What STARBASE does

STARBASE INC. is a Tokyo-based, privately held entertainment and culture company founded on June 1, 2017 by Representative Director Ryotaro Hidaka. The company operates as a creative HUB that aggregates entertainment talent, artists, and corporate clients to co-create brand communication, live events, music, and consumer products. Core offerings span six revenue streams: brand communication and creative services for corporate clients, live and event production, artist agent services, digital music distribution through its STARBASE RECORDS label, merchandise and retail via the YEN TOWN MARKET brand, and copyright management for legacy catalogs including Nujabes and Samurai Champloo. Its proprietary product and platform stack includes the YEN TOWN MARKET retail brand (Shibuya PARCO flagship plus ZOZOTOWN storefront), STARBASE RECORDS music label, STANDO digital distribution aggregator, and STANDO/STANDO-style streaming aggregation reaching global platforms.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining B2B enterprise field sales with D2C distribution. On the enterprise side, STARBASE secures multi-year flagship creative partnerships with major Japanese corporations including Toyota (Drive Your Teenage Dreams since 2019), NTT docomo (Quadratic Playground), JR Tokai (LINEAN PROJECT from December 2024), Japan Football Association, Yomiuri Giants, Asahi Beverages, and luxury brands such as FENDI and CALVIN KLEIN. These engagements center on entertainment-led brand storytelling, artist casting, event production, and merchandise development targeting youth and digital-native audiences. The D2C motion runs through YEN TOWN MARKET physical and e-commerce retail, the '26' limited-edition whiskey product (10,000 bottles at ¥16,500 each), live event ticketing, and digital music streaming royalties. Artist management and label releases, including KOMOREBI, MyM, Matt Cab, MATZ, Yuto Adachi, and Park Seo-Jun, generate both management fees and viral cultural reach (KOMOREBI's 'Giri Giri' achieved 2 billion+ TikTok views). Recent expansion includes co-production with NHK Enterprises of MUSIC EXPO LIVE at Tokyo Dome in November 2025 and international expansion to TAIPEI ARENA in October 2026.

Name

STARBASE

Legal name

株式会社STARBASE

Website

https://starbase.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

STARBASE is a Tokyo-based entertainment and culture company that combines B2B creative services with artist management, music label operations (STARBASE RECORDS), and retail (YEN TOWN MARKET) to serve major Japanese enterprises and digital-native consumer audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya, Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Communication & Creative Services: Consulting and creative production services for corporate clients including branding, advertising campaigns, and promotional content. Projects include TOYOTA Drive Your Teenage Dreams, NTT docomo Quadratic Playground, and various corporate creative directions.
2. Live & Event Production: Production of live events, concerts, and exhibitions. Major projects include MUSIC EXPO LIVE at Tokyo Dome, LINEAN PROJECT events, and various corporate-sponsored events.
3. Artist Agent Services: Management and representation of artists including Matt Cab, MATZ, KOMOREBI, MyM, Yuto Adachi, Park Seo-Jun, and others. Revenue from management fees, production deals, and music royalties.
4. Digital Music Distribution: STARBASE RECORDS label releases music through digital streaming platforms. Artists include KOMOREBI, MyM, Matt Cab collaborations, and various artist releases.
5. Merchandise & Retail (YEN TOWN MARKET): Physical and e-commerce retail operations through YEN TOWN MARKET brand shops. Products include licensed merchandise (FC Barcelona, Samurai Champloo, Nujabes), original brands, and collaborations with artists and corporations.
6. Copyright Management: Rights management for music copyrights and intellectual property including Nujabes catalog, Samurai Champloo music, and various artist catalogs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STARBASE is a Tokyo-based entertainment and culture company that provides creative consulting, IP and content production, artist management, music distribution, and brand communication services for major Japanese corporations. The company operates multiple business lines including brand communication consulting, live event production, artist agency services, the YEN TOWN MARKET retail brand, the STARBASE RECORDS music label, and the STANDO digital music distribution platform.

