Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council

What Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council does

Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council (JAEBC) is a nonprofit platform established in October 2025 and operated by Stagebank, Inc. (株式会社ステージバンク), a privately held Japanese company founded in February 2019 as Tokyo Africa Collection Co., Ltd. and renamed in 2019. JAEBC's stated purpose is to connect Japanese and African entertainment industries (music, film, anime, manga, games, sports entertainment, and fashion) and to promote sustainable business creation and strategic investment between the two regions. Stagebank operates dual headquarters in Tokyo (Marunouchi, relocated from Shibuya in May 2024) and Lagos, Nigeria, with 7 employees including contractors.

Stagebank's core business is event production anchored by the Tokyo Africa Collection fashion show franchise (launched 2016, 4+ editions, 2,000+ cumulative attendees, fully booked 600-attendee show at Yurakucho Asahi Hall in 2019 as a TICAD7 Partner Event). Beyond events, the company operates multiple revenue streams: proprietary consumer brands (HIBIRI underwear mist launched September 2023 at ¥1,480/unit, BEYONDS golf wear launching May 2026 at ¥11,600–¥18,000); B2B marketing strategy and influencer marketing consulting led by former P&G professionals (minimum ¥100,000 per influencer project, quote-based retainer/spot contracts); e-commerce via Tokyo Africa Collection Online (tac-online.jp, launched December 2025); talent production and management including the girl group ゴキゲン帝国 (debuting July 2025) and musical artist Amritas; Africa market entry support for Japanese companies; and the JAEBC membership program (¥100,000/year for both individual and corporate tiers, launched January 2026).

The company is privately held with ¥3,000,000 registered capital, is supported by Nissay Capital (a Nippon Life Insurance 100% subsidiary) through its 50M acceleration program, and was selected for SBI Entertainment Acceleration in May 2025, winning dual awards at the July 2025 Demo Day. Strategic partnerships span African embassies (Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan), JICA, JETRO, and entertainment companies (Kugali Media, Trace, iROKOtv, KingMakers, AniWe). No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology platform, or disclosed financial statements are mentioned in the source material.

Name

Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council

Legal name

株式会社ステージバンク

Website

https://stagebank.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

JAEBC, operated by Stagebank Inc., is a nonprofit platform connecting Japanese and African entertainment industries through events, branded consumer goods, marketing consulting, e-commerce, talent management, and a recurring membership program serving Japanese companies, African brands, and entertainment professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Cultural Entertainment and Marketing Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHABAB

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Exhibition & Trade Show Organizers

SECONDARYMPAAAAAI

B2B/ABM Creative Agencies

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Advertising Agencies (Full-Service/Creative)

SECONDARYBPAMAGAD

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/E-commerce Marketplaces & Shopping Platforms

Keywords

• Fashion event production
• Marketing consulting services
• Africa market entry support
• Influencer marketing services
• Talent management agency

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Management & Sponsorship: Revenue from organizing and producing fashion shows, talk events, and pop-up shops. Sponsorships from corporate partners (e.g., ASLINA wine at Tokyo Africa Talk) contribute additional income. Events serve as both revenue stream and customer acquisition funnel for B2B services.
2. Branded Product Sales: Sale of proprietary consumer brands including HIBIRI underwear mist (¥1,480 regular / ¥980 first purchase) and BEYONDS golf wear (¥11,600–¥18,000 per item). Products combine African-origin ingredients with Japanese manufacturing. Social impact component (donations to Plan International) is incorporated into brand positioning.
3. Marketing & Strategy Consulting: P&G-experienced marketers provide consumer/market research, brand strategy, new product planning, and marketing execution support to corporate clients. Flexible contracts ranging from spot projects to retainer arrangements. Initial consultation is free.
4. Africa Market Entry Support: Research, partner identification, localization, and go-to-market strategy execution for companies seeking to enter African markets. Integrated into the broader marketing support service offering.
5. Talent Production & Management: Talent agency and model management services for fashion shows, advertising, and media appearances. Revenue from booking fees and talent placement. Includes support for models transitioning into broader entertainment careers.
6. E-commerce (Tokyo Africa Collection Online): Online retail platform curating African apparel brands for the Japanese market. Revenue from product sales with the company acting as retailer. Launched December 2025.
7. JAEBC Membership Program: Annual membership program for Japanese and international entertainment companies seeking Africa market entry. Provides monthly newsletters, exclusive events, business trips, and executive briefings. Membership launched January 2026 at ¥100,000/year for both individual and corporate members, with entrance fee waived for early joiners through March 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council (JAEBC), operated by Stagebank, Inc., is a non-profit membership platform connecting Japanese and African entertainment industries (music, film, anime, manga, games, sports entertainment, fashion). Its parent Stagebank sells proprietary consumer brands (HIBIRI underwear mist, BEYONDS golf wear), runs the Tokyo Africa Collection fashion show series and Tokyo Africa Collection Online e-commerce, and provides B2B marketing strategy consulting, influencer marketing services, and Africa market entry support led by former P&G professionals.

