Event Twenty One Co.

What Event Twenty One Co. does

Event Twenty One Co. (Event21) is a privately held, family-controlled Japanese event services company founded in December 1990 by Takeo Nakano and now led by third-generation President and Representative Director Aiichiro Nakano. Headquartered in Kashiba, Nara, with 14+ owned branches across Japan and an additional Vietnam office (since 2011) plus a planned New York office, Event21 provides nationwide equipment rental, venue setup and teardown, custom signage production using in-house Roland VersaCAMM VP-540 large-format printers, event planning and on-site operations, performer booking, and international export of Japanese traditional goods. The company operates a self-serve e-commerce platform supplemented by inside sales teams at each branch, driving approximately 100 daily inbound inquiries across all 47 Japanese prefectures via a partner-network execution model. Its customer base spans government ministries, universities, broadcasters, automotive OEMs, financial institutions, luxury retailers, and SMEs, with 285,800+ cumulative events supported and a 4.74-star average across 736 reviews.

Revenue is generated through usage-based per-rental pricing for equipment (1–3 day rental periods), one-time fees for product sales and signage production, and professional-services fees for venue setup, planning, and operations; pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed. The company has achieved 10 consecutive years of revenue growth per its own reporting, recorded record-high sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has earned multiple Great Place To Work #1 Japan rankings (small-company overall 2026, women 2026, young employees 2024, Kansai three consecutive years) plus a GPTW Asia #30 (2025) ranking, a D&I Award 2025 with Top Inclusive Company designation, and 'Moni-su' disability-employment certification from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The go-to-market is dominated by a proprietary digital ecosystem of 20+ themed SEO-optimized websites that generate organic inbound demand, supplemented by community events (annual Event21 Festival, Bonbino Nara basketball team sponsorship) and inbound company-visit programs that double as referral and brand-building channels.

Name

Event Twenty One Co.

Legal name

EVENT21 Co., Ltd.

Website

https://event21.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Event Twenty One Co. (Event21) is a privately held Japanese event services company providing nationwide equipment rental, venue setup, custom signage production, and full event planning and operations across all 47 Japanese prefectures, serving government, corporate, university, and SME customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Structures & Temporary Builds (Tents, Domes, Modular Walls, Flooring) (THAHAEAK)

Keywords

• Event equipment rental
• Venue setup services
• Event signage production
• Festival equipment rental
• Event management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nara

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Core revenue driver. Event21 rents out an extensive catalog of event equipment including tents, chairs, tables, stages, audio-visual gear, lighting, generators, signage, furniture, cold storage, air conditioning/heating, exhibition displays, luxury glass cases, festive/matsuri supplies, food service equipment, VR/AR gaming rigs, casino games, instruments, costumes, inflatables, and more. Rental periods are typically 1–3 days per event. Delivery is available nationwide across all 47 prefectures. Discounts for bulk/large orders are offered.
2. Venue Setup and Construction Services: Full-service venue setup and teardown for ceremonies, festivals, exhibitions, sports days, concerts, and more. Services include ceremony plans (groundbreaking, topping-out, ribbon-cutting), festival plans (summer festivals, autumn festivals, bon odori, starry sky theaters), and exhibition plans. Site preparation and logistics managed through a nationwide network of cooperating companies.
3. Signage Production (Sales and Rental): Event21 designs, prints, laminates, and installs custom event signage in-house using Roland VersaCAMM VP-540 large-format printers (max width 1,371mm). Products include banners, backdrops, standing signs, cutting boards, panels, LED panels, acrylic signs, gold signs, title hanging signs, and inflatable signs. Both rental and purchase options are available.
4. Product Sales: Sale of novelty goods (ノベルティ), tablecloths, happi coats, festival lanterns, masu (wooden sake cups), Japanese lanterns, Japanese dolls, Japanese crafts, festival goods, sports day supplies, Christmas items, and seasonal event goods. A dedicated e-commerce platform and 20+ themed websites sell products directly to consumers and businesses domestically and internationally.
5. Event Planning, Operations, and Management: Event21 plans, operates, and manages events end-to-end including audience attraction/support, performer booking, design and promotional page creation, live streaming, casino event planning, jewelry event support, and auction support. Consulting services for corporate event strategy are also offered.
6. International Export (Japanese Products): Sale and export of Japanese-made products to international customers via overseas-facing websites (Arigato! from Japan, Masu Selling Company, Japanese Lantern Selling Company). Products include traditional Japanese items, event goods, stationery, and crafts. Services provided in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Event21 is a Japan-based event services company that rents out event equipment (tents, chairs, tables, stages, audio-visual gear, lighting, signage, festival supplies, VR/AR rigs, etc.) and provides nationwide venue setup, teardown, signage production, event planning, on-site operations, performer booking, and novelty product sales. The company operates a self-serve e-commerce platform and 20+ niche websites serving all 47 Japanese prefectures, with international export of Japanese products via Vietnam office and overseas-facing sites.

