CPU
CPU is a Tokyo-based branding and creative services agency serving Japanese SMEs and mid-market enterprises with brand strategy, naming, copywriting, visual identity design, and brand protection services delivered via nationwide online consultations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
CPU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CPU
- Legal name
- 株式会社シーピーユー
- Website
- https://cpug.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- CPU is a Tokyo-based branding and creative services agency serving Japanese SMEs and mid-market enterprises with brand strategy, naming, copywriting, visual identity design, and brand protection services delivered via nationwide online consultations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CPU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
CPU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Branding and Creative Services: CPU generates revenue through professional branding and creative design services, including brand strategy, naming, copywriting, visual identity design, brand design, and brand protection. Services are scoped and priced based on client complexity and project scope, with fees ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of yen.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Branding Starter Kit — fixed-price brand design package for SMEs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CPU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CPU is a Tokyo-based branding agency that helps Japanese businesses define and express their brand identity through an integrated set of services. Its core offerings cover brand strategy development, naming, copywriting, visual identity (VI) design, brand design, and brand protection including trademark search and filing. The firm delivers these primarily through direct client engagements, with a fixed-price Branding Starter Kit as an entry-level package for SMEs.
Product overview
CPU (株式会社シーピーユー) is a brand strategy and creative production agency founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tokyo. The company operates a single integrated service model organized around six core offerings: brand strategy definition, naming development, copy/creative writing, visual identity (VI) design, brand design, and brand protection (trademark research and filing). A 33rd anniversary special offering — the ブランディング・スターターキット (Branding Starter Kit) — provides a structured entry-level package at ¥330,000 for 33 qualifying companies, including brand concept, target setting, messaging, naming, taglines, and logo/symbol design. The agency also produces a broad range of creative deliverables including website redesigns, brochure/catalog design, advertising production, campaign landing pages, and corporate identity development. The flagship methodology, '一行一見の力' (the power of one glance, one line), emphasizes the strategic interplay between visual impact and concise copy. CPU does not offer a SaaS platform, API, or technology product — its offerings are professional service engagements delivered through direct client collaboration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branding Starter Kit (ブランディング・スターターキット) A fixed-price entry-level brand design package priced at ¥330,000 (excluding tax), targeted at small and medium enterprises seeking to establish or refresh their brand identity. Includes brand strategy sessions, brand concept development, target customer definition, brand messaging, naming, tagline, symbol mark, and logotype creation, delivered via online consultation.
- Brand Strategy Design (ブランド戦略設計) Strategic service that defines the core axis of a brand — identifying target audiences, value delivered, and competitive differentiation. Organizes ambiguous elements into clear, decision-ready foundations for brand development. Targeted at businesses seeking a clear strategic foundation before creative execution.
- Naming Development (ネーミング開発) Creates brand names that serve as the first point of contact with audiences. Develops memorable, differentiating names that determine whether a brand is chosen or lost in comparison, targeted at businesses launching or rebranding products and services.
- Copywriting (コピー・ライティング) Crafts strategic copy that identifies and communicates core value, stripping away excess to produce strong, short, memorable words that create reasons for customers to choose the brand. Targeted at businesses needing strong verbal brand expression.
- Visual Identity (VI) Design (VI（ビジュアルアイデンティティ）設計) Designs visual identity systems encompassing color, typography, whitespace, and composition — all elements that shape unconscious impressions. Creates visuals consistent with verbal messaging, targeted at businesses needing cohesive visual brand expression.
- Brand Design (ブランドデザイン) Unifies strategy, naming, words, and visuals into a cohesive brand that functions as a complete whole rather than disconnected parts. Targeted at businesses seeking full integrated brand identity.
- Brand Protection / Trademark Services (ブランド保護) Provides trademark research and trademark filing support for names, logos, and taglines in partnership with legal specialists, protecting brand assets as an integral part of the brand-building process. Targeted at businesses needing legal protection of their brand identity.
- Creative Production Services (クリエイティブ制作サービス) Comprehensive creative production encompassing website redesign and renewal, brochure and catalog design, product catalogs, pamphlets, corporate identity development, advertising production, campaign landing pages, brand sites, and guidebooks. Targeted at businesses needing tangible creative deliverables beyond strategy.
Quantifiable outcome
- After rebranding, a peanut farm saw increased social media engagement, gift demand, and repeat purchases for its 'HAPPY PEANUTS' brand.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CPU
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CPU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CPU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
CPU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pentagram: Global independent design partnership with longstanding expertise in visual identity, naming, and brand systems for clients across industries, comparable in craft focus to CPU's VI and naming services.
- Interbrand: Global brand consultancy providing brand strategy, naming, identity design, and trademark advisory—a near-direct overlap with CPU's full-stack branding and brand-protection offering.
- Hakuhodo: Japan's largest advertising agency, with significant branding, creative production, and integrated communications offerings for SMEs and large enterprises across sectors that overlap with CPU's clientele.
- TBWA Hakuhodo: Disruptive-leaning creative agency and Hakuhodo affiliate that competes for Japanese brand strategy, naming, and creative production mandates similar to CPU's core services.
- Landor & Fitch: Global branding consultancy offering brand strategy, naming, visual identity, and brand experience work for enterprise clients, directly overlapping with CPU's service portfolio.
- TYO: Japan-based creative production and advertising group offering integrated creative, branding, and digital production services to enterprise Japanese clients in spaces where CPU also competes.
- Asatsu-DK (ADK): Major Japanese advertising and communications group delivering branding, creative, and digital work to enterprise and mid-market clients, comparable in scale and category to CPU.
- Dentsu: Global advertising and communications group with a large Japan headquarters offering branding, creative, digital production, and full-service campaign work covering the same SME-to-enterprise spectrum CPU serves.
Direct peers
- Elephant (Design & Branding): Japan-based design and branding studio focused on visual identity, brand strategy, and creative production for Japanese SMEs and enterprises—a similar niche focus to CPU.
- BRAIN Inc. Tokyo creative and branding agency producing brand strategy, VI, advertising, and digital creative work for Japanese brands—a directly comparable small Japanese branding firm.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CPU social profiles
Digital presenceCPU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CPU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CPU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CPU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CPU
What does CPU do?
CPU is a Tokyo-based branding agency that helps Japanese businesses define and express their brand identity through an integrated set of services. Its core offerings cover brand strategy development, naming, copywriting, visual identity (VI) design, brand design, and brand protection including trademark search and filing. The firm delivers these primarily through direct client engagements, with a fixed-price Branding Starter Kit as an entry-level package for SMEs.
Is CPU a public or private company?
CPU is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CPU founded?
CPU was founded in 1993.
Where is CPU based?
CPU is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does CPU make money?
One revenue line is on record: branding and Creative Services.
Who are CPU's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pentagram, Interbrand, Hakuhodo, TBWA Hakuhodo, Landor & Fitch, TYO, Asatsu-DK (ADK) and Dentsu. Direct peers are Elephant (Design & Branding) and BRAIN Inc..
Does CPU have an API?
No public API is recorded for CPU.