FTF

What FTF does

FTF Inc. is a privately held Japanese specialty retail company operating the Face Records chain, which sells new and used vinyl records and CDs across seven physical storefronts in Japan (Shibuya, Miyashita Park, Sapporo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Fukuoka) and New York City, supplemented by an owned e-commerce platform and a top-ranked global eBay storefront. The company purchases pre-owned records nationwide via a mail-in and on-site visit program (operating since 2011), curates inventory, and exports items that cannot be resold domestically, embedding a circular-economy model into its core operations.

The company's product surface extends beyond record resale into cultural and fashion programming, including in-store DJ events (the INSTORE DJ series), POP UP collaborations with fashion brands such as Fred Perry and LOWRYS FARM, participation in audio exhibitions like OTOTEN, and a sustainability-focused sub-brand, Ecostore Records (エコストアレコード), that frames the business around reuse, recycling, and SDG-aligned messaging. Notable non-retail activities include founder Shinichi Takei's 2026 publication of 'The History of Record Stores in Shibuya ~ & Beyond' and the company's Eruboshi three-star certification (2019) for women's advancement in the workplace.

FTF generates revenue through one-time retail and marketplace transactions (record and CD sales), transaction-based fashion collaboration and POP UP events, and cultural event programming that drives foot traffic. The customer base consists of individual music collectors, fashion-culture crossover consumers, and international buyers accessing Japanese music via eBay and the NYC store; the supplier side is a long tail of individual record sellers across Japan. The business is founder-led, privately held without disclosed institutional funding, and operates with 101-250 employees across Japan and the United States.

Name

FTF

Legal name

FTF Inc.

Website

https://facetofacecoltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FTF Inc. operates Face Records, a seven-store chain selling new and used vinyl records and CDs across Japan and New York City, plus owned e-commerce and a top-ranked global eBay storefront. The company purchases pre-owned records nationwide for resale, recycling, or export, and runs Ecostore as a sustainability-focused sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Used Record Sales: The company purchases used records from individuals nationwide (via mail-in and on-site visits) and resells them through physical retail stores and e-commerce platforms. Records that cannot be sold domestically are exported to international markets.
2. e-Commerce Sales: Sales through the Face Records online shop and third-party marketplaces such as eBay.
3. Fashion Collaboration and POP UP Events: The company hosts popup events and collaborations with fashion brands like Fred Perry, generating revenue through limited-edition product sales.
4. Cultural Events and DJ Events: In-store DJ events and cultural events at retail locations, driving foot traffic and sales while building community engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FTF Inc. operates the Face Records chain, a multi-location retail business that buys, curates, and sells used and new vinyl records and CDs through seven physical storefronts in Japan and New York City, the facerecords.com e-commerce site, and eBay. The company also runs a nationwide Record and CD Purchasing Service (launched 2011) that acquires pre-owned media via mail-in and on-site visits, and operates Ecostore Records as a sustainability-focused sub-brand promoting reuse and recycling of vinyl records and CDs.

Product overview

FTF Inc. operates a multi-location record retail business primarily under the Face Records brand, encompassing physical stores in major Japanese cities (Shibuya, Miyashita Park, Sapporo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Fukuoka) and New York City, plus an online e-commerce shop. The company also runs Ecostore as a sustainability-focused sub-brand promoting reuse/recycling of media. Core offerings include domestic and imported vinyl records and CDs, in-store DJ events, cultural collaborations (e.g., Fred Perry partnerships), and a nationwide purchasing service for pre-owned records and CDs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Face Records: Record store chain operating multiple locations across Japan (Shibuya, Miyashita, Sapporo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Fukuoka) and in New York City. Sells new and used records, CDs, and related merchandise.
• Ecostore Records (エコストアレコード)

