BASSDRUM

What BASSDRUM does

BASSDRUM is a Tokyo-headquartered tech director collective founded in February 2018 by Yoshiaki Kajiyashiki, Qanta Shimizu, and Yuma Murakami. The firm provides technical direction, prototyping, and system integration services for interactive installations, experiential marketing, exhibitions, and digital products, operating as a technical field conductor that bridges creativity and engineering across multidisciplinary projects. BASSDRUM maintains a curated collective of 30+ Tech Directors plus Producers, Project Managers, Sales, PR, and Artist roles, with offices in Tokyo, Kyoto, New York, and Taipei.

The company's core offerings span four service lines: Technical Direction (technical validation, team building, and production leadership for digital creativity projects), New Business Development (prototyping and product co-development as a technical partner), External CTO Services (DX strategy, vendor management, and requirements planning for client companies), and Startup Support (development direction, team building, and long-term technical advisory). Proprietary technical assets include 'ope-app' (an operational tool automating IP scanning, OSC message flow visualization, and failover for exhibition environments), real-time AR composition systems using 60GHz wireless communication (deployed in JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE), and integration platforms bridging controllers, RC cars, and Unity applications (deployed in Ultra Athletic Nagoya). Specialized internal initiatives include XR SQUAD for extended reality projects, Luca (a virtual human artist mascot), and 52BASE (an R&D and co-creation hub opened June 2024-2025).

BASSDRUM operates a project-based professional services model with quote-based pricing tailored to each engagement. Revenue is generated from marquee enterprise clients including Toyota, Panasonic, Warner Bros., Bandai Namco Amusement, NHK, and Tsuburaya Productions, as well as through strategic partnerships with global agencies Dentsu and Hakuhodo. The company has pursued geographic expansion (New York and Taipei at founding, plus the August 2025 jangled nerves cross-border partnership), vertical expansion (ADX joint venture for anime production DX in November 2024), and product diversification (SOLARITA, VirO, State). Recognition includes a 2026 Cannes Lions Bronze Lion, 2024 Clio Silver/Bronze, 2024 ADFEST Grand Prix, 2024 Spikes Asia Silver, 2025 Technical Direction Awards (3 awards), and 2021 Good Design Award.

Name

BASSDRUM

Legal name

BASSDRUM inc.

Website

https://bassdrum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BASSDRUM is a Tokyo-based tech director collective providing technical direction, prototyping, and integration services for interactive installations and digital products, serving global enterprises and startups across automotive, entertainment, media, and broadcasting sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technical Direction Services: BASSDRUM provides technical direction services for creative projects, acting as the technical conductor to oversee diverse technologies and realize client ideas.
2. External CTO Services: Acting as external chief technical officers, they manage project requirements through planning, company DX strategy, and vendor management.
3. Startup Support: Providing development direction, team building, and technical advisory services for early to mid-stage startups, working alongside them long-term until they get listed and beyond.
4. New Business Development: Collaborating in prototyping and development of products, services, and commercial work as a technical partner.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BASSDRUM is a tech director collective that provides technical direction, prototyping, and integration services for interactive installations and digital products. The firm acts as a technical field conductor, leading teams in technical validation, design, facilitation, and production across AR/XR, real-time graphics, projection mapping, and experiential installations. It serves enterprise clients through four service pillars: Technical Direction, New Business Development, External CTO Services, and Startup Support.

Product overview

BASSDRUM is a tech director collective organized around expert technical directors who provide creative technology services. The company functions as a technical field conductor, offering four core service areas: Technical Direction, New Business Development, External CTO Services, and Startup Support. BASSDRUM works alongside production companies and sometimes independently to realize creative and technical projects. The company has also developed specific products including social media platform 'State', virtual office tour system 'VirO', and social fortune-telling service 'SOLARITA'. Internal R&D tools include 'ope-app' for exhibition operations automation. The company has specialized initiatives including XR SQUAD for extended reality projects and ADX for anime industry digital transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ADX: A joint team with sync.dev and Fabrica dedicated to driving digital transformation in Japanese anime production, covering workflow DX, technical infrastructure, cross-industry collaboration, and external CTO services.
• XR SQUAD
• 52BASE

