What 4X does

4X Corp. (株式会社４Ｘ / Kabushiki Kaisha 4X) is a Tokyo-headquartered B2B marketing and communications company that operates as the consolidated marketing-services arm of Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd., holding 100% ownership with a registered capital of 20 million JPY. The entity was formed on October 1, 2025, through the merger of four Asahi Shimbun Group subsidiaries — Asahi Interactive (朝日インタラクティブ), Asahi Digital Lab (朝日デジタルラボ), Somewrite (サムライト), and DEC Management Office (DECマネジメントオフィス) — combining specialized expertise in interactive media, digital innovation, content marketing, and corporate support into a single "companion-type communication company" serving enterprise clients.

The company's offering is organized into four service pillars: MEDIA & LEAD (owned-media operations and lead-generation hub across six consumer-facing web properties — CNET Japan, ZDNET Japan, CNN.co.jp, Newton Hub, Tetsudo.com, and bouncy); MARKETING SOLUTIONS (content-driven strategy and execution across owned media, SNS, and video); BRAND COMMUNICATION (CI/VI design, advertising creative, and event-driven brand expression); and DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (video production and website/LP planning, implementation, and optimization). Revenue is generated through professional-services engagements (brand strategy consulting, article advertising, video production, event planning/operations) and media advertising across the owned web properties.

4X operates a sales-led, direct-to-enterprise GTM motion with regional focus on Japan's Kanto region, distributing its services through multiple service-category inquiry forms and direct consultation. The company holds JIPDEC Privacy Mark certification, signaling compliance with Japanese personal data handling standards expected by enterprise clients. As of the most recent input, no revenue figures, customer logos, funding rounds, or AI/ML capability disclosures are publicly available; the company continues to receive inquiries via the legacy constituent companies' contact channels during a transition period.

Name

4X

Legal name

株式会社４Ｘ (Kabushiki Kaisha 4X)

Website

https://4x-corp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

4X is a Tokyo-based B2B marketing communications company, wholly owned by Asahi Shimbun, formed by merging four group subsidiaries. It provides integrated brand strategy, content marketing, digital implementation, and operates six major Japanese web media properties for enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing & Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI)

Keywords

• Integrated marketing services
• Brand communication strategy
• Content marketing production
• Digital advertising solutions
• Owned media operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Strategy Consulting: Strategic consulting services for brand development, CI/VI design, and integrated communication planning.
2. Advertising and Content Production: Revenue from article advertising, video production, advertising creative production, and event support services.
3. Media Advertising: Revenue from advertising placements across owned media properties including CNET Japan, ZDNET, CNN Japan, Newton Hub, Tetsudo.com, and bouncy.
4. Marketing Support Services: Digital and offline marketing support services including lead generation and event planning/operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

4X provides B2B marketing and communication services for enterprise clients, organized into four pillars: MEDIA & LEAD (owned media operation and lead generation hub), MARKETING SOLUTIONS (content-driven strategy and execution across owned media, SNS, and video), BRAND COMMUNICATION (CI/VI design, advertising creative, and event-based integrated communication), and DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (video and web/LP planning, implementation, and operational improvement). The company also operates six established Japanese web media properties (CNET Japan, ZDNET Japan, CNN.co.jp, Newton Hub, Tetsudo.com, bouncy) that serve both as content platforms and advertising inventory.

