JP UNIVERSE

What JP UNIVERSE does

JP UNIVERSE is a Tokyo-based game technology company founded in February 2022 by Hajime Tabata (田畑端), the former director of Final Fantasy XV, with operations spanning 11–50 employees and a group structure comprising JP GAMES (2018), JP UNIVERSE (2022), Logsys (2022), and SA GAMES Inc. (2025, Riyadh). The company is building an interconnected product portfolio anchored by Ryugukoku (竜宮国), a user-generated-content RPG platform that re-imagines Japan as a parallel fantasy world of 47 AI-governed prefectures, and OwnWorld, the proprietary AI World RPG engine that powers Ryugukoku and is licensed to third-party developers. The technology stack includes the prior-generation PEGASUS WORLD KIT middleware with RIV TECHNOLOGY for photo-to-metaverse conversion, and the MULTI MAGIC PASSPORT self-sovereign identity wallet developed by subsidiary Logsys with investment from JCB and MUFG.

The business model is multi-stream: (1) marketplace commissions from a UGC creator economy inside Ryugukoku, (2) co-developed consumer applications on a freemium/item-purchase basis (e.g., MILAND with Mitsubishi Motors, はまペンRap Maker with Yokohama Bank), (3) OwnWorld/PWK middleware licensing to third-party developers, and (4) professional services and co-development revenue from enterprise and government clients. Go-to-market is hybrid: B2C/B2C2X distribution via iOS/Android app stores combined with B2B enterprise field sales, evidenced by direct partnerships with JR West, Tokyo Metro, Mitsubishi Motors, Toppan Printing, and the Saudi MISA ministry. The company's strategic positioning targets regional revitalization in Japan, cross-platform Creator Economy 2.0 (with pixiv/VRoid and Niconico), and Saudi-original game development for the MENA market under Saudi Vision 2030. The flagship Ryugukoku consumer platform remains pre-launch with a beta scheduled for 2026.

Name

JP UNIVERSE

Legal name

JP UNIVERSE株式会社

Website

https://jpuniverse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JP UNIVERSE is a Tokyo-based game technology company building Ryugukoku, a UGC RPG platform of 47 AI-governed Japanese prefectures, and OwnWorld, its AI World RPG engine, targeting consumers, enterprises, and municipalities for gamified commerce and regional revitalization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Commerce / UGC Economy: Users create and sell content (characters, costumes, spaces, items) within the 竜宮国 platform, generating a creator economy where creative output directly translates into in-platform economic activity. Companies and municipalities can also promote real-world products and services within the game space.
2. Platform Subscription / Premium Access: While the core 竜宮国 platform targets broad user adoption, premium features and experiences may be offered on a subscription or premium tier basis for enhanced gameplay and creator tools.
3. Co-developed Enterprise Applications (Item-based): Revenue from co-development projects with enterprise partners (e.g., MILAND with Mitsubishi Motors, はまペンRap Maker with Yokohama Bank) generates income through app-based item purchases and potentially licensing of co-developed technology.
4. OwnWorld Middleware Licensing: The OwnWorld AI World RPG engine is licensed to other developers and enterprises for game and metaverse creation, serving as a B2B revenue stream targeting Asian regional markets.
5. Professional Services & Co-development: JP UNIVERSE provides game development, platform customization, and production services to enterprise and institutional clients (education, government, corporates) as a professional services revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JP UNIVERSE is a game tech company that develops and operates the Ryugukoku (竜宮国) UGC RPG platform—a parallel-world Japan where 47 AI-governed prefectures function as fantasy nations—and the proprietary OwnWorld AI World RPG engine, which underpins the platform and is also licensed to third-party developers. The company co-develops branded consumer applications with enterprise partners (MILAND with Mitsubishi Motors, はまペンRapメーカー with Yokohama Bank), and provides professional services, middleware licensing, and a creator economy infrastructure for enterprise, government, and education customers.

