ADPLEX Co., Ltd

What ADPLEX Co., Ltd does

ADPLEX Co., Ltd. is a 75-year-old communication media services company headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan, and operating as a subsidiary of the Chugoku Electric Power Group (中国電力グループ). Founded on June 6, 1951, the company employs 101-250 people and operates across four business pillars: advertising, digital services, printing, and publishing. Its core portfolio spans traditional print and signage, BPO services, website production (priced at 220,000-990,000 JPY across three tiers), the TJ Hiroshima town magazine, and the contracted operation of government platforms including the Hiroshima Wide-Area Point system (serving 2 million residents across the Chugoku region via PASPY, ICOCA, and WAON integration) and Japan's first prefecture-operated SNS platform 'Washira' (日刊わしら), launched in October 2017 with mobile apps released in May 2021.

The company's revenue model is diversified across multiple streams: subscription/recurring revenue from advertising and publishing services, transaction fees from regional point system operations, professional services fees for contracted SNS and facility management (including the Shimane Nuclear Power Museum for Chugoku Electric Power), and hardware sales through its exclusive Chugoku-Shikoku distributorship of Pudu Robotics service robots, established October 2021. Additional revenue comes from the Adpre Mall e-commerce platform launched August 2024. Customer segments are anchored by regional government and public-sector clients (Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, Chugoku Electric Power), corporate/enterprise clients within the Chugoku Electric Power group ecosystem, regional consumers via the point system, and SMBs in hospitality and food service adopting robotic solutions.

The company's go-to-market combines direct B2B field sales for enterprise and government contracts, an e-commerce storefront for consumer products, and a regional reseller channel for service robots. While ADPLEX has invested in digital initiatives (regional SNS, point platform, e-commerce, web services), its core business remains rooted in traditional printing and advertising execution with a strong regional government relationship foundation. The company holds CSR certification (One Star) from the All Japan Printing Industry Federation, initially obtained November 2023 and renewed October 2025.

Name

ADPLEX Co., Ltd

Legal name

株式会社アドプレックス

Website

https://adplex.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ADPLEX Co., Ltd. is a Hiroshima-based communication media subsidiary of Chugoku Electric Power Group, providing advertising, printing, digital, and publishing services to regional governments, enterprises, and consumers across Japan's Chugoku region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hiroshima

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, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Communication Services: Traditional and digital advertising services including pole advertising, banner production, and promotional material creation for business clients and government organizations.
2. Printing and Publishing: Printing services and publication production including TJ Hiroshima lifestyle magazine, utilizing sustainable printing practices with vegetable inks and recycled/FSC-certified paper.
3. Regional Point System Operations: Management and operation of the Hiroshima Wide-Area Point system, facilitating commerce and community engagement across the 2 million person metropolitan region.
4. SNS Operations and Social Media Management: Contracted operation of the 'Washira' prefectural SNS platform and social media management services applying town magazine expertise.
5. Service Robot Sales: Resale and distribution of Pudu Robotics service robots (delivery, cleaning, reception) as the sole authorized distributor in the Chugoku-Shikoku region.
6. E-commerce and Merchandise Sales: Direct consumer sales through 'Adpre Mall' e-commerce platform offering disaster preparedness supplies, office products, and merchandise.
7. Facility Management Services: Operation and management of the Shimane Nuclear Power Museum (島根原子力館), including visitor services, facility reservations, and public relations activities for Chugoku Electric Power.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ADPLEX Co., Ltd. is a communication solutions provider that delivers integrated services across advertising, digital media, printing, and publishing for corporate, government, and group-company clients in the Chugoku-Shikoku region of Japan. The company also operates regional digital platforms (the Hiroshima Wide-area Point System and the Washira prefectural SNS), distributes Pudu Robotics service robots as the exclusive Chugoku-Shikoku dealer, publishes the TJ Hiroshima lifestyle magazine, and runs the Adpre Mall e-commerce storefront selling disaster preparedness supplies and merchandise.

Product overview

ADPLEX Co., Ltd. is a communication solutions company operating across four business segments: advertising, digital services, printing, and publishing. The company offers a portfolio of distinct products and services including regional digital platforms (Hiroshima Wide-area Point System, 日刊わしら SNS), service robotics (PUDU Robot sales and distribution as Chugoku-Shikoku dealer), e-commerce (アドプレモール), website renewal services, BPO services, and traditional publishing (TJ Hiroshima magazine). The core advertising/digital/printing/publishing business provides integrated communication tools including print materials, signage, and web platforms, while newer digital initiatives expand into regional point systems, government SNS operations, and service robotics distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 日刊わしら (Nichikan Washira): Nation's first prefecture-operated SNS platform launched in October 2017, featuring Hiroshima dialect 'じゃね！' button instead of 'いいね！' and releasing iPhone/Android apps in May 2021.
• 広島広域都市圏ポイント
• TJ Hiroshima (タウン情報広島)
• アドプレSOLUTION (AdprexSOLUTION)