Quantifiable outcome

• JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE achieved 11 days of continuous operation without major incidents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TASKOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025RC car development partner for JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE project. Provided Tech Director Ryota Okiyama and Mechanical Engineer Masaki Sato for RC car development.
• Manufacture Inc. (マニュファクチュア)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025Hardware development and overall technical direction partner for JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE project. Provided Tech Director/Engineer Ryusuke Izumida.
• Pan (汎)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025Hardware development partner for JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE project. Provided Tech Director/Engineer Hiroyuki Hori.
• Fabrica.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025Project management for JMS Toyota CYBER LOVE project. Provided Project Manager Momoka/San (三和 李々花).
• jangled nervescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025European spatial experience design collective. Qanta Shimizu from BASSDRUM appointed as representative for jangled nerves Japan expansion into the Japanese market.
• sync.devcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Visual expression and technology specialist company partnering in the ADX team for anime production DX. Contributes expertise in video, CG, AI development, and R&D.
• Fabrica.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Project management and creative specialists partnering in the ADX team. Contributes expertise in large-scale production and agile project management for anime production DX.
• Tsuburaya ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Content advisor for Ultra Athletic Nagoya project. Provided Ultraman character licensing and creative guidance for the attraction development.
• Midgetty Engineering (ミゼット工業)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2024Battery-powered car manufacturer for Ultra Athletic Nagoya. Collaborated on sensor placement design for Space Patrol attraction.
• AID-DCC Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page, indicating ongoing collaborative relationship in creative technology projects.
• Airporter Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page, indicating ongoing collaborative relationship.
• AJINOMOTOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page, indicating collaborative projects in food technology or branded experiences.
• Cork Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• COTODAMA Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• DENTSU INC.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Japanese advertising agency listed as a core partner. Dentsu is one of Japan's largest advertising agencies with global operations.
• FICC Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• GEEK PICTURES INC.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• HAKUHODO Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Japanese advertising agency (Hakuhodo) and its DX division (Hakuhodo DXD) listed as core partners. Hakuhodo is one of Japan's largest ad agencies.
• Hakuhodo Product's Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• NextminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• puzzle inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• PYRAMID FILM QUADRA INC.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• Ritsumeikan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner on BASSDRUM's About page. Collaborated on the world's first cyber campus using Miro at Ritsumeikan University.
• TAIYO KIKAKU Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• TOMY Company, Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page.
• Best In Class Producers Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page. Host joint seminars together (BASSDRUM×BICP joint seminars).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PARTY: Tokyo creative agency/collective that develops brand campaigns, interactive experiences, and digital products. Comparable as a Japanese creative-tech peer competing for similar enterprise experiential and innovation budgets.
• Takram: Tokyo design and innovation firm working at the intersection of technology, design, and business. Comparable for its focus on tech-driven concept-to-prototype work and external advisory engagements for enterprises.
• teamLab: Tokyo-headquartered digital art collective that produces large-scale immersive installations and interactive experiences. Closest comparable: also a Japan-rooted tech-led creative collective that monetizes through exhibitions, brand experiences, and live events rather than traditional agency retainers.
• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multidisciplinary studio specializing in immersive entertainment environments, projection mapping, and experiential installations globally. Directly comparable: same niche (large-scale immersive tech direction) and similar project-based B2B model serving entertainment and brand clients.
• WOW (Visual Design Studio): Tokyo-based visual design and creative technology studio producing projection mapping, interactive installations, and brand experiences. Closely aligned with BASSDRUM's Tokyo creative-tech production services and similar enterprise client base.
• jangled nerves: German spatial experience design collective that produces exhibitions, museums, and brand experiences. Already a partner (BASSDRUM's Qanta Shimizu represents jangled nerves in Japan); directly comparable as a peer collective with similar technical direction capabilities.

Others

• TASKO: Japanese hardware/RC car development firm that partnered with BASSDRUM on the Toyota CYBER LOVE project. Comparable as an implementation partner delivering hardware-adjacent capabilities BASSDRUM orchestrates.
• AID-DCC Inc. Listed as a partner company on BASSDRUM's About page. Comparable as a creative technology collaborator in the same Japanese ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• DENTSU GROUP: Japan's largest advertising agency group and one of BASSDRUM's core partners. Broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise experiential budgets but at vastly larger scale and with a much wider service portfolio.
• Hakuhodo DY Holdings: Major Japanese advertising agency group (Hakuhodo + Hakuhodo DY Media Partners + Hakuhodo DXD) and BASSDRUM partner. Incumbent that occasionally in-houses creative-tech direction but primarily outsources to specialists like BASSDRUM.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bassdrum_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrmGchh1EWPkJb-CV-Pm03Q?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/BASSDRUM.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bassdrum-org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 BASSDRUM