Rank Up
Rank Up is a Tokyo-based private company that develops skincare products through its Manara, R_homme and ACNAL brands and operates Craver Kids, an after-school education service, selling primarily to Japanese consumers via e-commerce, subscriptions and retail.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rank Up does
Rank Up is a Tokyo-based private company founded in 2005 that develops and sells problem-focused skincare brands and also operates Craver Kids, a school-type after-school service. Its core MANARA brand includes Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus, a temperature-responsive warm gel containing more than 90% skincare ingredients. R_homme addresses male consumers through HADA GEL, which uses a sebum-change formula, and TSUBU WASH, an enzyme-based cleanser combining papain, lipase, activated charcoal, and clay; ACNAL targets consumers with recurring daytime skin concerns. These descriptions are supported,.
Rank Up generates revenue through one-time product sales, regular-delivery subscriptions on its own e-commerce sites, and wholesale distribution through department stores, drug stores, specialty beauty retailers, online marketplaces, and its Taiwan subsidiary. Its principal customer groups are women with dryness, pore, aging, or recurring skin concerns, supplemented by men seeking targeted skincare and families using Craver Kids. Documented unit prices include JPY 3,500 for TSUBU WASH and JPY 4,900 for HADA GEL, while the education service creates a separate operating model from the consumer-goods business.
Rank Up firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rank Up
- Legal name
- 株式会社ランクアップ
- Website
- https://rankuphd.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Rank Up is a Tokyo-based private company that develops skincare products through its Manara, R_homme and ACNAL brands and operates Craver Kids, an after-school education service, selling primarily to Japanese consumers via e-commerce, subscriptions and retail.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rank Up industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Skincare and Cosmetics
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare (CRABAAAH), Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)
Keywords
Where Rank Up is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rank Up business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through brand websites (manara.jp, acnal.jp) and catalog/mail-order channels. Subscription-based regular delivery service for ongoing customers.
- Retail Distribution: Wholesale to department stores, drug stores, and beauty retailers. Product sales through physical retail partners in Japan and international markets.
- Men's Skincare Products: R_homme brand targeting male consumers with all-in-one gels and exfoliating washes for male-specific skin concerns
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TSUBU WASH facial wash - 3,500 JPY (excl. tax), 45g |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HADA GEL all-in-one gel for men - 4,900 JPY (excl. tax), 120ml |
| Other | Annual | Marketing position salary range for mid-career recruitment: 4-7 million JPY annually |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rank Up product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rank Up develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary skincare and cosmetics brands — MANARA (flagship women's skincare including the Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus), R_homme (men's skincare with HADA GEL and TSUBU WASH), and ACNAL (daytime skincare for recurring skin concerns) — distributed via direct e-commerce, catalog/mail-order subscriptions, and retail partners across Japan and Taiwan. The company also operates Craver Kids, a private after-school program (学童型スクール) launched in 2024 that teaches children thinking habits.
Product overview
Rank Up operates as a 'Nayami Kaiketsu Company' (Problem-Solving Company) with a portfolio of four main brands: the core cosmetics brand Manara (including the flagship Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus with 13 consecutive years of category leadership), the men's skincare sub-brand R_homme, the daytime skincare brand ACNAL developed for recurring skin concerns, and the 2024-launched children's education service Craver Kids. The company follows a philosophy of solving individual consumer problems, with each product originating from specific customer pain points.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- マナラ (Manara): 感动化妆品品牌，专门解决一个人的肌肤烦恼，坚持7种无添加
- アールオム (R'homme)
- アクナル (ACNAL)
- クレイバーキッズ (Craver Kids)
Products and services
- MANARA (マナラ) MANARA is Rank Up's core skincare brand for women, focused on solving specific individual skin concerns with 7-additive-free formulations (no artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, petroleum surfactants, ethanol, parabens, or UV absorbers). The brand's flagship Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus has been Japan's No. 1 warm-cleansing gel for 13 consecutive years.
- Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus Flagship MANARA temperature-activated cleansing gel that warms upon application and removes pore-clogging debris. Contains 90%+ skincare ingredients, does not require double cleansing, and provides integrated facial-massage functionality. 13 consecutive years as Japan's #1 pore cleansing gel and 16 consecutive years of Monde Selection Gold Awards.
- R_homme (アールオム) R_homme is Rank Up's men's skincare brand launched in July 2020 for men who want to address combination skin issues (oily T-zone with dry cheeks). Key products include HADA GEL all-in-one gel (¥4,900 excl. tax, 120ml) with the proprietary Sebum Change Formula and 40+ beauty ingredients, and TSUBU WASH enzyme facial wash (¥3,500 excl. tax, 45g) using amino-acid cleansing ingredients.
