Research Center

What Research Center does

Research Center (株式会社リサーチセンター) is a privately held Japanese consulting and publishing firm founded in 1967 and incorporated as a Kabushiki Kaisha in 1996, headquartered in Gifu Prefecture with a secondary office in Nagoya. The company operates three interrelated service pillars oriented almost exclusively toward Japan's textile and apparel industry: (1) credit investigations on textile/apparel companies covering financials, suppliers, sales channels, banking relationships, and subcontractor history, with unit pricing starting at 10,000 JPY; (2) bespoke marketing consulting projects covering industry surveys, regional production-area studies, and enterprise-specific investigations on procurement, sales, overseas expansion, and location strategy; and (3) subscription-based industry publications and annual yearbooks, including the weekly Research News (55,000 JPY/year), bimonthly Fiber Digest (16,000 JPY), Monthly Research Information (36,000 JPY), and annual reference works such as the Owari Textile Yearbook (60,000 JPY), National Major Men's Retailers (15,000 JPY), Meiki Apparel-Related Leading Enterprises (36,000 JPY), and Unlisted Textile Balance Sheets (16,000 JPY).

The firm's underlying assets are not a technology platform but rather decades of accumulated proprietary industry data, expert analyst teams, and a multi-disciplinary team consulting model that integrates research, marketing, and administrative scrivener (legal/regulatory) services including corporate establishment, construction industry licensing, and residency/visa applications. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability is disclosed; the company relies on traditional research methodologies and manual data compilation, including extraction from Official Gazette filings. The company also serves as the secretariat for the GSP Group (Global Sewing Pioneer), an affiliated apparel production network of companies with operations across China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and partially Japan, coordinated for apparel manufacturing sourcing on behalf of Japanese clients.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring subscription publication sales, one-time publication purchases, unit-priced credit investigation reports (with ticket packages for repeat clients), and quote-based bespoke consulting projects. Distribution is exclusively direct: orders are taken via the company website inquiry form, email, fax, and phone, with no intermediary channels. Marketing is conducted through the company website, subscription newsletters, news/press announcements for new publication releases, and limited social sharing via LINE and note.com. The firm is led by Representative Director Nakamoto Takeshi (中元 武), is privately held with 10 million JPY paid-in capital, has 11-50 employees, and operates as a small, vertically specialized niche research and information provider rather than a scaling technology business.

Name

Research Center

Legal name

株式会社リサーチセンター

Website

https://researchcenter.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Research Center is a privately held Japanese firm providing credit investigations, custom market research, and subscription-based industry publications (weekly newsletters and annual yearbooks) serving textile and apparel companies across Japan, while also coordinating the GSP Group apparel production network across Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Industry Consulting & Market Research

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHALAE

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert Services

SECONDARYBPAHACAA

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Management Consulting

SECONDARYBPAHALAB

Competitive Intelligence & Benchmarking

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Research, Analytics & Expert Services

Keywords

• Textile industry research
• Credit investigation services
• Marketing research consulting
• Industry trade publications
• Apparel sector intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Hashima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Information Publication Sales: Sale of periodic information newsletters and annual industry yearbooks on the textile and apparel sector. Publications include Research News (weekly), Fiber Digest (bimonthly), Monthly Research Info (monthly), and specialized annual compilations such as the Oshu Fiber Yearbook, National Men's Retail Directory, and Meigi Apparel Directory.
2. Credit Investigation Services: Credit investigation reports on textile and apparel companies, covering company name, location, representatives, product lines, suppliers, sales channels, performance, banking relationships, executives, history, and subcontractors. Offered as one-time investigations or via ticket packages for repeat clients.
3. Marketing Consulting Projects: Customized market research and consulting projects commissioned by clients. Projects include industry-specific studies, regional/production-area surveys, and individual company investigations covering procurement, sales, overseas expansion, and location strategy.
4. Administrative Scrivener Services: Proxy service for complex contracts, application documents, and administrative procedures including corporate establishment, construction permits, and residency/visa applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Research Center provides specialized consulting and information services for Japan's textile and apparel industry. The company delivers business credit investigations on textile and fashion companies, custom market research and consulting projects, and publishes periodic industry newsletters (weekly, bimonthly, monthly) along with annual reference directories and yearbooks covering men's retailers, regional production areas, and unlisted company financials. It also coordinates the GSP Group apparel production network across Asia and offers administrative scrivener services for corporate and regulatory filings.

