puzzle inc.

What puzzle inc. does

puzzle inc. is a Tokyo-based B2B creative production agency founded in 2006 that produces integrated advertising, digital, and experiential content for large Japanese and global brands. The company operates as a project-based professional services firm, generating revenue through fees negotiated per engagement based on scope, team, and deliverables, and acquiring new clients via an in-house field sales team and referrals from major advertising agencies including Dentsu, Dentsu Digital, ADK Marketing Solutions, and Yomiuri Advertising Agency. Its client roster spans FMCG (Meiji, Sapporo Beer, Kirin, Lotte, Ajinomoto), cosmetics (Shiseido, Fancl), apparel and retail (Uniqlo), automotive (Honda), aviation (Japan Airlines), electronics (Sony), gaming and entertainment (Bandai Namco, Warner Music Japan), and telecommunications (NTT Docomo).

Its core services cover web production, interactive content development, motion graphics, video production, event-based digital experiences, and AI-powered interactive content, built on a technology stack of HTML/CSS/JavaScript, PHP/Python/Ruby, and MySQL, supplemented by applied AI capabilities. The company has developed proprietary tools including the KINOTAKE MOTHER facial-image preference prediction system for Meiji, the 渋viewer (Shibuya Viewer) urban documentation platform, the uno SOCIAL BARBER deep-learning personality classifier for Shiseido, and the custom Puzzle Gothic typeface. Notable deliverables include the UNIQLO CALENDAR (Cannes Lions Gold 2010), GREEN NAME for Kirin (2+ million personalized animations), JAL SKY MUSEUM, the PAC-MAN playable MV for Bandai Namco's 45th anniversary, and YEBISU brand site for Sapporo Beer.

In November 2025, puzzle inc. transferred its production business to ITOCHU INTERACTIVE CORP., a digital marketing subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation, and now operates as the Puzzle Division within ITOCHU Group. Following this transition, the company is pursuing expansion from one-off advertising commissions into continuous customer experience design and productized AI-driven content platforms. The firm has accumulated 200+ million views and hundreds of award recognitions across Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clio, ADC, Spikes Asia, and ACC, establishing international brand recognition as a specialty creative production studio.

Name

puzzle inc.

Legal name

株式会社パズル

Website

https://puzzle-inc.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

puzzle inc. is a Tokyo-based B2B creative production agency founded in 2006, now operating as the Puzzle Division of ITOCHU INTERACTIVE CORP., producing award-winning web, video, interactive, and AI-powered content for major Japanese and global brands such as Meiji, Uniqlo, Sony, and JAL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya, Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Creative Production Services: Project-based creative production services for advertising and digital content. The company handles end-to-end production from planning through delivery, covering web, video, graphics, and events for enterprise clients and brands. Revenue is generated through project fees tied to specific deliverables, timelines, and scale.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

puzzle inc. provides project-based creative production services for advertising and digital content. The studio handles end-to-end production from planning through delivery, covering web, video, motion graphics, interactive experiences, AI-powered content, and event-based digital activations for enterprise brands. Work is delivered either directly to brand clients or through referrals from major advertising agencies.

