What Aqualine does

Aqualine Ltd. (株式会社アクアライン) is a Japanese water-services company founded in November 1995 in Hiroshima and publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under ticker 6173 since August 31, 2015. The company's core operations center on 24/7 nationwide emergency plumbing repair under the Suidoya Honpo (水道屋本舗) and Oyujisuidouya (お急ぎ水道屋) brands, alongside renovation services, water dispenser sales, and emergency storage water. Following an August 2021 administrative disposition from Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency, Aqualine transitioned from a direct-service provider to a franchise-support model (水まわりサービス支援事業) in which franchisees deliver repair services nationwide while the parent operates the call center, brand, and franchise infrastructure.

The company's second pillar is a consumer and B2B water-products business built around the aqua aqua natural mineral water brand (non-heated alkaline ion water sourced from 300m underground springs in Kanagi-cho, Shimane Prefecture, hardness 40-50, pH 8.2-8.4, 2013 Monde Selection Gold Award) and the aquad private-brand mineral water service for corporate clients such as Japan Airlines (in-flight), Sophia University, Keio University, and Hotel Gracehill. Distribution channels include fitness gyms, hotels, vending machines, and the AQUAclick e-commerce storefront; B2B referral channels run through partnerships with Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Hiroshima Gas, and Seibu Gas.

Aqualine's go-to-market is dual-track: franchise-led emergency repair for individual consumers and direct enterprise sales for B2B branded water. Headcount as of February 2026 is approximately 52 consolidated employees (down from 256 in 2017), reflecting the franchise-pivot. Revenue has fallen sharply — from approximately ¥45.6B in FY2022 to ¥11.7B in FY2026 — alongside persistent negative EBITDA, operating losses, and net losses. The company is scheduled for delisting from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June 2026 and is concurrently consolidating its Tokyo-area office footprint (Tokyo HQ moved to Yokohama in November 2024, Kasumigaseki office opened August 2025, Yokohama office scheduled to close March 2026).

Name

Aqualine

Legal name

株式会社アクアライン

Website

https://aqualine.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aqualine Ltd. (株式会社アクアライン) is a Japanese water-services company providing 24/7 nationwide emergency plumbing repair through a franchise network, branded mineral water (aqua aqua), and corporate private-brand water (aquad) for hotels, universities, and gas-utility customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hiroshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 水まわりサービス支援事業 (Water Service Support Business): Franchise-based model supporting water emergency repair services under 水道屋本舖 brand. After August 2021 administrative action, transitioned to supporting franchisee businesses rather than direct service provision.
2. Mineral Water Business (aqua aqua): National brand aqua aqua sold at fitness gyms, hotels, vending machines, retail stores. Also available at global mineral water shopping website AQUAclick.
3. Private Brand Mineral Water: Custom-branded mineral water for corporate customers (hotels, universities, events), providing original design bottles with company branding.
4. Storage/Emergency Water: 7-year shelf life natural alkaline storage water for disaster preparedness, sold to households, offices, schools.
5. Water Dispensers: Water dispenser sales and service for homes and businesses.
6. Advertising Media Business: Custom branded water bottles and marketing promotional materials for corporate clients (aquad brand).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aqualine runs a water service support business (水まわりサービス支援事業) that franchisees use to deliver 24/7 emergency plumbing repair nationwide, complemented by an advertising media business that produces and sells the aqua aqua natural alkaline mineral water brand and the aquad corporate private-label water service. Post-2021 the company shifted from direct service provision to franchise support, while continuing mineral water production, water dispenser sales, water-related renovation, and emergency storage water products.

Product overview

Aqualine operates two main business segments: water-related services and advertising media. The service segment includes 水道屋本舗 and お急ぎ水道屋 brands providing 24/7 emergency plumbing repair nationwide, renovation services for residential and commercial properties, and water dispenser services. The advertising media segment centers on aqua aqua mineral water products and aquad private-brand water services for corporate customers, along with the AQUAclick e-commerce platform. The company transitioned from direct service provision to a franchise/partnership model (水まわりサービス支援事業) following a 2021 regulatory action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• aqua aqua: National brand of natural mineral water, non-heated alkaline ion water with hardness 40-50, pH 8.2-8.4, sourced from Kanagi-cho, Shimane Prefecture
• aquad

Products and services

• 水道屋本舗 (Suidoya Honpo) 24/7 emergency water supply repair service for residential customers covering toilets, kitchens, bathrooms, drainage pipes and water heater issues. Operated via franchise network for individual homeowners.

Named customers7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (東京ガス株式会社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 May 2018Business partnership for water emergency repair services. Tokyo Gas provides 'Suntomo Sumai Support' (ずっとも住まいサポート) service to customers, with Aqualine handling water-related emergency response as part of the service package.
• ABEauties Co., Ltd. (株式会社ベアーズ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2017Business委托 contract for water emergency repair services. ABEauties (housekeeping service company) refers water repair needs to Aqualine.
• Hiroshima Gas Co., Ltd. (広島ガス株式会社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 March 2017Water emergency repair service partnership in Hiroshima region. Aqualine provides emergency water repair services for Hiroshima Gas customers.
• Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (大阪ガス株式会社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 May 2016Water emergency repair service partnership covering Osaka and Kansai region (79 cities, 33 towns, 7.252 million customers as of March 2016). Aqualine provides water troubleshooting services for Osaka Gas customers.
• Seibu Gas Co., Ltd. / Seibu Gas Living Co., Ltd. (西部ガス株式会社・西部ガスリビング)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2015Water emergency repair service partnership covering Fukuoka prefecture area (approximately 1.104 million gas customers).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LIXIL Group: Major Japanese manufacturer of plumbing, bathroom, and kitchen fixtures with a broad residential product portfolio. Overlaps with Aqualine's water-related renovation business and water-fixture installation services, but operates as a much larger, multi-brand incumbent.
• Kirin Holdings: Major Japanese beverage company producing mineral water and soft drinks for retail and vending. Comparable to Aqualine's aqua aqua in the Japanese bottled-water market.
• TOTO Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of toilets, washlets, and bathroom fixtures with a global footprint. Overlaps with Aqualine in toilet and bathroom fixture installation and renovation, but as a much larger established brand.
• Suntory Beverage & Food: Major Japanese beverage company producing bottled mineral water alongside soft drinks and tea. Directly comparable to Aqualine's aqua aqua mineral water brand in the Japanese bottled-water retail and vending channel.
• Otsuka Holdings: Japanese beverage and pharmaceutical group producing bottled water and electrolyte drinks (e.g., Pocari Sweat). Comparable to Aqualine's aqua aqua in branded bottled water retail and vending distribution.
• Ito En: Japanese bottled tea and beverage company with a strong mineral water lineup sold through retail and vending. Comparable to Aqualine's aqua aqua in the broader Japanese bottled water and beverage retail channel.

Direct peers

• Cleanup Corporation: Japanese kitchen and bathroom systems manufacturer selling directly into residential renovation and home-build channels. Closely comparable to Aqualine's renovation and water-fixture installation offering.
• Takara Standard: Japanese bathroom and kitchen systems manufacturer with strong dealer and home-renovation channels. Comparable to Aqualine's bathroom renovation and water-fixture replacement services.

Regional players

• Haseko Corporation: Japanese home construction, real estate, and renovation services group serving the domestic residential market. Comparable to Aqualine's water-related renovation and home services segment, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Aqualine