White Ship, Inc.

Name

White Ship, Inc.

Legal name

株式会社ホワイトシップ

Website

https://whiteship.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art-Based Learning and Creativity Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Design & Maker Skills (Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Lettering) (EDAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• Art-based learning
• Creativity development
• Corporate training
• Non-cognitive skills
• Pastel painting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Program Fees: Individual participants pay for course plans (EGAKU BASIC, TOTSUKITOKA) or single-session enrollments via the EGAKU reservation site. Payments are processed via credit card (Visa/MasterCard/American Express). The TOTSUKITOKA course spans multiple sessions over up to 3 years, creating recurring revenue from a single enrollment.
2. Corporate Training Programs: Customized in-house EGAKU programs delivered to enterprise clients, targeting executives, managers, and next-generation leaders. Programs are tailored to organizational objectives and include workshops, team sessions, and follow-up modules. Revenue is derived from program design and facilitation fees, typically as project-based or contract engagements.
3. Art Materials Sales: Proprietary EGAKU art materials (pastels, color paper, frames, fixative spray) are sold exclusively to enrolled EGAKU participants. The EGAKU Art Kit (¥6,600), EGAKU Pastels (¥3,300), color paper set (¥880), and frames (¥1,540) are sold via Square checkout. International shipping available with additional fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

White Ship, Inc. operates the EGAKU® creativity development program, an art-based methodology that uses appreciation of art, creation through pastel drawing, and group dialogue to develop non-cognitive skills such as self-awareness, observation, empathy, and creativity. The program is delivered through monthly open sessions for individual participants (in-gallery at 9201 Gallery or online via Zoom) and customized corporate training programs for enterprises, supported by proprietary EGAKU pastels and original color paper co-developed with Nihon Rikagaku Kogyo.

Product overview

White Ship, Inc. offers EGAKU® as its primary program—an art-based creativity development methodology centered on 'observation,' 'expression,' dialogue, and introspection through art creation. The program is delivered through two main channels: (1) EGAKU® Open Sessions for individuals, available in-person at 9201 Gallery or online via Zoom, and (2) EGAKU® Corporate Solutions for organizational development and leadership training. Supporting products include the EGAKU® Original Pastels (developed with Nihon Rikagaku Kogyo) and the EGAKU® Art Materials Kit. The company also operates 9201 Gallery as a venue for sessions and exhibitions, manages the ongoing Vision Art commissioned artwork project, and hosts regular talk events and collaboration workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EGAKU®: Art-based creative development program using observation, expression, and dialogue to develop non-cognitive skills. Targeted at both individuals and corporate clients.