Products and services

• Face Records Retail Chain A chain of vinyl record and CD retail stores operating across Japan (Shibuya, Miyashita Park, Sapporo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Fukuoka) and New York City, specializing in domestic Japanese and imported international records, supported by an online shop at facerecords.com. Targets individual music collectors, enthusiasts, and fashion-culture consumers through in-store events, DJ nights, and cultural collaborations.
• Record and CD Purchasing Service Nationwide purchasing service initiated in 2011 that buys pre-owned vinyl records and CDs from individuals across Japan via mail-in and on-site visits, with the aim of preventing records from being discarded as waste and promoting reuse and recycling.
• Ecostore Records (エコストアレコード)

Quantifiable outcome

• 2451kg of cardboard and paper recycled between May 2014 and August 2019

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fred PerrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFace Records Miyashita store hosted a Fred Perry Amy Winehouse Foundation Collection POP UP event, featuring limited-edition apparel and UK music ambiance. The collaboration included sales of Amy Winehouse LP and 7-inch records.
• VORTEX RECORDSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVORTEX RECORDS founder HAYASSEN was invited to Face Records Kyoto for a popup and in-store event collaboration.
• The LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Library DJ collective was invited to Face Records Shibuya for an in-store DJ event.
• UNIQLO USAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFace Records was featured in UNIQLO USA's 'Good Neighborhood Guide' showcasing recommended local spots in Tokyo.
• DiscogsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFace Records was featured in Discogs media coverage about the Japanese record store scene.
• eco store (ecostorecom.jp)coreOtherseco store is a sister brand under FTF focused on sustainable products and sustainability messaging, sharing the same parent company domain.
• 認定特定非営利活動法人 グッドネーバーズ・エージャパン (Good Neighbors Japan)minorOthersFTF Inc. supports RECORD AID donation activities through Good Neighbors Japan, contributing to charitable causes via record-related initiatives.
• 国境なき医師団日本 (Médecins Sans Frontières Japan)minorOthersFTF Inc. made a donation of 100,000 yen to Doctors Without Borders Japan as part of their social contribution activities.
• オヤイデ電気 (Oyaide Denki)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFace Records participated in OTOTEN 2026 audio exhibition organized by Oyaide Denki, hosting a special record listening experience event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tower Records Japan: Large, established music retailer with a flagship Shibuya store and broad inventory spanning new and used records, CDs, and merchandise. Competes with Face Records in physical music retail but operates a much wider category footprint.
• HMV Japan: Major music and entertainment retailer with physical stores across Japan and a strong online presence. Overlaps with Face Records on record/CD retail but serves a broader entertainment category at greater scale.
• TSUTAYA (Culture Convenience Club): Major Japanese lifestyle retailer combining book, CD, DVD, and video rental under the T-Point ecosystem. Overlaps with Face Records on physical media retail but serves a much broader category set with a loyalty program.

Direct peers

• Rough Trade: Independent record store chain with flagship locations in London and New York, plus e-commerce. Mirrors Face Records' combination of physical retail, online sales, and cultural-event programming.
• RECOfan: Japanese used-record and CD retail chain operating stores across the country with a strong buying program. Closely parallels Face Records' nationwide purchasing service and physical storefront strategy.
• Amoeba Music: Iconic independent record store chain on the U.S. West Coast known for massive used-vinyl selection. Directly comparable on used-record retailing, large physical inventory, and cultural-event programming.
• Diskunion: One of Japan's largest dedicated used record and CD chains, with multiple storefronts across Tokyo and other major cities. Directly comparable to Face Records on used-vinyl/CD retail model, multi-store Japanese footprint, and secondary-market curation expertise.
• Manhattan Records: Specialty used-record store chain in Japan focused on imported jazz, soul, and rock vinyl. Comparable to Face Records on curation-led used-record retailing, with overlapping customer base of serious collectors.

Regional players

• P-Vine Records: Japan-based reissue label and record retailer with a strong catalog of Japanese jazz, soul, and rare vinyl. Adjacent to Face Records through curation of Japanese music culture and online retail of curated vinyl, but operates primarily as a label rather than a multi-store retailer.

Others

• Discogs: Global online marketplace and database for vinyl/CD sales and pricing. Featured Face Records in editorial coverage and represents both a sales channel and a competitive force in used-record price discovery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 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 FTF