Product overview

Stagebank operates a diversified portfolio of fashion, entertainment, and marketing services, anchored by the flagship Tokyo Africa Collection fashion show (launched 2016) and its online counterpart, Tokyo Africa Collection Online. The company produces its own consumer brands including HIBIRI (a dermatologist-supervised underwear fragrance spray using African ingredients, launched 2023) and BEYONDS (a golfwear brand for working women, launching May 2026). On the B2B side, Stagebank offers marketing strategy consulting and influencer marketing services powered by former P&G professionals, alongside Africa market entry support for Japanese companies. Stagebank also manages entertainment talent, including the artist Amritas and the girl group ゴキゲン帝国, through its talent production arm. Additionally, Stagebank operates JAEBC (Japan-Africa Entertainment Business Council), a non-profit membership platform launched October 2025 that connects Japan and Africa entertainment industries through newsletters, events, field trips, and executive briefings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tokyo Africa Collection: Africa-themed fashion show and fashion initiative showcasing African designers and brands to Japanese audiences aged 10-20s. Started in 2016 as the core business that led to the company's founding.
• HIBIRI
• BEYONDS
• JAEBC (Japan-Africa Entertainment Business Council)
• Tokyo Africa Selection
• Tokyo Africa Talk
• Amritas
• TOKYO MUSE
• Oshi Fukyo Card (推し布教カード)