Product overview

Event21 is a comprehensive event services company offering an integrated platform of rental equipment, venue setup, signage production, event planning, operations management, and promotional services for all types of events across Japan. Its core offering consists of event equipment rental (chairs, tables, tents, displays, stages, audio/visual, refrigeration, climate control, gaming, VR/AR, and over 100+ equipment categories), venue setup and installation, event signage design and production using in-house Roland printers, full event planning and on-site operations, performer coordination, and event promotion support through its free 'Ibe-katsu' platform. The company operates 24 subsidiary and specialized websites covering niche segments including 竣工式.jp (completion ceremonies), 地鎮祭.jp (ground-breaking rituals), 学園祭ステージ.jp (campus festivals), イベントテント.jp (tent sales), 展示会レンタル施工.jp (exhibition displays), and international export brands such as Masu Selling Company and Arigato! from Japan. Services span all 47 Japanese prefectures with a nationwide partner network, and the company also maintains overseas offices in Vietnam and plans for a New York office. The company holds Great Place to Work certifications and multiple workplace awards including 2024/2025/2026 rankings in Japan's Best Companies to Work For.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Event Equipment Rental Rental of chairs, tables, tents, displays, stages, audio equipment, projectors, refrigeration, climate control units, sports equipment, panels, lighting, exhibition booths, gaming machines, and VR/AR equipment for events, with delivery available nationwide across all 47 prefectures and bulk/large order discounts.
• Venue Setup and Installation On-site venue setup, installation, and teardown services for events including stages, tents, displays, audio/visual equipment, and ceremonial setups across all 47 prefectures of Japan, executed by experienced in-house setup crews.
• Event Signage Production Custom design and production of event signs including inkjet signboards, banners, backdrops, standing signs, cutting boards, panels, LED panels, acrylic signs, gold signs, title hanging signs, and inflatable signs, with both rental and purchase options.
• Event Planning Full event planning and design services for all types of events, from small gatherings to large-scale public events, including theme development, concept design, audience attraction support, performer booking, and promotional page creation.
• Event Operations Management On-site event management and operations including MC services, staff coordination, audience management, live streaming, casino event planning, jewelry event support, auction support, and real-time event execution support.
• Novelty and Promotional Items Sale of novelty items, promotional goods, and commemorative products used at events including happi coats, table runners, festival lanterns, masu (wooden sake cups), Japanese lanterns, Japanese dolls, and seasonal event merchandise.
• Performer Introduction Service Introduction and coordination of event performers including magicians, balloon artists, musicians, and other entertainers for events.
• Event Promotion and Ibe-katsu Listing Platform Free event promotion platform called Ibe-katsu (イベ活。) enabling event organizers to create and publish event announcement pages, combined with customer acquisition support services.
• Event Merchandise Sales Sale of event equipment and supplies including chairs, tables, tents, stage equipment, festival goods, and event-related consumables for purchase.
• Nationwide Event Venue Search Search platform for event venues across Japan, helping customers find and book suitable locations for their events.
• International Export of Japanese Products (Arigato! from Japan) Sale and export of Japanese-made products including masu cups, Japanese lanterns, Japanese handicrafts, event goods, stationery, and crafts to international customers via overseas-facing websites, with services provided in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai.
• Masu Selling Company (Japanese Wooden Cup Exports) International export brand selling traditional Japanese masu (wooden sake cups), Japanese lanterns, Japanese handicrafts, and event merchandise to overseas customers.
• Corporate Event Consulting Consulting services for corporate event strategy, including recommendations and design proposals for internal corporate events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 285,800+ events successfully supported (historical total)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers157 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 奈良教育大学 (Nara University of Education)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Event21 has been conducting regular meetings since several months prior to July 2026 for the planning of a 'Nara Education Festival (奈良学育フェス)' event at Nara University of Education. CEO Aiichiro Nakano attended a planning meeting and networking dinner at the university on July 1, 2026. This represents an ongoing community engagement and regional contribution partnership.
• フリー・ザ・チルドレン・ジャパンの donation recipientminorOthers · 3 June 2026The 162nd donation through Event21's 'you happy, we happy!' CSR support program was made to Free the Children Japan (フリー・ザ・チルドレン・ジャパン) on June 3, 2026. The program has donated to 148 organizations total as of the reporting date.
• 株式会社ステップ (KK Step)minorOthersKK Step is a group company within the Event21 corporate group, listed alongside other affiliates (Sorawill, Topsplan, R&R Rental Onomichi) on Event21's official website. No specific partnership details or product/service relationship described beyond group affiliation.
• 株式会社ソラウィル (Sorawill)minorOthersSorawill is listed as a group company within the Event21 corporate group. Listed with contact number 0120-021-218 and shown at the same Kashiba address as the Nara HQ on the main website's group company section.
• 有限会社トップスプラン (Topsplan)minorOthersTopsplan is a group company listed under the Event21 Group. Located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (022-372-5171), it extends Event21's geographic coverage in the Tohoku region.
• 有限会社理興 R&Rレンタル尾道 (R&R Rental Onomichi)minorOthersR&R Rental Onomichi is a group company listed under the Event21 Group. Located in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture (0848-20-3270), extending Event21's coverage in the San'in/Chugoku region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• EventRegist Inc. Japan-focused event registration, ticketing, and event-management platform with a strong SMB and individual-organizer customer base. EventRegist is an adjacent / enabling player — not a direct competitor for rental/setup — but increasingly bundles event services and represents the digital direction the broader event-services market is moving toward.