Products and services

• Hiroshima Wide-area Point System (広島広域都市圏ポイント) A regional point currency system serving approximately 2 million people in the Hiroshima Wide-area Metropolitan Zone. Integrates with existing IC cards (PASPY, ICOCA, WAON) allowing users to earn and redeem points across participating stores, events, and volunteer activities without requiring new card issuance.
• Washira Prefectural SNS Platform (日刊わしら) Government-operated SNS platform launched in October 2017, featuring Hiroshima dialect ('じゃね！' instead of 'いいね！'). ADPLEX provides operational management under contract with Hiroshima Prefecture's Brand Strategy Team, leveraging town-magazine editorial expertise for content and engagement.
• PUDU Robot Series Service robots for cleaning, food delivery, and serving. Product line includes PUDU CC1 (cleaning robot), BellaBot (cat-shaped delivery robot with AI voice), KettyBot (delivery robot with 18.5-inch advertising display), PuduBot (standard delivery), and HolaBot (high-capacity 60kg/120L delivery). ADPLEX is the sole authorized Chugoku-Shikoku region distributor and provides implementation support, system setup, and 24/7 maintenance.
• TJ Hiroshima Magazine (タウン情報広島) A local lifestyle magazine for Hiroshima covering information, entertainment, and regional topics. Serves as the secretariat for the Hiroshima Wide-area Point system operation, promoting merchant enrollment and regional commerce.
• Adpre Mall E-commerce Site (アドプレモール) Online shopping site selling disaster preparedness supplies, lifestyle products, and merchandise, launched August 2024 as a direct-to-consumer sales channel.
• Website Renewal Service (ホームページリニューアルサービス) Website redesign and renewal service offered in three tiers: Simple Landing Page Plan (220,000 JPY), Standard Website Plan (440,000-550,000 JPY), and Deluxe CMS-equipped Website Plan (880,000-990,000 JPY). Includes free website diagnosis and self-update CMS capability on the top tier.
• BPO Service (BPOサービス) Business process outsourcing services for various operational needs, offered to corporate and government clients as part of ADPLEX's integrated communication solutions portfolio.
• Advertising & Digital Services Comprehensive advertising and digital solutions including printing, publishing, signage (pole advertising, banners), and web services. ADPLEX creates integrated communication solutions across advertising, digital, printing, and publishing sectors for corporate and government clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regional point system serves 2 million people in Hiroshima wide-area metropolitan region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pudu RoboticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2021ADPLEX is the sole authorized sales agent for Pudu Robotics service robots in the Chugoku-Shikoku region (中国・四国地方唯一の正規販売代理店). The partnership involves distribution of delivery robots (BellaBot, KettyBot, PuduBot, HolaBot) and cleaning robots (PUDU CC1) to restaurants, hospitals, and hospitality businesses. ADPLEX provides full implementation support, system setup, and 24/7 maintenance services.
• Chugoku Electric Power Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore group company relationship within the Chugoku Electric Power (中国電力) group. ADPLEX operates the Shimane Nuclear Power Museum and provides various communication and advertising services to the group, leveraging 75 years of partnership.
• Hiroshima PrefecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted operator of Japan's first prefecture-operated SNS platform 'Washira' since October 2017, applying town magazine editorial expertise to digital public communication.
• Hiroshima City Economic BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTJ Hiroshima magazine serves as the Hiroshima Wide-Area Point system management office, promoting merchant enrollment and point system adoption across the 2 million person metropolitan region.
• Chugoku Electric Power CooperativeminorOthersCo-branding relationship with the employee cooperative organization.
• Anabuki Design CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative program with Anabuki Design College (穴吹デザイン専門学校) including student design competitions and collaborative projects for the Washira SNS platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• Dai Nippon Printing:

Direct peers

• Felica Pocket Marketing: Operator of the Hiroshima Wide-Area Point system alongside ADPLEX, providing the underlying FeliCa/IC card point technology and operations. Comparable to ADPLEX as a direct operational partner on the regional point system, providing the technology platform layer.
• Tokyu Agency: Mid-sized Japanese advertising and communications agency affiliated with the Tokyu Group, providing advertising, digital, and creative services. Comparable to ADPLEX as a Japanese mid-tier integrated communications agency with group-affiliation structure serving regional clients.
• Asatsu-DK (ADK Holdings): Japanese advertising agency providing advertising, marketing communications, and content services. Comparable to ADPLEX as a domestic Japanese advertising services firm; ADK operates at national scale but shares the integrated communications-services positioning and Japanese client base.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu: Japan's largest advertising agency and a global advertising/PR network offering end-to-end marketing communications. Comparable to ADPLEX in delivering advertising, digital, and BPO-style communications services, but at global scale across all industries versus ADPLEX's regional government and SMB focus.
• Toppan Holdings: Major Japanese printing and information-communications conglomerate with printing, secure documents, digital, and marketing communications businesses. Comparable to ADPLEX in printing and integrated communications services, but at significantly larger scale across Japan and globally.
• Kyodo Printing: Japanese printing company with information-services and publishing operations. Comparable to ADPLEX in printing, publishing, and communications services, with broader national scale.
• Hakuhodo: Japan's second-largest advertising agency group providing integrated advertising, digital, and media services nationwide. Comparable to ADPLEX in offering advertising and digital communications solutions, but at national scale rather than Chugoku-focused, and with a vastly broader creative and media-buying portfolio.

Regional players

• SoftBank Robotics: Major Japanese robotics distributor for service and cleaning robots including the Whiz and other commercial models. Comparable to ADPLEX as a service-robot distribution channel in Japan, though SoftBank Robotics operates with far broader geographic reach and a Pepper/Whiz product portfolio.
• SPS Kanto: Japanese regional printing, advertising, and publishing services firm operating outside Tokyo. Comparable to ADPLEX in operating a regional printing/advertising/publishing platform serving local businesses and government clients, but in the Kanto region rather than Chugoku.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ADPLEX Co., Ltd