Product overview

Research Center operates as a textile/apparel industry consulting firm offering a portfolio of three interconnected service pillars: credit investigation services, marketing consulting, and information magazine/publication publishing. The credit investigation service provides company background reports covering business partners, credit limits, and risk management. Marketing consulting offers customized market research including industry surveys, regional studies, and enterprise-specific investigations. The publication arm publishes periodic information magazines (Research News weekly, Fiber Digest bimonthly, Monthly Research Information monthly) and annual reference books including 名岐のアパレル関連有力企業 (Meiki apparel companies), 全国有力メンズ小売業 (National Men's Retailers), 尾州繊維年鑑 (Owari Textile Yearbook), and 全国繊維関連企業（非上場）貸借対照表 (Unlisted Textile Balance Sheets). The company also manages the GSP Group, an affiliated apparel production network of companies across Asia. All services are oriented toward the textile and apparel supply chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GSPグループ (Global Sewing Pioneer): An affiliated group of apparel production companies producing mens, womens, kids, casual, and cut-and-sew items across China, ASEAN, and Japan, coordinated by Research Center.
• リサーチニュース
• 繊維ダイジェスト
• マンスリーリサーチ情報

Products and services

• Credit Investigation Services (信用調査) Business credit investigation services for textile and apparel companies, covering company name, location, representatives, products, suppliers, sales channels, performance, banking relationships, executives, history, and subcontractors. Used for risk management, credit limit assessment, and bad debt prevention. Available as one-time investigations or via ticket packages for repeat clients.
• Marketing Consulting (マーケティングコンサルティング) Custom market research and consulting projects based on client needs. Includes industry-specific surveys, regional production area studies, and enterprise-specific investigations covering procurement, sales, overseas expansion, and location strategy. Specialist staff conduct initial consultations and present findings directly.
• Research News (リサーチニュース) Weekly information magazine providing real-time fiber industry news, distribution trends, financial results, industry statistics, overseas information, and management columns for the textile and apparel sector. Annual subscription priced at 55,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• Fiber Digest (繊維ダイジェスト) Bimonthly publication summarizing two months of textile industry movements and information, serving as an archival strategic reference for subscribers. Priced at 16,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• Monthly Research Information (マンスリーリサーチ情報) Monthly publication featuring latest performance reports, apparel import statistics, sales data from retailers, department stores, specialty stores, and e-commerce, plus Asia textile information from China, ASEAN, Bangladesh, and India. Annual subscription priced at 36,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• National Major Men's Retailers Directory (全国有力メンズ小売業) Annual publication covering major men's retailers nationwide, focusing on men's suits and road-side shops, with company profiles, sales rankings, and detailed performance analysis for publicly available companies. Used for credit management and sales expansion. Latest 2025 edition priced at 15,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• Meigi Apparel-Related Leading Enterprises (名岐のアパレル関連有力企業) Annual publication covering approximately 350 apparel-related companies in the Meigi (Nagoya-Gifu) region, including apparel, fabric, knit fabric wholesalers, accessory wholesalers, garment processing, and logistics processing companies. Used for credit management, new business development, and outsourcing coordination. Priced at 36,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• Owari Textile Yearbook (尾州繊維年鑑) B5 hardcover annual publication analyzing the Owari textile production area across 13 industries with approximately 300 companies, including yarn dyeing and dyeing finishing businesses. Contains financial analysis for credit management. Latest 2025 edition priced at 60,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• National Textile-Related Unlisted Companies Balance Sheets (全国繊維関連企業（非上場）貸借対照表) Annual publication extracting textile-related companies from all industries in the Official Gazette, covering fiscal periods Reiwa 6/8 to Reiwa 7/7. Provides financial overview for credit management and new business development. Priced at 16,000 JPY (excluding tax).
• Administrative Scrivener Services (行政書士サポート業務) Services handling complex contracts, application documents, and procedures including corporate establishment, construction industry licensing, permanent residence, and naturalization applications for textile industry clients.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GSP Group (Global Sewing Pioneer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 1989GSP Group is an apparel production-related enterprise group organized by Research Center in October 1989, covering sewing, press finishing, logistics, embroidery, printing, pleating, washing, thread, maritime transport, and trading. The group coordinates information sharing and analysis among member companies and helps clients source apparel production from Asia-based factories.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Sanmai Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSantei Co., Ltd. — Industry pioneer starting China's production in 1985, producing men's, women's, casual, and kids apparel overseas for the Japanese market with MADE IN JAPAN quality control.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Nagoya Shoji Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNagoya Shoji Group — Established in 1969 with Japanese domestic factories, China joint venture/unincorporated factories in 1990, and apparel business in 2002. Produces, manufactures, and sells ladies apparel with integrated production and sales management.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Renan Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenan Co., Ltd. — Specializes in women's all-items production with heavy garments, producing 2 million pieces annually. Operates 3 factories in China and 1 in Vietnam.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Minoshima Embroidery Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinoshima Embroidery Co., Ltd. — Provides embroidery, printing, and apparel processing with domestic processing at 60% and China processing at 40%. Also operates Minoshima Logistics for comprehensive logistics.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Kawase Press Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKawase Press Co., Ltd. — Specializes in pressing, logistics (inspection, repair), and store delivery. Offers integrated logistics for women's heavy garments including finishing press, logistics processing, and individual store shipments.
• GSP Group Member Companies (A.P. Logistics Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA.P. Logistics Co., Ltd. — Provides press finishing, inspection, checking, sewing, alterations, and delivery operations for textile products with integrated workflow.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Omori Kaisoten Co., Ltd. Nagoya Branch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmori Kaisoten Co., Ltd. — General port shipping company providing integrated international logistics. ISO9001 certified and approved as a customs broker since 2009, with offices in Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, Yokohama, and overseas in Shanghai, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and India.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Chukyo Hosei Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChukyo Hosei Co., Ltd. — Industrial sewing thread and apparel accessory sales, claiming top industry inventory and color variety. Supplies thread to factories across China, ASEAN, and Japan with nationwide sales coverage.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Nishikawa Press Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNishikawa Press Co., Ltd. — Specializes in finishing press for men's heavy garments (suits, coats, jackets) since Showa 35 (1960), with some women's black formal and suit work.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Kiyokawa Co., Ltd. Gifu Branch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiyokawa Co., Ltd. — Apparel accessories and materials company handling buttons, YKK zippers, linings, interlinings, shoulder pads, covered buttons, marvern belt, threads, name tags, hang tags, and other accessories. Active in Chukyo area with nationwide distribution.
• GSP Group Member Companies (Artmarry Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtmarry Co., Ltd. — Ladies apparel planning, manufacturing, and wholesale. Operates Guangzhou office with local staff managing factory coordination. Own brands include haremode, BENEDETTA, TRATTO, and Ava for formal and ceremony occasions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• INTAGE: Largest Japanese market research firm with consumer, retail, and apparel panel data. Comparable in providing marketing research and consumer insight services, though INTAGE operates at significantly larger scale and across all industries.
• Macromill: Japanese online market research and digital marketing analytics firm. Comparable in offering marketing research and consumer insights, but Macromill is far larger and digitally native versus Research Center's traditional approach.