Products and services

• Tokyo Africa Collection Africa-themed fashion show and fashion initiative introducing lesser-known African brands and designers to Japanese youth audiences. Features runway shows, pop-up events, and online sales, with Asian-model-focused casting. Co-organized with African embassies and TICAD partner organizations.
• Tokyo Africa Collection Online (TAC Online) Online select shop curating African apparel brands from various countries. Sells brands featured in Tokyo Africa Collection events to Japanese consumers as an ongoing retail channel.
• HIBIRI Underwear Mist (HIBIRI アンダーウェアミスト) Dermatologist-supervised fragrance spray for intimate apparel using African (Madagascar essential oils, Ghanaian shea butter) and Japanese (Niigata water antibacterial components) ingredients. Targets women and gender-inclusive consumers aged 20–40 concerned about intimate area odor and itching.
• BEYONDS Golf Wear Golfwear brand targeting working women with clean, professional silhouettes designed to be worn in both office and golf settings. Limited reservation-based launch model with one-month reservation window.
• Marketing Support (マーケティング支援) Marketing strategy and execution consulting led by former P&G professionals. Services include new product planning, marketing strategy, brand strategy, advertising direction, and consumer research. Flexible contracts ranging from spot projects to retainer arrangements; initial consultation free.
• Influencer Marketing Service (インフルエンサーマーケティング支援) Comprehensive influencer agency service covering research, co-product development, PR posts, advertising, and talent/event casting. Includes both Japanese and international (European, Southeast Asian) influencers with full Japanese-language communication. Minimum project value ¥100,000.
• Africa Market Entry Support (アフリカ進出支援) Consulting service supporting Japanese companies' market entry into Africa. Covers market research, local partner discovery and contracting, localization support, and marketing strategy formulation and execution.
• Amritas (managed music artist) Musical artist managed by Stagebank, performing melancholic summer-themed lyrics with nostalgic pop and electric rock, combining live music with real-time projected drawings. Consists of vocalist Hideo Shimamura and ukulele/live-drawing performer One Touch.
• TOKYO MUSE Photography Session (TOKYO MUSE 撮影会) Portrait photography session service operated by Stagebank. Offers individual sessions in Tokyo studios and outdoor locations to discover and support models for fashion shows and media appearances.
• Oshi Fukyo Cards (推し布教カード) Fan evangelism cards featuring artist visuals with embedded NFC chips. When tapped on a smartphone, the card links to the artist's profile page with MV, SNS links, and live schedules. Includes a point accumulation system rewarding fans for evangelizing to new audiences.
• Talent Production / ゴキゲン帝国 Management Talent production and entertainment agency services. Manages artists, models, and talent including the girl group ゴキゲン帝国. Supports advertising/PR projects, brand partnerships, SNS promotions, photography sessions, and artist brand development.
• JAEBC Membership (Japan-Africa Entertainment Business Council) Non-profit membership platform connecting Japan's and Africa's entertainment industries. Provides monthly newsletters on African entertainment market trends, exclusive quarterly seminars and networking events, annual Africa business trips and studio visits, and biannual executive briefings for C-suite members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tokyo Africa Collection 2019 was fully booked with 600 attendees at Yurakucho Asahi Hall
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• ASLINA (South Africa)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerASLINA is South Africa's first Black woman-founded wine brand, created by Ntsiki Biyela. ASLINA sponsored Tokyo Africa Talk #2 (November 2023), providing wine tastings at all talk sessions and after-parties. This partnership demonstrates Stagebank's ability to secure premium African brand sponsorships for its events.
• 合同会社UzuricoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUzuri is a co-organizer of Tokyo Africa Selection 2025 (Seibu Shibuya popup) and partner in Young Africa Connect 2025. Founded by Yamagishi Naru (Keio University graduate), Uzuri imports and sells African crafts and apparel, aligned with Stagebank's mission to promote African brands in Japan.
• Kugali MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKugali Media is Africa's leading animation studio and a JAEBC local partner. Produced Disney's first African co-production 'Iwaju' and is developing 'Yoruba Yokai'. Led by Tolu Olowofoyeku, President. Featured at JAEBC launch event (November 2025) and future JAEBC programming.
• TracemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrace is Africa's largest music channel, broadcasting to 30+ countries with tens of millions of viewers across TV, radio, live streaming, and digital platforms. Led by Sam Onyemelukwe, Senior Vice President. A JAEBC local partner providing access to Africa's music industry ecosystem.
• iROKOtv / Rok StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Jason Njoku, iROKOtv is Africa's first online movie streaming service and built Africa's largest digital entertainment network. Later founded Rok Studios (sold to Canal+ in 2019) and webtoon platform Raptures. A JAEBC local partner connecting to Africa's film/streaming industry.
• KingMakers / BetKing (Nigeria)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Gossy Ukanwoke, KingMakers operates BetKing (leading online betting platform in Nigeria) and Carven (Nigeria's largest e-sports facility). A JAEBC local partner representing Africa's sports entertainment and gaming sector.
• AniWe (Nigeria)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigeria's largest anime fan community (12+ years history), founded by Dr. Omotanwa Gbadebo. Organizes AniWeCon and other pop culture events reaching 200,000+ influencer followers. A JAEBC local partner providing access to Africa's anime and fandom community.
• 特定非営利活動法人映像産業振興機構 (VIPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIPO (Visual Industry Promotion Organization) is a Japanese NPO supporting the film and video industry. Co-hosting the JAEBC anime event (March 23, 2026) bringing Kugali Media and AniWe representatives to meet Japanese entertainment companies.
• COTSCOTS LTD.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOTSCOTS (Uganda/Kenya) is co-hosting the JAEBC 'Africa Entertainment Year One Declaration' event (February 18, 2026). Led by Shimizu Masahiro (Kyoto University graduate), it operates Japanese restaurant YAMASEN and commercial facility Tank Hill Park, and is developing anime BPO operations in Uganda/Kenya.
• JICA (独立行政法人国際協力機構)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJICA is a Japanese government agency supporting international development cooperation. Backed TICAD7 Partner Event (Tokyo Africa Collection 2019), Young Africa Connect 2025 (co-organizer), and various JAEBC events. Provides legitimacy and network access for Stagebank's Africa initiatives.
• JETRO (独立行政法人日本貿易振興機構)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJETRO is a Japanese government organization promoting trade and investment. Backed Tokyo Africa Collection 2019 and JAEBC events as an official supporter, providing institutional legitimacy and business matching support.
• 秋元才加 (Akimoto Sayaka)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer AKB48 member and actress served as Special Show Director for Tokyo Africa Collection 2019. Traveled to Rwanda with Stagebank on a special show director program to promote Rwanda's appeal. Provided celebrity endorsement and media attention.
• African Embassies in Japan (multiple)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple African embassies (including Rwanda, South Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Djibouti) have supported Tokyo Africa Collection events as official sponsors/backers. Embassies provide designer introductions, venue support, and diplomatic legitimacy for Stagebank's initiatives.
• Ethiopian AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEthiopian Airlines was an official sponsor of Tokyo Africa Collection 2019, providing flight support and travel partnerships for African designers and guests attending the event.
• Africa-Asia Youth Nest (AAYN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAAYN is a youth organization co-founded by Nevibanga Evina (Cameroon), a MEXT scholarship student and youth leader. A partner in Young Africa Connect 2025, supporting Youth TICAD initiatives and youth engagement in Japan-Africa exchange.
• Africa Diaspora Network Japan (ADNJ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerADNJ is a network of Africans in Japan, co-founded by BA Aboo (Senegal), former president of the Association of Senegalese Students in Japan. A partner in Young Africa Connect 2025, supporting networking and community engagement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lagos Fashion Week: Lagos Fashion Week is Nigeria's flagship African fashion event, attracting international press and buyers. Comparable as a large-scale African fashion show on the opposite end of the Japan-Africa corridor that Stagebank connects.
• Japan Fashion Council (Tokyo Fashion Week): Japan Fashion Council operates Tokyo Fashion Week, Japan's dominant fashion show organizer with established runway infrastructure, sponsor networks, and government backing. Stagebank's Tokyo Africa Collection competes in the same fashion-show venue-rental ecosystem but at much smaller scale.
• HAKUHODO DY Holdings: HAKUHODO is Japan's second-largest advertising agency group with full-service marketing consulting capabilities. Stagebank's P&G-led marketing support competes as a boutique alternative for clients seeking Africa-specific go-to-market expertise.

