Faith

What Faith does

Faith, Inc. (株式会社フェイス) is a Japanese diversified entertainment holding company founded on October 9, 1992, by Hajime Hirasawa, headquartered in Kyoto with a Tokyo office. Originally a pioneer in mobile music data distribution — launching Japan's first commercial MIDI delivery service in 1994 with Nifty Corporation, the world's first home communication karaoke system in 1995–96, and the CompactMIDI mobile phone music format adopted by NTT DoCoMo, Qualcomm, and KDDI in 1999 — Faith has evolved into a multi-vertical entertainment group. The current operating portfolio spans a Life & Entertainment Business that directly operates entertainment restaurants including 都たこ焼き (Miyako Takoyaki) and MIYAKO DONBURI under both owned and franchise formats, the 100-seat music hall and bar "song & supper BAROOM" opened in Minami-Aoyama in 2022, and the Thumva live streaming platform launched in 2020.

The Faith Group's underlying business is anchored by Japan Columbia Group Co., Ltd. (日本コロムビアグループ株式会社), Japan's oldest record company founded in 1910, which the company made a subsidiary in 2014 and fully owned by 2017. Through Japan Columbia, Dreams Music (subsidiary since 2017/2021), and Columbia Songs Japan, the group holds music production, label, and rights-management operations. Adjacent subsidiaries include Goody Point (point-card systems, subsidiary since 2005), Faith Property (entertainment facility and equipment management, since 2018), Wakuwaku Works (joint venture with Asob System Holdings for club entertainment operations, established 2017), Faith France SAS and PT. Faith Neo Indonesia (B2B music distribution via FaRao PRO), and historically Digiplug S.A.S (France, mobile music technology, since 2002) and Faith West (North America, since 2002). The group holds registered IP including CompactMIDI, WebSynth (adopted as the standard sound source for Sony Computer Entertainment's PS2), and NFRM content rights-authentication technology.

The company generates revenue through a mix of consumer transactions (entertainment restaurant operations), licensing and royalties (music content distribution through Japan Columbia and related labels), recurring service revenue (Goody Point card systems), and professional services (Faith Property facility/equipment operations, Faith France/Indonesia B2B music services). Faith listed on JASDAQ in September 2001 and upgraded to the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section in September 2002; in April 2023, the company transitioned to the TSE Standard Market following TSE rule changes. On January 30, 2025, the company completed a management buyout, was acquired by Genesis1 Inc., and delisted from the TSE Standard Market; Hirasawa became Representative Director Chairman and President, and Shunsuke Sato became President. In October 2025, the group established the new Nippon Columbia Group Co., Ltd. as an "AI-first next-generation creative production company" repositioning the legacy music business around AI-driven creative output.

Name

Faith

Legal name

株式会社フェイス

Website

https://faith.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Faith, Inc. is a Japanese diversified entertainment holding company operating entertainment restaurants (都たこ焼き, MIYAKO DONBURI), music production and rights through Japan Columbia Group (founded 1910), live streaming, and entertainment facility management for Japanese consumers and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entertainment and Music Services

NAICS

Music Publishers (512230), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Nightlife Venue Groups & Operators (Multi-Location) (MPAGAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD)

Keywords

• Entertainment restaurants
• Music distribution
• Record label services
• Live streaming platforms
• Content distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Entertainment Restaurant Operations: Direct operation of entertainment restaurants including 都たこ焼き and MIYAKO DONBURI, managed under the Life & Entertainment Business division
2. Music Content Distribution: Music production, distribution, and rights management through group companies including Japan Columbia Group, Dreams Music, and Columbia Songs Japan. Historical revenue from mobile content delivery services including ringtones
3. Point Card System Services: Through group company Goody Point (グッディポイント株式会社)
4. Entertainment Facility Management: Through group company Faith Property (株式会社フェイス・プロパシー), management of event facilities, studios, lighting/audio/video equipment operations

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Faith, Inc. operates entertainment restaurants (Miyako Takoyaki, MIYAKO DONBURI) under its Life & Entertainment Business division in Japan. Through its group ecosystem—including Japan Columbia Group, Japan's oldest record company (founded 1910), Dreams Music, and Faith Property—the company is engaged in music production, distribution, rights management, point card services, and entertainment facility operations. The group also operates a live streaming platform (Thumva), a music venue (song & supper BAROOM), and B2B music services (FaRao PRO) in Europe and Indonesia.