Direct peers

• Yano Research Institute: Japanese market research and industry analysis firm publishing syndicated and custom sector reports. Closely matches Research Center's industry research, custom consulting, and annual report offerings across multiple verticals including fashion/textile.
• Tokyo Shoko Research: Major Japanese credit research and business information provider. Comparable to Research Center's credit investigation and corporate information services, though TSR serves all sectors and is significantly larger.
• Fuji Keizai: Japanese market research and consulting firm producing industry market share data, custom research, and conferences. Comparable to Research Center in offering industry-specific research reports and custom consulting engagements.
• Teikoku Databank: Japan's largest credit investigation and business information firm. Directly comparable because both firms provide company credit reports and business research, but Teikoku Databank operates at national scale across all industries whereas Research Center specializes narrowly in textile/apparel.
• Sen-i News (せんい新聞): Japanese textile industry newspaper/publication. Comparable as a specialist textile industry information publisher serving the same vertical audience as Research Center's Research News and Fiber Digest publications.
• Nihon Sen-i Shimbun: Japanese textile trade publication covering fiber and apparel industry news. Comparable to Research Center's periodic industry newsletters and yearbooks in delivering sector-specific news and analysis.

Others

• Ipsos Japan: Global market research and public opinion firm with Japanese operations. Comparable as a research/analytics provider, but serves broad consumer and public-sector research rather than textile vertical specialization.
• GfK Japan: International market research firm operating in Japan across multiple industries. Adjacent comparison as a large-scale market research provider, though it does not specialize in textile/apparel vertical research like Research Center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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 Research Center