Product overview

JP UNIVERSE operates a portfolio of interconnected products anchored by the core UGC RPG platform 竜宮国 (Ryugukoku) — a "parallel world of Japan" where users act as creators within 47 AI-powered prefectures — and the AI World RPG engine OwnWorld, which serves as the foundational technology enabling both Ryugukoku and third-party creator applications. The product ecosystem extends through the middleware platform PEGASUS WORLD KIT (PWK) for RPG/metaverse development, the avatar-ID wallet MULTI MAGIC PASSPORT (MMP) for cross-platform identity and credential management, and a set of co-developed applications including MILAND (virtual car lifestyle with Mitsubishi Motors), はまペンRapメーカー (generative AI rap app with Yokohama Bank), and めざせ！Speak UP Stadium (AI-powered educational speaking companion with Alba-Edu). Ryugukoku's creator economy is further integrated with external platforms such as pixiv's VRoid (3D avatar interoperability) and OpenSea (NFT marketplace for MILAND vehicles).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 竜宮国: 日本をモチーフとしたAIワールドRPGプラットフォーム。「もうひとりの日本をつくるゲーム」として日本神話をモチーフにした47のAI国家にプレイヤーが国民として転生する。
• OwnWorld
• RAID

Products and services

• Ryugukoku (竜宮国) A UGC (User Generated Content) RPG platform that transforms Japan into a parallel fantasy world. Players become creators building characters, towns, stories, and items within a Japanese-mythology-based RPG featuring 47 AI-powered prefectures, enabling a creator economy integrated with corporate promotion and regional revitalization. Targeted at individual consumers/creators and enterprise/government partners.
• OwnWorld An AI-powered World RPG development engine that supports world, character, and narrative creation for Ryugukoku. It accelerates professional-grade game development while enabling non-professionals to create their own game worlds, serving as the foundational technology for Ryugukoku and third-party creator platforms. Targeted at game developers, enterprise creators, and education users.
• MILAND (ミランド) A virtual car lifestyle smartphone app co-developed with Mitsubishi Motors, enabling users to virtually own, customize, and drive cars in a metaverse-like space while connecting with friends. Vehicles can be NFT-ified and traded on OpenSea. Built on the OwnWorld middleware. Targeted at Gen Z users and Mitsubishi Motors' prospective customers.
• はまペンRapメーカー (Hama-Pen Rap Maker) A generative AI entertainment app co-developed with Yokohama Bank that auto-generates original rap music from user-provided images and arbitrary text inputs. Generated videos can be saved and shared on social media. Available free on iOS and Android. Targeted at general consumers and prospective Yokohama Bank customers.
• めざせ！Speak UPスタジアム (AI Partner for Education) An AI-powered educational app co-developed with Alba Edu that serves as a speaking-skills training partner for children, featuring continuous questioning and positive reinforcement. Targeted at educational institutions, teachers, and students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 竜宮国 ranked #23 in Nikkei Trendy's 2026 Hit Predictions, recognizing it as a next-generation platform connecting game worlds with real economies.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• 日本ジオパークネットワーク (Japan Geopark Network / JGN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Comprehensive partnership agreement signed April 2026 to launch Japan's first 'Real Adventure RPG' regional revitalization project in the Shimabara Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark. Children create RPG quests based on local discovery, which accumulate in 竜宮国. The project aims to expand to all 48 Japanese geoparks nationally. Partners include the Shimabara Peninsula Tourism Geopark Council and Smart Health Net.
• 西日本旅客鉄道株式会社 (JR West)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Strategic alliance signed in March 2026 for regional revitalization using 竜宮国. The partnership aims to create a co-creation-type social issue resolution platform where users, enterprises, and municipalities collaborate on regional revitalization through the game. First pilot region is Tottori Prefecture, planned for 2026. JR West brings its extensive rail network and community touchpoints; JP UNIVERSE provides the 竜宮国 platform with UGC mechanics and game commerce capabilities.
• 株式会社ドワンゴ / ニコニコ (Dwango / Niconico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2025Strategic collaboration announced at TGS2025 alongside ピクシブ. The three companies (pixiv, Niconico, JP UNIVERSE) jointly presented the 'Creator Economy 2.0' vision — a cross-platform creator economy that transcends individual platform boundaries, enabling creators to circulate content and value across multiple ecosystems.
• サウジアラビア投資省 (MISA — Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025MOU signed in September 2025 for long-term strategic investment and cooperation in Saudi-original game development. The partnership aims to position Saudi Arabia as a game development hub in the MENA region and globally, supporting Saudi Vision 2030. JP UNIVERSE established SA GAMES Inc. in Riyadh as the development hub for Saudi-original games incorporating Saudi culture. The signing took place at the Japan-Saudi EXPO Investment Forum during Osaka/Kansai Expo 2025.