Product overview

STARBASE is a Tokyo-based entertainment and culture company that creates 'fun' by leveraging global entertainment culture. The company operates across multiple business segments including brand communication, live/event production, artist agent services, digital distribution, music production, content/label operations, copyright management, and shop operations. Its core products include YEN TOWN MARKET (fashion/art/culture retail brand), STARBASE RECORDS (music label), and STANDO (digital distribution platform). STARBASE also manages major brand projects like Drive Your Teenage Dreams (with Toyota), LINEAN PROJECT (with JR Tokai), and MUSIC EXPO LIVE (large-scale music festival). The company represents and produces various artists and creators including producers (Matt Cab, MATZ, K4nji, R.I.K, MadLemon), music units (KOMOREBI, MyM), and individual artists (安達祐人, 金子みゆ), as well as photographer 小浪次郎 and actor パク・ソジュン.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YEN TOWN MARKET: A culture shop brand using Japanese identity, engaging in fashion, art, and cultural planning and product development, operated as a retail store in Shibuya PARCO and online.
• STARBASE RECORDS
• Drive Your Teenage Dreams (DYTD)
• LINEAN PROJECT
• PLAYSOUND

Products and services

• YEN TOWN MARKET A culture shop brand developing various fashion, art, and cultural products with Japanese identity as its core. Operates physical retail stores in Shibuya PARCO and e-commerce platforms selling licensed merchandise (FC Barcelona, Samurai Champloo, Nujabes), original brands, and collaborations with artists and corporations.
• STARBASE RECORDS The company's music label division that produces and distributes music content from managed artists including KOMOREBI, MyM, and Matt Cab collaborations through digital streaming platforms.
• STANDO Digital music aggregation and distribution service for music releases and streaming platform distribution, providing artists a channel for digital music release.
• Drive Your Teenage Dreams (DYTD) A collaborative brand project with Toyota Motor Corporation to create new car enjoyment experiences for younger generations, featuring custom Hiace vehicles and various cultural collaborations including music, fashion, merchandise, dance sessions, and events.
• LINEAN PROJECT A fan engagement project for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen maglev railway developed in collaboration with JR Tokai, creating documentary content (LINEAR NOTES), visual content, pop-up exhibitions, and merchandise around the railway's opening.
• MUSIC EXPO LIVE A large-scale music festival concept featuring Asian artists, with the first event held at Tokyo Dome in November 2025 featuring 50 artists performing ~50 songs, co-produced with NHK Enterprises. Planned expansion to TAIPEI ARENA in October 2026.
• 26 Twenty-Six Whiskey A limited edition blended whiskey (700ml, 43% alcohol) created in collaboration with actor Park Seo-Jun and produced by Ozusanyama Distillery. Priced at ¥16,500, serial numbered, includes a message card.
• YOSHI Documentary '令和のロックスター' A tribute documentary film about artist YOSHI, featuring unreleased songs created from his unfinished works after his passing in 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• KOMOREBI's 'Giri Giri' achieved 2 billion+ TikTok views and won TikTok Japan Song Of The Summer #1
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• NHK Enterprises (NHKエンタープライズ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2025MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025 co-production. First event held at Tokyo Dome November 3, 2025 with 12 artists performing ~50 songs. 2026 expansion to TAIPEI ARENA planned.
• STARBASE CREATIVE STUDIO (株式会社STARBASE CREATIVE STUDIO)coreOthers · 1 August 2025Newly established subsidiary company for creative services. Founded August 2025 as spin-off/subsidiary.
• Park Seo-Jun (パク・ソジュン)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Agent contract for Japanese activities. STARBASE supports Park Seo-Jun's activities in Japan including whiskey project '26' where Park serves as creator/ambassador.
• Tokai Railway Company (東海旅客鉄道)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINEAN PROJECT - joint project for Linear Chuo Shinkansen opening promotion. STARBASE provides creative direction, documentary production (LINEAR NOTES), visual content, and pop-up exhibitions. First collaboration started December 2024.
• Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrive Your Teenage Dreams project - multi-year creative partnership since 2019. STARBASE leads creative direction, event production, merchandise development for Toyota brand activations including HIACE customization, music production, dance sessions, and flower events.
