ASOBISYSTEM Announces Capital and Business Alliance with ContentAge

ASOBISYSTEM Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yusuke Nakagawa; hereinafter "ASOBISYSTEM") has completed the underwriting of a third-party allotment of new shares by ContentAge Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Sosuke Noda; hereinafter "ContentAge"), which operates IP development, general advertising, and talent agency businesses, and has entered into a capital and business alliance. Through this partnership, we will combine the assets held by ASOBISYSTEM—such as artists, creators, events, and retail stores and facilities—with ContentAge’s advertising, IP development, and talent management capabilities to strengthen a business structure centered on IP. We aim to increase the execution density from "creation to cultivation to expansion," with the goal of generating Japanese-born global IP.

1. Overview

ASOBISYSTEM has completed the capital and business alliance with ContentAge. Through this partnership, the two companies will link their assets to strengthen a system that promotes IP development, operation, and deployment in an integrated manner. By combining the know-how in artist production and cultural dissemination that ASOBISYSTEM has cultivated with ContentAge's advertising, social media marketing, and talent management functions, we aim to achieve continuous content creation and commercialization centered on character IP. The first joint project will be announced as soon as preparations are complete.

2. Background

In recent years, the Japanese entertainment and content industry has been facing a major turning point both domestically and internationally. As content and technology merge at high speed, the speed of integration in development, operation, and deployment is becoming a source of competitive advantage alongside creative power. ContentAge has been strengthening its structure to increase the reproducibility of businesses centered on IP, leveraging its strengths as a business base that crosses general advertising, entertainment, and IP development. ASOBISYSTEM has built its strengths in the entertainment industry in artist production, event operation, and the construction of a global network. This partnership is intended to combine the strengths of both companies to further enhance the execution capabilities of the IP business.

3. Business Synergies

Through this alliance, we will integrate "creation, cultivation, and expansion" from the following perspectives by combining ASOBISYSTEM’s assets—such as artists, creators, events, and retail stores and facilities—with ContentAge’s advertising and IP development functions: ・Planning and Development: IP design that considers marketability and sustainability (initial design of worldviews/characters/media deployment) ・Production and Operation: Communication design including social/real-world deployment and operational improvements based on reactions ・Expansion and Commercialization: Profitability design premised on multiple channels such as advertising, events, and licensing ・Structure: A promotion system capable of scaling for global audiences by housing production and operation together

4. Future Initiatives (Priority Areas)

Through this partnership, we will develop character businesses in the following areas: ・New IP development linked with artists and content held by ASOBISYSTEM ・Launch of new character/anime development projects in collaboration with media companies ・Regional revitalization × Character IP (collaboration with local governments, regionally-originated content) ・IP development with an eye toward overseas expansion (considering multilingual and cross-border distribution from the early stages of planning)

5. Comments from Representatives

Yusuke Nakagawa, Representative Director, ASOBISYSTEM Co., Ltd. I am looking forward to taking on the challenge of creating new IP together, combining ContentAge's strengths in IP development and marketing with our power to disseminate culture. I want to deliver content from Japan to the world and nurture it into IP that is loved by many people across borders and generations as a new culture. Sosuke Noda, Representative Director, ContentAge Co., Ltd. I am very encouraged and excited to have reached a capital and business alliance with ASOBISYSTEM Co., Ltd., which is promoting the global expansion of Japanese-born culture. Through this partnership, I want to strengthen and accelerate our company's focus on content IP businesses such as characters and animation, and grow characters loved by the world starting from SNS.

6. Company Profiles

■ About ASOBISYSTEM ASOBISYSTEM is a creative company engaged in the management of artists and creators who embody Japanese pop culture, event production such as music festivals, regional revitalization that combines local resources with entertainment, and store businesses utilizing IP. Through partnerships with domestic and international companies and media, we promote the global expansion of Japanese-born culture. Company Name: ASOBISYSTEM Co., Ltd. Location: Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Established: June 2007 Representative Director: Yusuke Nakagawa HP: https://asobisystem.com Business Scope: Talent Management (Artists, Models, Creators, Actors) Event Business Regional Revitalization Business Inbound Business Creative Business Media Business Brand/Store Business ■ About ContentAge Under the purpose of "Creating new impressions and a new era of content through the resonance of people and AI," ContentAge develops three businesses: IP development, talent agency, and general advertising. Company Name: ContentAge Co., Ltd. Location: Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Established: August 2015 Representative Director: Sosuke Noda HP: https://contentage.co.jp Business Scope: IP Development Business (Character IP, Short Dramas, Movies) Talent Agency Business (NDP Entertainment Holdings, N.D.Promotion, KYO, FYP) General Advertising Business (Marketing Strategy, Creative, Media Planning, PR/Events, etc.)

7. Contact for Inquiries

ContentAge Co., Ltd. Contact: Doman Inquiry Form: https://contentage.co.jp/contact/ * Companies interested in collaboration or new character IP development are also welcome to inquire.