• 流通経済大学 (Ryutsu Keizai University)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2025Educational partnership agreement signed July 2025 for gamification-based human resource development. 流通経済大学 introduced JP UNIVERSE's game development tools to all students across disciplines, enabling them to build domain-specific games and develop AI/DX skills. 竜宮国 is used as a practical learning environment. The university aims to cultivate talent equipped for the AI society.
• 株式会社横浜銀行 (Yokohama Bank)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Co-development partnership for はまペンRap Maker, a generative AI entertainment app that allows users to create original rap music from photos and text inputs. The free app targets consumer engagement and financial literacy promotion, available on iOS and Android.
• 三菱自動車工業株式会社 (Mitsubishi Motors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025Co-development partnership for MILAND, a virtual car lifestyle app targeting Gen Z. The app allows users to virtually own cars, customize them, and enjoy social driving experiences. Built using the OwnWorld middleware on smartphones, it enables Mitsubishi Motors to reach non-car-owning young consumers through immersive digital experiences. The app includes NFT vehicle ownership support via OpenSea.
• 東京地下鉄株式会社 (Tokyo Metro)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2025XR domain business partnership established in February 2025. The companies combine Tokyo Metro's subway network assets, IP, and in-house development talent with JP UNIVERSE's game and immersive content technology and UX capabilities. Goals include creating digital content of Tokyo Metro facilities and vehicles, developing customer-facing digital experience content, producing original 3D CG data, and supporting business transformation through XR.
• ピクシブ株式会社 (pixiv)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 August 20243D avatar interoperability agreement between pixiv's VRoid platform (460,000+ accounts) and JP UNIVERSE's RAID platform. pixiv provides VRoid SDK to RAID's studio service; JP UNIVERSE provides RAID studio services free to pixiv users. This enables 3D avatar portability from the 2D pixiv ecosystem into JP UNIVERSE's 3D gaming/metaverse spaces, expanding the creator economy into three dimensions.
• アルバ・エデュ (Alba Edu)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2024Joint development partnership for an AI Partner educational app 'めざせ！Speak UP|stadium' that helps children develop speaking skills. JP UNIVERSE provides AI application development expertise; アルバ・エデュ contributes its teaching methodology of continuous questioning and positive reinforcement. This is a PoC (Proof of Concept) project aimed at reducing teacher workload while increasing student engagement.
• 成城大学 (Seijo University)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2024Research and education cooperation agreement signed January 2024 with Seijo University's Data Science Education Research Center. JP UNIVERSE provided PWK and RIV TECHNOLOGY technical support for a Project-Based Learning (PBL) course where students created a 3D campus digital space to learn about Man'yōshū poetry. Additional workshops and educational lectures have been conducted.
• 株式会社竹中，工務店 (Takenaka Corporation)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023Participating enterprise in the Japan Metaverse Economic Zone (JMEZ) proof-of-concept experiment (December 2023), exploring how architectural and construction products can be experienced within the 竜宮国 virtual space. This is part of a broader JMEZ consortium involving multiple major Japanese corporations.
• 株式会社TSIホールディングス (TSI Holdings)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023Participating enterprise in the JMEZ proof-of-concept experiment (December 2023), exploring fashion and apparel product experiences within 竜宮国. Part of the broader JMEZ consortium of ~10 major Japanese corporations.
• ヤマハ株式会社 (Yamaha)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023Participating enterprise in the JMEZ proof-of-concept experiment (December 2023), exploring musical instrument and audio product experiences within 竜宮国. Part of the broader JMEZ consortium.
• 凸版印刷株式会社 (Toppan Printing / Toppan Digital)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2023Capital and business partnership established in April 2023. Toppan Printing (and its subsidiary Toppan Digital) is both a major shareholder and a strategic partner. The companies are developing interoperability between Toppan's MiraVerse business metaverse platform and RYUGUKOKU, and providing JP UNIVERSE's PEGASUS WORLD KIT to add gamification elements to MiraVerse. The goal is to promote industry metaverse adoption and develop a metaverse interconnection infrastructure connecting both companies' platforms for domestic enterprise customers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jp-universe-guitar-tuition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

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 JP UNIVERSE