ASOBISYSTEM and ORIGINAL Sign Capital Alliance for Global Japanese Culture Push
The alliance pairs ASOBISYSTEM's overseas market development with ORIGINAL's Time Out Tokyo network to build the business infrastructure needed to convert international interest in Japanese culture into sustainable revenue.
Reporting from 1 source: GameBusiness.jp.
ASOBISYSTEM and ORIGINAL announced a capital and business alliance on August 4, 2026, to build a joint foundation for growing Japanese culture, art, tourism, and food culture into sustainable international businesses. ASOBISYSTEM will invest in ORIGINAL and become a strategic shareholder. The partnership starts with English-speaking markets and includes considering new investment mechanisms.
The two companies, both founded in 2007, approach the international market from different angles. ASOBISYSTEM has built its business on artist production and event planning centered on people and live experiences. ORIGINAL operates Time Out Tokyo, the Japanese edition of the global media brand that runs in 350 cities worldwide, and has spent 17 years working with it in Japan.
The alliance targets a gap in the industry: the foundation for turning enthusiasm from inbound visitors and overseas events into sustainable businesses is still being built. The partners plan three initiatives, starting with joint business infrastructure in English-speaking markets, mainly Europe, the United States, and Australia, followed by work on inbound experiences and regional internationalization, and consideration of new investment mechanisms including funds.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GameBusiness.jp アソビシステムとORIGINAL、資本業務提携を締結。日本文化の国際市場定着へ長期戦略で共同基盤構築