Product overview

puzzle inc. is a creative production company that offers a diverse portfolio of advertising and digital content services, including Web content production, video/movie creation, graphic design, interactive experiences, and event production. The company operates as a project-based production studio rather than a traditional SaaS product company. Notable products include 涩viewer (urban documentation platform), KINOTAKE MOTHER (AI preference system), PAC-MAN interactive MV/game content, various brand websites (YEBISU), and AI-powered chatbot experiences. The company works with major Japanese brands and international companies, producing award-winning campaigns across Cannes Lions, D&AD, ADC, Clio Awards, and Spikes Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Website Design and Production End-to-end design, development, and production of brand websites for enterprise clients, including heritage storytelling sites such as the YEBISU brand site for Sapporo Beer and corporate promotional sites such as Takushoku University's OPEN YOUR REAL! platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• GREEN NAME (Kirin) generated over 2 million personalized name animations within the first period after launch
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ITOCHU INTERACTIVE CORP. (伊藤忠インタラクティブ株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025In November 2025, puzzle inc. transferred its production business to ITOCHU INTERACTIVE CORP. (IIC), a digital marketing subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation. The transaction combines puzzle inc.'s creative production capabilities with IIC's 'Design Management' vision and ITOCHU Group's broader digital strategy. puzzle inc. now operates as the 'Puzzle Division' (パズル事業部) within IIC.
• Dentsu Inc. / Dentsu DigitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDentsu and Dentsu Digital serve as primary agency partners commissioning puzzle inc. for creative production on major campaigns. Multiple projects across the portfolio show Dentsu involvement including YEBISU brand site, PAC-MAN MV, WORLD ATHLETICS MOMENTS, and Shiseido projects.
• BASSDRUM Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASSDRUM is a creative production company that collaborates with puzzle inc. on multiple projects. A BASSDRUM-affiliated Technical Director (Nagahora Tatsuki) works on puzzle projects, and BASSDRUM participated in the 'Shibuya Viewer' project as a creative partner.
• Yomiuri Advertising Agency (読売広告社)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYomiuri Advertising Agency served as the agency partner on the Meiji 'KINOTAKE MOTHER' AI preference prediction project.
• CEKAI Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEKAI is a creative agency that collaborates with puzzle inc. on multiple digital content projects including Shiseido's 'Oshaberi Make Diagnosis' and Ajinomoto's 'Umatch' service.
• I&S BBDOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorI&S BBDO served as the agency partner for Fancl's 'MENOPAUSE ACTION' campaign, commissioning puzzle inc. for the digital experience.
• Dentsu Creative X (電通クリエイティブX)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Dentsu Group specialized creative unit that partners with puzzle inc. on projects including the Suntory BOSS 'THE LAST TRAIN' campaign.
• Against DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio collaborating with puzzle inc. on the ONE OK ROCK 20th anniversary MIYASHITA PARK event project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PARTY: Tokyo-based creative production studio that builds integrated digital, interactive, and brand experiences for major Japanese and global brands. Directly comparable to puzzle inc. in service mix, client caliber, and award-driven positioning.
• Bascule Inc. Tokyo creative production studio with similar web/video/interactive focus and a comparable client base of large Japanese enterprises. Direct competitor for the same brand-agency project flow.
• WOW Inc. Tokyo visual design and creative studio producing brand, video, web, and experience design. Comparable in service mix and reliance on enterprise Japanese clients.
• Takram: Tokyo-based design engineering and creative studio delivering digital products, branding, and speculative experiences for enterprise clients. Comparably sized, similarly positioned between strategy, design, and engineering.
• Rhizomatiks: Tokyo creative technology studio producing campaigns, live events, and interactive installations. Comparable in pushing digital-physical creative boundaries for premium Japanese brands.
• SIX Inc. Tokyo creative agency producing digital campaigns, films, and interactive content. Direct peer in same Japanese creative-production tier serving similar brand clients.
• Whatever Co. Tokyo creative agency producing digital campaigns, websites, motion graphics, and interactive content for major Japanese brands. Closely comparable in business model and client roster.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu Inc. Japan's largest advertising agency network and a major client/commissioning source for puzzle inc. Overlaps as a broad incumbent with full-service brand strategy plus production capabilities, but operates at vastly larger scale and as a primary channel partner rather than direct production rival.
• Hakuhodo Inc. One of Japan's largest advertising agencies with significant digital and production capabilities. Competes for the same brand-agency project flow, but as a broader incumbent rather than specialist creative-production shop.
• ADK Holdings: Major Japanese advertising network with integrated creative and content production. Competes for the same pool of brand briefs but operates as a full-service holding group rather than a specialist studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/puzzle_inc_pr
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puzzle-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 puzzle inc.