Products and services

• EGAKU® Open Sessions for Individuals Regularly scheduled art-based learning sessions for individual participants held monthly at 9201 Gallery in Tokyo or online via Zoom. Offered in Japanese and English with single-session, BASIC course (3 sessions over 1 year), and TOTSUKITOKA course (10 sessions over 3 years) options. Designed for adults seeking personal creativity development, self-awareness, and non-cognitive skill building.
• EGAKU® Corporate Solutions Customized organizational development and leadership training programs for enterprises, using the EGAKU art-based methodology to develop non-cognitive skills in employees. Targeted at executives, managers, and next-generation leaders for use cases including leadership development, cross-generational communication, team-building, innovation workshops, and reskilling for the AI era. Delivered to 220+ major Japanese and multinational corporations since 2008.
• EGAKU® Original Pastels Proprietary semi-hard pastels developed specifically for the EGAKU program in collaboration with Nihon Rikagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Features 10 carefully selected colors with professional-grade pigment quality, vibrant pigmentation, and easy blending properties optimized for layering on EGAKU original color paper. Sold as refills for ¥3,300.
• EGAKU® Art Materials Kit Complete set of proprietary art materials required for EGAKU program participation, including EGAKU Original Pastels (10 colors), EGAKU Color Paper Set (12 colors), EGAKU Frame, and fixing spray. Required for TOTSUKITOKA and BASIC course participants. Sold for ¥6,600 via Square checkout with international shipping available.
• Vision Art One-on-one commissioned art project where artist and co-founder Kunihiko Yazawa creates personalized artworks through deep dialogue with individual and organizational clients. Over 500 individuals and organizations have commissioned works since 2002. Featured in 「企業と人材」 (Enterprise and Talent) magazine from 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 220+ major corporations have adopted EGAKU corporate programs since 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 日本理化学工業株式会社 (Nihon Rikagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Nihon Rikagaku Kogyo (Rikagaku) co-developed the proprietary EGAKU Original Pastels with White Ship. After approximately 3 years of development starting from 2019, the custom semi-hard pastels were launched in 2021. The pastels are a key material component of the EGAKU program and represent a core product asset. Rikagaku's CEO Takahisa Oyama has also participated as a gallery talk speaker, and the company is known for pioneering disability-inclusive employment in Japan.
• 株式会社シグマク시스 (Sigmaxyz Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigmaxyz collaborated with White Ship to create 'Vision Forest,' a consulting practice combining EGAKU art-based methodology with management consulting. The collaboration was featured in multiple media outlets (Nikkei Business Online, Toyo Keizai Online) and was the subject of a Harvard Business Review Japan 'Drawing a Leader's Vision' series. Ritsu Saito of Sigmaxyz co-founded the Vision Forest initiative and has been a key collaborator in spreading EGAKU's reach in the corporate sector.
• 、一般社団法人はいlab (ELAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELAB is the affiliated nonprofit spun off from White Ship in 2011 (originally as NPO IOCA) to focus on art-based learning in education. Kimi Hasebe and later Misako Ishii have led ELAB, with Ishii becoming representative director in 2025. ELAB delivers EGAKU-based creative learning programs for children and students, trains teachers, and has secured multiple foundation grants. It operates as a distinct legal entity while maintaining close strategic alignment with White Ship.
• 三菱みらい育成財団 (Mitsubishi Mirai Ikusei Zaidan)supportingOthersMitsubishi Mirai Ikusei Zaidan awarded ELAB a 3-year grant (selected in 2020) and subsequently extended funding as a 'Good Practice' in 2023. The foundation supports ELAB's creative learning programs for children and young people in Japan.
• サントリー「君は未知数」基金 (Suntory 'Kim wa Michisu' Fund)supportingOthersELAB was selected as a recipient of the Suntory 'Kim wa Michisu' Fund in 2025, a grant program supporting innovative social initiatives in Japan.
• Soil Foundation × 神戸市supportingOthersELAB received grant funding from the Soil Foundation × Kobe City collaborative program in 2025 to support its creative learning initiatives in the Kobe area.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Recruit Management Solutions: Recruit Management Solutions is a Japanese subsidiary of Recruit Group focused on HR consulting, organizational development, and corporate training. It is comparable to White Ship as a Japan-based provider of organizational learning and leadership development services to enterprise clients.
• D&AD: D&AD is a UK-based global organization that runs professional development programs, masterclasses, and awards for the creative industries. It is comparable to White Ship as a creative education provider targeting both individuals and corporate clients, though with a broader creative-industry focus.
• Linkage Inc. Linkage is one of Japan's largest corporate training and organizational development firms, serving major Japanese enterprises with leadership, communication, and skill-building programs. It is comparable to White Ship as a B2B corporate training provider in the Japanese market, though with a much broader portfolio of offerings.

Direct peers

• IDEO U: IDEO U is the education arm of design firm IDEO, offering design thinking and creative leadership courses to individuals and organizations. It is directly comparable to White Ship in its use of design/creative thinking as a methodology for developing non-cognitive skills in professionals and corporate teams.
• KaosPilots: KaosPilots is a Denmark-based "creative business school" that trains leaders and entrepreneurs through project-based, arts-infused, and experiential learning. It is comparable to White Ship in its unconventional, creativity-centered approach to leadership and organizational development education.
• Second City Works: Second City Works is the corporate training division of The Second City (the comedy/improv theater), delivering arts-based communication, leadership, and collaboration workshops to enterprises. It is directly comparable to White Ship's use of arts-based methodologies to develop professional soft skills for corporate clients.
• GLOBIS Corporation: GLOBIS is Japan's leading business school and corporate training provider, offering executive education, MBA programs, and management development to individuals and enterprises. It is directly comparable to White Ship as a Japan-based B2B/B2C professional development provider with subscription-style programs and corporate training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WhiteShipInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-ship-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/egaku_lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 White Ship, Inc.