Emerging players

• PRG (Production Resource Group): World's largest live-event production services company, providing AV, lighting, staging, rigging, and event structures globally. PRG is the international benchmark for the production-services layer where Event21 competes; it represents both a competitive threat (if PRG enters Japan further) and a strategic comparison point for international expansion ambitions.
• Freeman: Leading global event services and exhibition contractor providing event design, AV, signage, logistics, and on-site execution for trade shows and corporate events. Freeman is a relevant international peer for Event21's exhibition-rental and event-execution business, particularly as Event21 looks to scale cross-border.

Direct peers

• Hibino Corporation: Japan's leading audiovisual, staging, and lighting rental/production company for live events, concerts, exhibitions, and corporate functions. Hibino is a direct peer in the event production / technical services layer where Event21 also operates (AV, lighting, staging).
• Dai Nippon Printing (DNP): Diversified printing and information-communications conglomerate with a large event-related signage, display, and exhibition-construction business. DNP overlaps with Event21 in custom signage production, large-format printing, and exhibition booth services for major trade shows and corporate events.
• Toppan Holdings: Major Japanese printing and communications group with a significant event-solutions and signage business, including exhibition displays, event materials, and spatial design. Toppan competes with Event21 in signage production and exhibition rentals, especially for enterprise clients.
• TKP Corporation: Japan's largest dedicated meeting and event-venue operator, providing event space rentals, catering, and on-site event services nationwide. TKP is the closest large-scale direct peer to Event21, with a comparable nationwide footprint and full-service event offering — but TKP owns/operates venues while Event21 services them.
• Festal Co., Ltd. Japan's largest event-staffing and event-operations company, supplying promoters, MCs, models, and on-site staff for exhibitions, sports events, and corporate functions. Festal is a direct peer in the event-operations and execution layer that complements Event21's setup and rental business.

Broad incumbents

• JTB Corporation: Japan's largest travel agency and a major MICE/event organizer handling corporate meetings, incentive trips, conferences, and exhibitions. JTB is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Event21 across corporate event services, though JTB's scope (travel + events) is much wider and includes venue sourcing and travel logistics beyond Event21's core.
• KNT-CT Holdings (Kinki Nippon Tourist): Major Japanese travel agency group with an established corporate event, MICE, and convention business. KNT-CT overlaps with Event21 in corporate and educational event execution but operates at larger scale and broader geographic reach across travel-related services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eventtwentyone
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/event21movie
• Facebookfacebook.com/株式会社イベント21-235428413173980
• Instagraminstagram.com/event21.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Event Twenty One Co.