Aoyama Shachu
Aoyama Shachu is a Tokyo-based policy advisory and leadership development firm founded in 2010 by former METI official Ichiro Asahina. It serves Japanese politicians, municipalities, and corporations with policy consulting, training programs, and a public-private career matching platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersMinato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aoyama Shachu does
Aoyama Shachu is a privately-held Tokyo-based professional services firm that self-describes as an "action-type think tank" (行動型シンクタンク). Founded on November 15, 2010 by Ichiro Asahina, a former Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) official, the firm is headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo and operates with a lean team of roughly 20 full-time, part-time, and intern members. Its primary clients are Japanese political parties, individual politicians, municipalities, and corporations seeking policy and leadership development support.
The firm's core offerings span four service lines: (i) policy consulting and political support engagements, including advisory to municipalities on regional revitalization (地方創生); (ii) leadership development through the ASLG (Asahina Shachu Leadership Gym) program priced at ¥55,000 per course with bundled packages of ¥220,000–¥308,000, and the multi-year Leader Academy program, which has produced 200+ alumni since inception; (iii) overseas collaboration support; and (iv) a public-private career matching platform that functions as a "revolving door" between government, politics, and the private sector. The firm does not operate a technology product or platform in the conventional SaaS sense — its "platform" is reputational and relational rather than software-based.
Revenue is generated through a combination of engagement-based policy consulting fees, course tuition for ASLG and Leader Academy, and recurring Supporter memberships priced at ¥10,000 per year. The firm is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding rounds or institutional investors. Distribution relies on founder-led media presence, including columns, a YouTube channel, and a recurring forum series, which feeds top-of-funnel demand across all four service lines.
Aoyama Shachu firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aoyama Shachu
- Legal name
- 青山社中株式会社
- Website
- https://aoyamashachu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Aoyama Shachu is a Tokyo-based policy advisory and leadership development firm founded in 2010 by former METI official Ichiro Asahina. It serves Japanese politicians, municipalities, and corporations with policy consulting, training programs, and a public-private career matching platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aoyama Shachu industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Policy Consulting
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Administration of Education Programs (923110)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
Keywords
Where Aoyama Shachu is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minato-ku, Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aoyama Shachu business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Policy Support / Think Tank Services: Fees for policy research, election manifesto creation support, and advisory services to politicians, political parties, government ministries, and local assemblies.
- Leadership Education Programs: Revenue from the Aoyama Shachu Leader Training Program (青山社中リーダー塾) and the Aoyama Shachu Leadership & Public Policy School (ASLG), which includes enrollment fees, course fees, and set discounts. ASLG generates revenue through per-course fees (55,000 JPY per course), enrollment fees (11,000 JPY), and package discounts for 5+ courses.
- Supporter Membership (後援隊): Annual membership fees of 10,000 JPY per year from supporters who receive priority access to events, newsletters, and networking gatherings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 青山社中後援隊 Annual Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | ASLG Individual Course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Aoyama Shachu product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aoyama Shachu is a Tokyo-based policy consulting and leadership development firm that advises political parties, government bodies, municipalities, and corporations on public-policy issues while running educational programs for aspiring political and policy leaders. The company operates the Leader Academy (リーダー塾), the ASLG Public Policy School, a Supporter Membership community, regional revitalization projects, overseas collaboration initiatives, and a career-matching platform that connects individuals with roles in politics and policy.
Product overview
Aoyama Shachu is a multi-service organization operating primarily in Japan, offering policy consulting/thinking tank services, education and leadership development, regional revitalization support, and overseas collaboration services. The core educational offerings include the 青山社中リーダー塾 (Aoyama Shachu Leader Academy), a 5-year intensive leadership development program producing 'shidōsha' (initiating leaders), and 青山社中リーダーシップ・公共政策学校 (ASLG), a public policy school teaching leadership and policy-making. The company provides policy support services to politicians and parties, regional revitalization consulting to local governments, and maintains multiple media channels including the YouTube 青山社中ちゃんねる. Supporting programs include the ぬまた起業塾 entrepreneurship school, 青山社中キャリア career matching platform, and the 青山社中後援隊 membership organization. The company positions itself as an 'action-oriented think tank' that bridges public, private, and civil society sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 青山社中リーダー塾: Leadership development program cultivating 'starters' (leaders who take action for society) through liberal arts and public policy education. Has produced over 200 alumni.
- 青山社中リーダーシップ・公共政策学校 (ASLG)
- 青山社中フォーラム
- ぬまた起業塾
- 青山社中キャリア
Products and services
- Leader Academy (リーダー塾) A flagship leadership-development program that trains aspiring politicians, policy professionals, and businesspeople through structured coursework, mentoring, and practica aimed at producing Japan's next generation of policy leaders.
- ASLG Public Policy School An educational program providing formal public-policy training, designed for participants seeking to deepen expertise in policy analysis, legislation, and government affairs.
- Supporter Membership A paid individual membership program offering supporters access to events, networking opportunities, and program content; serves as a community-building and recurring-revenue channel.
- Policy Consulting Services Advisory and research services provided to political parties, government agencies, municipalities, and corporate clients on policy formulation, analysis, and implementation.
- Regional Revitalization Consulting Project-based consulting engagements with Japanese municipalities and regional bodies to design and execute revitalization programs, including stakeholder coordination and policy support.
- Overseas Collaboration Support Cross-border policy collaboration services that connect Japanese institutions with overseas counterparts, supporting international research, partnerships, and policy exchange initiatives.
- Career Matching Service A placement service connecting individuals with career opportunities in politics, government, and policy-related organizations, leveraging Aoyama Shachu's network of alumni and partner institutions.
