#Japan #Tokyo #REAL AKIBA #United Inc. #Akihabara Culture

United Investment in Real Akiba

United Inc., headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently announced its investment in Real Akiba, a holding company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, dedicated to promoting Akihabara culture on a global scale. This investment comes as part of United's strategy to tap into the rapidly growing live entertainment market, which is projected to expand to around 760 billion yen in Japan by 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4%, reaching approximately 870 billion yen by 2030.

About Real Akiba

Established to integrate various entertainment companies, Real Akiba serves as a startup holding company that currently consolidates 11 group firms specializing in dance, music, and other cultural aspects originating from Akihabara. Notable subsidiaries include Abstream Creation and ISARIBI, both recognized for their strengths in creative production, planning, and networking.

One of Real Akiba's standout projects is the dance group “REAL AKIBA BOYZ” (RAB), which showcases performances featuring anime-inspired outfits and songs from the anime and Vocaloid genres. Since its inception in 2007, RAB has gained immense popularity online, amassing around 834,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel as of August 2025, and attracting over 100,000 attendees at their events annually. Their achievements also include performances at prestigious venues such as the Budokan and a presence at programs like NHK's Kouhaku.

Investment Background

The surge in global interest in Japanese pop culture, fueled by the rise of video streaming platforms, presents a significant opportunity for Real Akiba. As the company continues to explore the nuances of Akihabara culture—ranging from animation to music and beyond—its efforts are poised to resonate with international audiences. Nurturing and promoting Japanese subculture globally is their mission, and United has faith that this collaboration will catalyze a faster “Japan to Global” movement, making the rich experiences of Akihabara accessible to a worldwide audience.

CEO Keita Sakakibara, who co-founded REAL AKIBA BOYZ and has passionately driven this unique cultural initiative, expresses great enthusiasm for broadening their reach and impact on a global scale.

Future Prospects

With the newly acquired investment, Real Akiba plans to focus on the development of new intellectual properties (IPs) and pursue global expansion actively. United is committed to supporting Real Akiba in its pursuit of growth and intensified promotion of Akihabara culture to international markets.

Furthermore, United Inc. maintains a proactive stance towards investing in promising startups with viable business models. In its investment endeavors, United operates under the mission of maximizing willpower to accelerate societal good. Over the past 20 years, they have financed numerous startups, leveraging their experience in business management and organizational operations to assist investee companies in achieving growth and successful exits.

Company Overview

• - Investee Name: Real Akiba Co., Ltd.
• - Headquarters: 1-18-19 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 101-0021, Japan
• - Established: April 9, 2025
• - CEO: Keita Sakakibara
• - Business Activities: Entertainment Sector
• - Website: realakiba.co.jp

• - United Inc.:

- Headquarters: 1-2-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, 150-0002, Japan
- Established: February 20, 1998
- CEO: Yoshiki Hayakawa
- Business Activities: Investment, Education, Human Resource Matching, Ad Tech, and Content
- Website: united.jp