Product overview

Faith, Inc. (株式会社フェイス) is a Japanese entertainment and media company founded in 1992, headquartered in Kyoto, with offices in Tokyo. Originally a pioneer in internet music distribution (MIDI data, mobile ringtone downloads), the company evolved into a diversified entertainment group. The current portfolio spans a Life & Entertainment Business unit that operates restaurant brands (都たこやき, MIYAKO DONBURI), and a group structure encompassing affiliated companies such as日本コロムビアグループ株式会社 (Japan Columbia Group — Japan's oldest record company, established 1910), and株式会社ワクワクワークス (entertainment venue planning and operations). The company also had significant legacy businesses in mobile content, music streaming platforms (FaRao, FaRao PRO), and live streaming services (Thumva). Following an MBO and delisting from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2025, the company transitioned to a private structure under current leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Life & Entertainment Division: Operates entertainment restaurants, food brands including 都たこやき and MIYAKO DONBURI, and franchise management.
• song & supper BAROOM

Products and services

• Miyako Takoyaki (都たこやき) Entertainment dining restaurant brand specializing in takoyaki (Japanese octopus balls), operated under the Life & Entertainment Business division as directly operated and franchised locations in Japan, featuring location-based entertainment alongside food service.
• MIYAKO DONBURI Donburi (rice bowl) restaurant brand operated under the Life & Entertainment Business division, offering Japanese rice bowl cuisine with entertainment dining experience at directly operated locations in Japan.
• Thumva Live streaming platform service launched by Faith in 2020 for live video streaming and audience engagement.
• song & supper BAROOM Premium 100-seat circular hall music venue and bar located in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, opened in 2022 as a live music and dining destination.
• FaRao PRO B2B music service offered through Faith France SAS (Europe) and PT. Faith Neo Indonesia, providing music distribution and related services to enterprise clients.
• Music Content Production and Distribution (Japan Columbia Group) Music production, distribution, and rights management services delivered through group companies including Japan Columbia Group Co., Ltd. (Japan's oldest record company, founded 1910), Dreams Music, and Columbia Songs Japan. Targets record labels, artists, and enterprise music industry partners.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• アソビシステム株式会社 (Asob System Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2017Joint venture company established with Asob System Holdings to create ワクワクワークス (Wakuwaku Works), focusing on club entertainment planning, operations, and consulting. Located in Shibuya, Tokyo.
• 株式会社ドリーミュージック (Dreams Music)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Major record company member of Japan Record Association, became group company in 2017 and fully owned subsidiary in 2021
• 日本コロムビア株式会社 (Japan Columbia Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Japan's oldest record company (founded 1910), made affiliated company in 2010 with Columbia Music Entertainment as largest shareholder, renamed to Japan Columbia in its centennial year. Became fully owned subsidiary in 2017.
• パイオニア株式会社 (Pioneer)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1995Co-developed world's first home communication karaoke system (LANA Online City) in 1996
• ニフティ株式会社 (Nifty Corporation)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1994Joint service launch of Japan's first commercial MIDI music data delivery in 1994
• グッディポイント株式会社 (Goody Point)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoint card system company, subsidiary focused on creating new point service solutions
• 株式会社NTTドコモ (NTT DoCoMo)coreTechnology or IntegrationCompactMIDI format adopted as MFi (Melody Format for i-mode) in 1999; consulting contract and ringtone delivery service launch
• Qualcomm社 (Qualcomm)coreTechnology or IntegrationCompactMIDI licensed to Qualcomm's CDMA multimedia platform (CMX) for global mobile terminals
• KDDI株式会社 (KDDI)coreTechnology or IntegrationCompactMIDI format adopted; ringtone delivery service launched on EZweb

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pony Canyon: Japanese record label and music/video distributor owned by Fujisankei Communications Group. Comparable to Faith's music distribution and entertainment media business through Japan Columbia and Dreams Music.
• Being Inc. Japanese music production company behind major J-pop artists and labels including B'z. Closely parallels Faith/Dreams Music's artist management, music production, and rights administration activities.
• Nippon Columbia Group: Japan's oldest record company (founded 1910) and Faith Group subsidiary/sibling. Directly comparable as a Japanese music publisher/label with deep content libraries; currently repositioning as an AI-first creative production company.
• Avex Group Holdings: Avex is Japan's leading independent music and entertainment group operating record labels, artist management, and live event/DJ club businesses (e.g., ageha). It is directly comparable to Faith's combined music production and nightlife venue operations.

Regional players

• Round Table Entertainment: Japanese entertainment and content company with music label and event operations. Comparable niche peer to Faith's Japan Columbia and Dreams Music music operations within the Japanese market.

Broad incumbents

• Universal Music Japan: Major-label Japanese affiliate focused on recorded music and publishing. Comparable to Faith's publishing/label operations but as a global incumbent rather than a multi-location nightlife/dining operator.
• TSUTAYA (Culture Convenience Club): Operates TSUTAYA retail/entertainment outlets plus T-Point loyalty and lifestyle services. Comparable to Faith's Goody Point loyalty system and entertainment venue/dining lifestyle positioning.
• Sony Music Entertainment Japan: The dominant Japanese record label subsidiary of Sony Music. A broader incumbent whose recorded music and publishing operations overlap with Faith's Japan Columbia label activities, but at vastly greater scale.
• Hoshino Resorts: Japanese hospitality and lifestyle operator running hotels, restaurants, and live music venues (e.g., Blue Note Tokyo). Comparable to Faith's Life & Entertainment dining + BAROOM music venue model at higher scale.

Others

• transcosmos Inc. Japanese digital marketing and B2B services firm where Faith's new President Shunsuke Sato previously served as CMO. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but relevant given shared leadership and digital-services overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/miyakotakoyaki

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Faith