Emerging players

• Africa No Filter: Africa No Filter is a narrative-change organization working to shift Africa-related media coverage globally. Comparable as a mission-driven platform seeking to alter Japan-Africa perception, structurally similar to JAEBC's nonprofit mission.
• The Folklore Group: The Folklore Group is a B2B African fashion marketplace connecting African designers with global retailers. Comparable as a cross-continental Africa fashion commerce and discovery platform serving similar designer and buyer personas.

Direct peers

• Uzuri: Uzuri is a Japan-based African craft and apparel importer founded by Yamagishi Naru (Keio graduate); co-organized Tokyo Africa Selection 2025 with Stagebank and partners on Young Africa Connect 2025. Directly comparable as an Africa-Japan commerce bridge serving the same customer base.
• JACCI (Japan Africa Co-Creation Initiative): JACCI is a bilateral Japan-Africa initiative mentioned in JAEBC co-representative Satoshi Shinada's bio as a founding role. Operates as a Japan-Africa cross-border business platform, making it the closest structural peer to JAEBC's nonprofit mission.

Others

• HATCH Africa (or JICA Youth Platforms): JICA operates Young Africa Connect-style youth exchange programs and TICAD partner initiatives. Comparable as a Japan-government-backed Africa-focused human capital and exchange platform that JAEBC Youth and Young Africa Connect compete against for student mindshare.
• Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (NAB Japan equivalent): Major Japanese entertainment industry bodies that convene broadcasters, production companies, and content IP holders. JAEBC is the Africa-focused analogue of these institutional industry platforms.

Regional players

• Africa Hipping Co. Africa Hipping is a Japanese retailer importing African food, beverages, and lifestyle products. Comparable as a Japanese company building Japan-Africa consumer commerce with similar import/wholesale mechanics to TAC Online.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sugo_leo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2IdFU462lGqxxvu3BlBxVA
• Facebookfacebook.com/leo.sugo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/leo-sugo
• Instagraminstagram.com/leosugo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council