Product overview

4X is a companion-type communication company offering an integrated portfolio of marketing and communication services. The company provides four core service pillars: MEDIA & LEAD (self-operated media management and lead generation), MARKETING SOLUTIONS (content-driven strategy and execution), BRAND COMMUNICATION (brand-centered integrated communication design), and DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (video and web implementation and improvement). The company operates multiple Japanese web media properties including CNET Japan, ZDNET Japan, CNN.co.jp, Newton Hub, 鉄道coma, and bouncy, which serve both as content platforms and marketing solution assets for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEDIA & LEAD Self-operated media management and lead generation hub. Designs media strategy and lead generation centered on ID and communication, supporting customer understanding and relationship building to create touchpoints that serve as the starting point for marketing. Targeted at enterprise B2C clients seeking owned-media-driven demand generation.
• MARKETING SOLUTIONS Content-driven strategic design and execution. Digital marketing that co-creates with clients from strategy through execution, contributing to results through owned media, SNS, and video. Targets enterprise B2C brands seeking integrated content marketing support.
• BRAND COMMUNICATION Brand-centered integrated communication design. Supports multi-faceted expression of corporate brand identity through CI/VI design, advertising creative, and events, building relationships between brands and society. Targeted at enterprise clients requiring brand strategy and integrated communication.
• DIGITAL SOLUTIONS Video and web-focused digital implementation and improvement. Includes video solutions leveraging media operation knowledge, and comprehensive support for website and LP operation and improvement phases from planning through implementation. Targeted at enterprise clients requiring digital execution and web/video production.
• Article Advertising & Content Production Native article advertising, video production, and advertising creative production services offered to enterprise B2C clients, leveraging 4X's owned media ecosystem for distribution.
• Event Support & Operations Event planning, production, and operational support services for enterprise B2C clients, including conferences, seminars, and PR events such as the ZDNET Japan Business OS Conference and Shin Digital Strategy Summit.
• CNET Japan IT-focused web media delivering technology news and information to Japanese readers. Serves as both a content platform for Japanese consumers and an advertising inventory and lead-generation asset for 4X's enterprise clients.
• ZDNET Japan Technology and business-focused web media covering enterprise IT and digital transformation topics for Japanese readers. Serves as both a content platform and an advertising inventory asset.
• CNN.co.jp Japanese edition of the international news network delivering global news coverage to Japanese readers. Serves as both a content platform and an advertising inventory asset.
• Newton Hub Science and technology-focused web media providing news and insights on scientific topics for Japanese readers. Serves as both a content platform and an advertising inventory asset.
• Tetsudo.com (鉄道コム) Railway-focused web media covering train and transportation news and information for Japanese railway enthusiasts and commuters. Serves as both a content platform and an advertising inventory asset.
• bouncy Lifestyle-focused web media providing entertaining and engaging content to Japanese readers. Serves as both a content platform and an advertising inventory asset.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 朝日インタラクティブ (Asahi Interactive)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025One of the four founding companies of 4X, contributing interactive media and digital expertise. Currently continues to handle inquiries alongside other founding companies during the transition period.
• 朝日デジタルラボ (Asahi Digital Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025One of the four founding companies of 4X, providing digital innovation and technology capabilities. Currently continues to handle inquiries alongside other founding companies during the transition period.
• サムライト (Somewrite)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025One of the four founding companies of 4X, contributing content marketing and writing expertise. Currently continues to handle inquiries alongside other founding companies during the transition period.
• DECマネジメントオフィス (DEC Management Office)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025One of the four founding companies of 4X. Currently continues to handle inquiries alongside other founding companies during the transition period.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CyberAgent: Japanese digital advertising and media conglomerate with Internet advertising agency (CyberAgent), AbemaTV, and Ameba media properties. Comparable on digital marketing, owned media, and integrated B2B marketing services dimensions.
• Dentsu Group: Japan's largest advertising and marketing services group with integrated creative, media, digital, and content capabilities. Directly comparable to 4X's full-service B2B marketing value proposition, but at vastly larger scale and with global reach.
• WPP (Japan operations): Global advertising holding company with significant Japan operations (Grey, Ogilvy, GroupM). Comparable as an integrated B2B marketing services competitor operating in the Japan market with similar four-pillar positioning.
• ADK Holdings: Major Japanese advertising and content group combining creative agency services with media solutions. Comparable as a domestic integrated marketing-services peer with similar B2B client focus.
• Hakuhodo: Second-largest Japanese advertising agency with strong integrated communication, content, and brand strategy capabilities. Closely comparable to 4X's four-pillar (media, marketing solutions, brand communication, digital solutions) positioning.

Regional players

• All Nippon Advertising (ANAP): Japanese integrated advertising agency offering creative, digital, and media services with strong brand communication focus. Comparable to 4X's BRAND COMMUNICATION pillar and B2B client orientation.

Direct peers

• Nikkei BP (Nikkei Business Publications): Japanese B2B media and publishing subsidiary of Nikkei, operating IT, business, and lifestyle media properties (including ITmedia) plus marketing solutions. Highly comparable to 4X's combination of owned-media properties (CNET Japan, ZDNET Japan) plus content-driven marketing services.
• Septeni Holdings: Digital marketing agency group in Japan offering digital advertising, content, and creative services to enterprise clients. Closely comparable to 4X's MARKETING SOLUTIONS and DIGITAL SOLUTIONS pillars and overlapping enterprise B2B sales motion.
• Impress Corporation: Japanese B2B media and digital marketing company operating IT-focused web media properties (Impress Watch, INTERNET Watch, etc.) plus marketing support services. Direct competitor to 4X's IT-focused media properties and content marketing services.

Others

• IDC Frontier (Yahoo Japan / LY Corporation): Japanese digital advertising platform and media company within the LY Corporation (formerly SoftBank/Z Holdings) group. Adjacent comparable as a Japanese owned-media + digital advertising operator, though at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 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 4X