Companies that use Aoyama Shachu
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Aoyama Shachu technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Aoyama Shachu partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- むかわ町・大和リース株式会社・青山社中株式会社 包括連携協定coreA four-party comprehensive partnership agreement signed in January 2025 between Mukawan Town, NTT East Japan (Hokkaido Division), NTT LandScape, and Aoyama Shachu Corp. The partnership focuses on regional revitalization, local economic development, and international cooperation for Mukawan Town.
- NEC Corporation (日本電気)minor朝比奈 delivered a lecture and discussion session for NEC employees, reflecting a business-education partnership focused on leadership and public policy awareness.
- Boston Consulting Group (ボストン・コンサルティング・グループ)minorBoth organizations are mentioned in ASLG participant lists. Additionally, BCG has collaborated on policy research and talent exchange, and multiple alumni have backgrounds at both firms.
- Municipality Advisory Roles (地方自治体 advisory)coreAoyama Shachu provides advisory services to over 15 Japanese municipalities (沼田市, 川崎市, 北九州市, むかわ町, 妙高市, 越谷市, 魚津市, 浜松市, 上三川市, 下呂市, 香取市, 三条市, 那須塩原市, 生駒市, 前橋市, 東京都北区, etc.) for regional revitalization, international partnerships, and administrative reform.
- Clean Planet Inc. (株式会社クリーンプラネット)minor朝比奈一郎 serves as an outside director of Clean Planet Inc., a venture company pursuing condensed nuclear fusion (quantum hydrogen energy) for a CO2-free society. 朝比奈 joined as an outside director in April 2021.
- Azusa Audit Corporation (あずさ監査法人)minor朝比奈一郎 serves as an advisor (顧問) to Azusa Audit Corporation, supporting government-civil collaboration initiatives from an audit firm's perspective.
- Japan GR Association (日本GR協会)minorAoyama Shachu's founder helped establish the Japan Government Relations Association (日本GR協会), an organization dedicated to spreading awareness of government relations best practices. 朝比奈 serves as a director of this association.
- Pasona Group (パソナグループ)minor朝比奈 and CMO Tanaka visited Awaji Island to examine Pasona Group's regional revitalization initiatives, indicating a collaborative relationship focused on local economic development models.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aoyama Shachu competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Genron NPO: Japanese non-partisan think tank running high-profile public forums (e.g., Tokyo-Beijing Forum) and policy dialogue initiatives; overlaps with Aoyama Shachu's Forum series and policy-formation support mission.
- PHP Institute (PHP研究所): Long-standing Japanese policy think tank and publishing house founded by Konosuke Matsushita, focused on policy commentary, leadership, and education — closely overlapping Aoyama Shachu's think tank, policy education, and media activities.
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research: Major independent Japanese policy think tank producing policy research and recommendations across domestic and international issues; comparable in operating model to Aoyama Shachu's 'action-type think tank' positioning.
- NIRA (National Institute for Research Advancement / 総合研究開発機構): Established Japanese policy research institute conducting cross-disciplinary policy studies and recommendations; comparable as a domestic think tank providing policy advisory and research services.
- Matsushita Institute of Government and Management (松下政経塾): Japan's premier private leadership and policy education institute, founded by Konosuke Matsushita. Trains aspiring politicians and policy leaders through multi-year residential programs, the most direct comparable to Aoyama Shachu's Leader Academy (リーダー塾) and ASLG.
Regional players
- Pasona Group: Japanese HR services and regional revitalization group actively collaborating with Aoyama Shachu on Awaji Island and other local initiatives; competes for the same municipality-led regional revitalization consulting mandates.
Broad incumbents
- McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting firm with a substantial Japan public-sector practice advising ministries, municipalities, and political stakeholders; an incumbent competitor in the broader policy/management advisory space.
- Hudson Institute: Established US-based policy think tank publishing research and advising policymakers across economic, security, and governance topics; broader international footprint than Aoyama Shachu but operates in the same think tank/policy advisory category.
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global management consultancy mentioned in Aoyama Shachu's ASLG participant lists; competes broadly for government advisory, leadership training, and policy-related engagements from Japanese ministries and municipalities.
Emerging players
- Business Breakthrough University (BBT大学): Japanese online-focused university where Asahina serves as visiting professor; comparable in delivering leadership and policy online education to adult professionals, intersecting with Aoyama Shachu's ASLG course delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aoyama Shachu social profiles
Digital presenceAoyama Shachu financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aoyama Shachu leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Aoyama Shachu funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aoyama Shachu M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aoyama Shachu
What does Aoyama Shachu do?
Aoyama Shachu is a Tokyo-based policy consulting and leadership development firm that advises political parties, government bodies, municipalities, and corporations on public-policy issues while running educational programs for aspiring political and policy leaders. The company operates the Leader Academy (リーダー塾), the ASLG Public Policy School, a Supporter Membership community, regional revitalization projects, overseas collaboration initiatives, and a career-matching platform that connects individuals with roles in politics and policy.
Is Aoyama Shachu a public or private company?
Aoyama Shachu is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aoyama Shachu founded?
Aoyama Shachu was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Aoyama Shachu based?
Aoyama Shachu is headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Aoyama Shachu make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Policy Support / Think Tank Services are the primary driver. The others are leadership Education Programs and supporter Membership (後援隊).
Who are Aoyama Shachu's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Genron NPO, PHP Institute (PHP研究所), Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, NIRA (National Institute for Research Advancement / 総合研究開発機構) and Matsushita Institute of Government and Management (松下政経塾). Pasona Group is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are McKinsey & Company, Hudson Institute and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Business Breakthrough University (BBT大学) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aoyama Shachu have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aoyama Shachu.
What industry is Aoyama Shachu in?
Aoyama Shachu's product category is Policy Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8741.