanese enterprise software company known for cloud ERP and HR products targeting large Japanese enterprises. Comparable to Sonet's Rakkei business software line, though operating at much larger scale with broader product suite.

Direct peers

• SCSK Corporation: Japanese IT services and system integration company providing custom application development and IT solutions to enterprises. Overlaps with Sonet's software development and maintenance services for Japanese business customers.
• Obic Co., Ltd. Japanese provider of integrated business management and ERP software packages for enterprises. Closely comparable to Sonet's Rakkei Series, as both deliver packaged business management software solutions to Japanese companies.
• Future Corporation: Japanese IT consulting and custom software development firm serving enterprise clients with business system development and IT advisory services. Directly comparable to Sonet's IT services and bespoke business software offerings.
• BIPROGY (formerly Nihon Unisys): Japanese IT services company providing custom software development, system integration, and outsourcing across enterprise and public-sector customers. Directly comparable to Sonet's custom software development and maintenance services model in the Japanese market.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Japanese IT services and network solutions provider offering system integration, managed services, and custom development. Comparable to Sonet as a Japan-based IT services firm delivering enterprise software solutions.
• OBC (Ohbunsha Co., Ltd.): Japanese vendor of accounting, payroll, and business management software primarily targeting SMBs. Comparable to Sonet's Rakkei Series business management software positioning toward Japanese SMB and mid-market customers.
• TIS Inc. Major Japanese IT services firm offering custom software development, system integration, and IT outsourcing. Comparable to Sonet as a Japan-based software services provider serving enterprise customers with bespoke solutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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 Sonet