- ACNAL (アクナル) ACNAL is a daytime skincare brand developed over 3.5 years by Rank Up employee Haruka S., who personally suffered from 10 years of skin troubles. Targets users with persistent recurring skin concerns who have not found effective products over extended periods.
- Craver Kids (クレイバーキッズ) Craver Kids is a private after-school program (学童型スクール / civilian school) launched in February 2024 by Rank Up that teaches children thinking habits through experiencing "enjoying unknown worlds." Curriculum develops thinking, dialogue, and practice skills for children living in an unpredictable future.
Quantifiable outcome
- 13 consecutive years as No.1 in pore cleansing gel category (温感クレンジング部門)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rank Up
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rank Up technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rank Up partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- パンとエスプレッソと (Bread and Espresso and)minorSeasonal beauty collaboration offering limited-time vitamin-themed desserts and shakes at café locations. Promotion of inner and outer skincare through 'beauty sweets' with product sampling.
- 株式会社ラーナーズラーナーcoreThree-way partnership with Fukuoka City Nishi-Takaoka Elementary School and Learner's Learner Inc. to implement leadership education programs in public schools. Craver Kids provides thinking habit curriculum for elementary students.
- 株式会社テクノーブルcoreOngoing joint research partnership with Techno Bleu for development of natural-origin functional ingredients and anti-aging skincare research. Presented findings at Japan Anti-Aging Medical Society conferences (22nd-24th sessions).
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rank Up competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FANCL Corporation: Japan's largest direct-to-consumer skincare and supplement brand, selling additive-free cosmetics through mail-order and own retail. Directly comparable to Rank Up's MANARA in D2C model, additive-free positioning, and Japanese mass-premium segment.
- ORBIS (Pola Orbis Holdings): D2C skincare brand under Pola Orbis, built around problem-solving product lines (e.g., ORBIS Mr., acne lines) and a strong direct-mail/internet channel. Closely comparable to Rank Up's brand-by-skin-concern portfolio strategy.
- DHC Corporation: Major Japanese D2C beauty and supplement company with broad skincare assortment and heavy catalog/e-commerce distribution. Comparable in D2C GTM, Japanese mass-premium positioning, and broad skincare range.
- Dr.Ci:Labo (Ci:z Holdings / Johnson & Johnson): Japanese dermatology-grade D2C skincare brand specializing in problem-solving and doctor-formulated products. Closely comparable to MANARA and ACNAL's "solve a specific skin problem" philosophy and treatment-leaning positioning.
Broad incumbents
- POLA Inc. Premium Japanese skincare brand with a large direct-sales (door-to-door) network. Comparable in Japan-centric premium skincare positioning and treatment-line portfolio (e.g., B.A, White Shot), though distribution model differs.
- Shiseido Company, Limited: Japan's largest cosmetics conglomerate spanning prestige, prestige-d2c, and mass brands. Comparable as the dominant Japanese skincare incumbent against whom MANARA competes for shelf, prestige, and D2C mind-share.
- KOSÉ Corporation: Major Japanese cosmetics group with prestige (DECORTÉ), mass, and drugstore skincare lines. Comparable as an incumbent competitor across MANARA's drugstore/department-store and treatment skincare categories.
Emerging players
- Bulk Homme: Japan-focused men's D2C skincare brand built around a hero gel cleanser and subscription. Directly comparable to Rank Up's R_homme sub-brand in men's skincare positioning and direct-to-consumer model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rank Up social profiles
Digital presenceRank Up compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rank Up financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rank Up leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rank Up subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rank Up funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rank Up 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 Rank Up
What does Rank Up do?
Rank Up develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary skincare and cosmetics brands — MANARA (flagship women's skincare including the Hot Cleansing Gel Massage Plus), R_homme (men's skincare with HADA GEL and TSUBU WASH), and ACNAL (daytime skincare for recurring skin concerns) — distributed via direct e-commerce, catalog/mail-order subscriptions, and retail partners across Japan and Taiwan. The company also operates Craver Kids, a private after-school program (学童型スクール) launched in 2024 that teaches children thinking habits.
Is Rank Up a public or private company?
Rank Up is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rank Up founded?
Rank Up was founded in 2005.
Where is Rank Up based?
Rank Up is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Rank Up make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution and men's Skincare Products.
Who are Rank Up's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FANCL Corporation, ORBIS (Pola Orbis Holdings), DHC Corporation and Dr.Ci:Labo (Ci:z Holdings / Johnson & Johnson). Broad incumbents are POLA Inc., Shiseido Company, Limited and KOSÉ Corporation. Bulk Homme is listed as an emerging player.
Does Rank Up have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rank Up.
What industry is Rank Up in?
Rank Up's product category is Skincare and Cosmetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAAAB, Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging), with a secondary code of CRABAAAH, Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare. Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2844.