Dirbato Establishes New Subsidiary, 'Forwardforce Inc.'
In April 2026, Dirbato established Forwardforce Inc., a subsidiary specialized in the onsite implementation and long-term operational success of Generative AI. As a team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs), they provide vendor-neutral, end-to-end support from problem exploration to autonomous client operation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 13:45 (14 min after Collected)
Dirbato (Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yasuhide Kanayama, hereinafter 'Dirbato') is pleased to announce the establishment of a new subsidiary, Forwardforce Inc. (Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yasuhide Kanayama, hereinafter 'Forwardforce'), in April 2026. The new company is dedicated to the field-level implementation and sustained operational success of AI and digital technologies.
Operating from a vendor-neutral standpoint, Forwardforce embeds itself within the client's operations. As an 'expansionary and companion-style' Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) group for Japanese enterprises, it provides end-to-end support across the entire AI deployment lifecycle: Problem Exploration, PoC, Full-Scale Implementation, Operational Sustainment, and Autonomous Operation.
■ Background of Establishment
While advanced technologies such as Generative AI have evolved rapidly, becoming central to the strategic agendas of Japanese firms, many companies face persistent structural hurdles. Common issues include AI systems that are implemented but unused, or successful PoCs that fail to reach production or become deeply integrated.
This 'last-mile' disconnect is not due to a lack of technical capability. Rather, structural barriers—such as a lack of deep operational understanding, poor integration with existing legacy systems, and a shortage of personnel to manage post-deployment sustainability—create a deep divide between technology and the workplace. Traditional support models have often suffered from an over-specialization—consultants focus on 'strategy/proposals' while engineers focus on 'implementation'—leaving a vacuum in the sustainment phase, resulting in the mass production of non-functional AI systems.
While the FDE model has developed in the West to help onsite teams master proprietary products, in Japan, the very first step—defining problems and formulating the right questions to solve—is a significant hurdle. In many cases, a hands-off FDE model alone is insufficient to translate AI utilization into real business impact.
Forwardforce was created to bridge this divide. Inheriting the know-how, talent, and track record built by Dirbato during its rapid growth in the consulting sector, we act as a team of specialists who fuse business understanding with engineering prowess. We run alongside our clients until AI transitions from a 'deployed project' into a 'natural part of the workplace.'
■ Business Overview of Forwardforce Inc.
Forwardforce carries the mission of 'Eliminating workplaces globally where technology cannot reach,' aiming to realize a society where AI is a standard element of the workplace rather than a mere add-on.
(1) Field First: We start not from technology, but from the workplace. We begin by deeply understanding the client's operations, constraints, and organizational structure to design solutions rooted in real operational context.
(2) Solution Neutral: We do not rely on specific vendors or products. We select, combine, and implement the optimal technology for each client from a neutral standpoint. Our loyalty lies in the client's outcomes, not the product.
(3) Commit to Outcome: Our FDE team, equipped with both operational insight and technical implementation capability, manages the entire journey from problem discovery to operational sustainment as a single team. We do not separate 'thinkers' from 'makers,' but move in lockstep with the workplace until tangible results are generated.
(4) Build to Last: Through knowledge transfer and the construction of operational frameworks, we build a state where client organizations can continue to utilize and improve AI autonomously. Our greatest achievement is cultivating sustainable mechanisms that remain effective long after we have departed.
■ Key Strengths of Forwardforce
(1) Inherited Expertise and Track Record: We carry forward Dirbato's comprehensive consulting achievements, ranging from project inception to governance design, as well as operational expertise in 'NeuraBeat,' our proprietary generative AI tool. These field-tested insights ensure reliable outcomes.
(2) Cross-Industry Capability: Building on the extensive track record and expertise accumulated by the Dirbato Group across finance, telecommunications, public sector, and other industries, we provide individually optimized solutions tailored to specific industry characteristics.
Operating from a vendor-neutral standpoint, Forwardforce embeds itself within the client's operations. As an 'expansionary and companion-style' Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) group for Japanese enterprises, it provides end-to-end support across the entire AI deployment lifecycle: Problem Exploration, PoC, Full-Scale Implementation, Operational Sustainment, and Autonomous Operation.
■ Background of Establishment
While advanced technologies such as Generative AI have evolved rapidly, becoming central to the strategic agendas of Japanese firms, many companies face persistent structural hurdles. Common issues include AI systems that are implemented but unused, or successful PoCs that fail to reach production or become deeply integrated.
This 'last-mile' disconnect is not due to a lack of technical capability. Rather, structural barriers—such as a lack of deep operational understanding, poor integration with existing legacy systems, and a shortage of personnel to manage post-deployment sustainability—create a deep divide between technology and the workplace. Traditional support models have often suffered from an over-specialization—consultants focus on 'strategy/proposals' while engineers focus on 'implementation'—leaving a vacuum in the sustainment phase, resulting in the mass production of non-functional AI systems.
While the FDE model has developed in the West to help onsite teams master proprietary products, in Japan, the very first step—defining problems and formulating the right questions to solve—is a significant hurdle. In many cases, a hands-off FDE model alone is insufficient to translate AI utilization into real business impact.
Forwardforce was created to bridge this divide. Inheriting the know-how, talent, and track record built by Dirbato during its rapid growth in the consulting sector, we act as a team of specialists who fuse business understanding with engineering prowess. We run alongside our clients until AI transitions from a 'deployed project' into a 'natural part of the workplace.'
■ Business Overview of Forwardforce Inc.
Forwardforce carries the mission of 'Eliminating workplaces globally where technology cannot reach,' aiming to realize a society where AI is a standard element of the workplace rather than a mere add-on.
(1) Field First: We start not from technology, but from the workplace. We begin by deeply understanding the client's operations, constraints, and organizational structure to design solutions rooted in real operational context.
(2) Solution Neutral: We do not rely on specific vendors or products. We select, combine, and implement the optimal technology for each client from a neutral standpoint. Our loyalty lies in the client's outcomes, not the product.
(3) Commit to Outcome: Our FDE team, equipped with both operational insight and technical implementation capability, manages the entire journey from problem discovery to operational sustainment as a single team. We do not separate 'thinkers' from 'makers,' but move in lockstep with the workplace until tangible results are generated.
(4) Build to Last: Through knowledge transfer and the construction of operational frameworks, we build a state where client organizations can continue to utilize and improve AI autonomously. Our greatest achievement is cultivating sustainable mechanisms that remain effective long after we have departed.
■ Key Strengths of Forwardforce
(1) Inherited Expertise and Track Record: We carry forward Dirbato's comprehensive consulting achievements, ranging from project inception to governance design, as well as operational expertise in 'NeuraBeat,' our proprietary generative AI tool. These field-tested insights ensure reliable outcomes.
(2) Cross-Industry Capability: Building on the extensive track record and expertise accumulated by the Dirbato Group across finance, telecommunications, public sector, and other industries, we provide individually optimized solutions tailored to specific industry characteristics.
FAQ
What is the purpose of establishing Forwardforce?
To bridge the gap between AI implementation and operational success, ensuring AI becomes a natural part of business workflows.
What are the company's key strengths?
Expertise inherited from Dirbato, vendor-neutral technology selection, and end-to-end support from problem exploration to autonomous operation.
What does the 'FDE' approach entail?
Forward Deployed Engineers work onsite, combining business understanding with engineering skills to support clients until tangible outcomes are achieved.