• NTT docomocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuadratic Playground project - entertainment content generation targeting digital natives. STARBASE produced YOASOBI VR music video, sports VR content with footballer Uchida Atsuto, and web CM campaigns.
• Japan Football Association (日本サッカー協会)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSAMURAI BLUE support project - STARBASE produced visual content and operated JFA STORE at YEN TOWN MARKET locations.
• Yomiuri Giants (読売巨人軍)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2022 season visual strategy and promotion - creative direction, original music production with Matt Cab, store-in-store events.
• Asahi Beverages (アサヒ飲料)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWILKINSON branding project - ongoing collaboration since 2022. SAUNA x WILKINSON events, original merchandise, music collaborations.
• FC BarcelonacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOfficial licensed merchandise production and sales through YEN TOWN MARKET. Products include apparel, accessories with FC Barcelona branding.
• HYBE JAPANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as major client - likely involves artist collaboration or music production services.
• Universal Music (ユニバーサルミュージック)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as major client - music production and distribution partnership.
• Sony Music Entertainment (索尼音乐娱乐)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as major client - music production and distribution partnership.
• Google JapanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as major client - likely involves digital marketing or creative services.
• Onepeace (株式会社onepeace)minorOthersAffiliated company listed in company overview.
• Ozurumalt / Ozusanyama Distillery (尾鈴山蒸留所)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWhiskey production partner for '26' whiskey project. Blackwood本店 subsidiary known for 'Hyakunen no Kodoku' whiskey. Handles manufacturing while STARBASE handles branding and sales.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Asobisystem: Tokyo-based creative agency and artist management firm (Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Yasutaka Nakata) that similarly blends brand collaborations, artist representation, event production, and pop-culture retail - directly comparable to STARBASE's entertainment-B2B-creative hybrid model.
• Being Inc. Japanese music production and talent management company (B'z, ZARD, Mai Kuraki) - directly comparable in artist management, music label, and copyright management operations.
• Stardust Promotion: Large Japanese talent agency managing actors, singers, models with multi-segment operations (music, drama, fashion, events) - directly comparable to STARBASE's artist management and brand collaboration model.
• Amuse Inc. Tokyo-based artist management firm (ONE OK ROCK, Southern All Stars, Perfume historically) that provides management, production, and label services - comparable in business model to STARBASE's artist agent and music label operations.
• Pony Canyon: Japanese music/video label and digital distribution arm of Fujisankei Communications Group - comparable to STARBASE RECORDS and STANDO for music production and distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Hakuhodo: Second-largest Japanese advertising agency with established creative, content, and entertainment-marketing practices - comparable incumbent competitor to STARBASE's brand communication and entertainment-marketing services.
• Dentsu: Largest Japanese advertising agency with creative, media, and entertainment-services offerings - directly competes with STARBASE for B2B brand communication projects (Toyota, NTT docomo) at much greater scale.
• Universal Music Japan: Japanese arm of global major label - directly comparable to STARBASE RECORDS for recorded music and licensing, and overlapping on artist roster (Universal is also a STARBASE client).
• Yoshimoto Kogyo: Japan's largest entertainment conglomerate (talent management, content production, events, theater) - comparable broad incumbent to STARBASE's integrated entertainment-services approach.
• Avex Group: Major Japanese entertainment conglomerate with music label (avex trax), artist management, live event production, and digital distribution - overlaps with STARBASE RECORDS, STANDO, agent services, and event IP but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/STARBASE_JP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=PA0BLVQ5q54&t=117s
• Instagraminstagram.com/starbase_inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STARBASE