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Playknot's 2025 Annual Performance Report

Headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Playknot Co., Ltd, co-led by Takuma Honyashiki and Kyohei Yamaguchi, has been delivering solutions since its establishment in 2021 with the motto, "Solve with Playful Idea." Merging a touch of playfulness with business, creativity, and technology, the company has successfully completed numerous projects across various sectors, including automotive, environment, analytical devices, haircare, fashion, retail, and transportation infrastructure. As they wrap up the 2025 fiscal year, Playknot proudly presents eight standout projects that exemplify their work.

Highlights of the 2025 Fiscal Year Projects

1. Toyota Motor Corporation | DRIVE RECORDER119

Client: Toyota Motor Corporation
Scope: Conceptualization, communication design, promotional video, leaflet, and poster creation.

In Toyota's initiative aiming for "zero traffic fatalities and injuries," named DRIVE RECORDER119, Playknot was entrusted with the comprehensive communication design. The project involved an innovative experiment utilizing drive recorder footage for firefighting activities in Toyota City, aiming to recruit 3,000 participants. Playknot designed promotional materials such as videos, leaflets, and posters, ensuring a consistent tone and style. Emphasizing ease of participation and privacy considerations, the campaign successfully communicated these elements. The initiative is set to be featured nationally in April 2026 on broadcast news.

2. Asuene Co., Ltd. | ASUENE MEDIA PRO

Client: Asuene Co., Ltd. (Agency: Hakuhodo Inc.)
Scope: Information architecture, UX design, and visual design.

Playknot supported the launch of ASUENE MEDIA PRO, Asuene’s owned media platform designed for B2B engagement in decarbonization and ESG management. They helped in creating a user-friendly category and navigation design, ensuring that target corporate representatives can easily access crucial information. The visual theme successfully blends innovation and trust in the fields of climate change and decarbonization, maintaining brand value throughout the media experience.

3. Asahi Techneon Co., Ltd. | Promotional Video

Client: Asahi Techneon Co., Ltd.
Scope: Project management, planning, 3D modeling, and animation.

For Asahi Techneon, known for its extensive lineup of analytical, detection, refining devices, and picking robots, Playknot created an introductory promotional video. They structured the video to compactly convey the advantages of being a partner in research settings. In the production phase, multiple Python scripts were developed for Blender, automating the 3D modeling and animation process. This innovation led to faster iterations and quality retention.

4. Daria Co., Ltd. | High Tone Mania

Client: Daria Co., Ltd. (Agency: Shinto Communications)
Scope: Planning and production of SNS promotional videos (live-action x 3DCG VFX).

To launch the high-tone hair color brand “High Tone Mania” targeting Gen Z at the Don Quijote store, Playknot planned and produced an eye-catching promotional video. Utilizing a blend of live-action footage and 3DCG effects, they developed a visually striking VFX showcase of the store's exterior. The campaign features an animated brand logo that envelops the store, along with larger-than-life characters, expertly tailored for social media formats, seamlessly promoting in-store purchases.

5. Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. | CITIZEN ATTESA

Client: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (Agency: Quoras)
Scope: Planning and production of SNS promotional videos (live-action x 3DCG VFX).

For the launch of their newest ATTESA watch, Citizen aimed to reach a broad audience that included younger consumers. Playknot designed a short vertical film, focusing on the new product’s design motif, "lunar eclipse," incorporating fantastical CG visuals that show a giant red moon over the Tokyo Tower. The unique detail of synchronizing the watch's displayed time with the actual posting time on social media added an immersive brand experience, achieving 120,000 impressions organically post-launch without any advertising expenses.

6. Haruyama Trading Co., Ltd. | AR Campaign for "Compliment Suit"

Client: Haruyama Trading Co., Ltd.
Scope: UI/UX design for AR experience, AR content development.

For the AR campaign focusing on the purchase of the “Compliment Suit,” Playknot managed the UI/UX and implementation of the AR experience. The campaign used AR amulet charms and QR codes as a gateway for a seamless transition to AR experiences. Artists featured in the AR delivered encouraging messages to freshers, utilizing a WebAR design that remained accessible without app installations, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience across devices.

7. Sakae Chika | “Sakae Chika is Your Escape This Summer!”

Client: Sakae Chika (Agency: Shinto Communications)
Scope: Campaign planning, illustration, and graphic design.

Playknot was responsible for the entire process for the summer campaign of Nagoya's underground Sakae Chika, themed around "common summertime scenarios.” They generated thirty amusing themes, transforming them into unique illustrations showcased across various media including posters and fans. By implementing generative AI tools, Playknot significantly reduced lead time by about 50% compared to previous efforts, ensuring a quick and high-quality campaign rollout.

8. East Japan Railway Company | TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY AR

Client: East Japan Railway Company (Agency: TOPPAN)
Scope: Project management, UI/UX design, and 3D modeling.

In line with the opening of the TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, a web AR content titled “TAKANAWA LINK SCAPE” was developed in collaboration with TOPPAN. The AR experience connects the historical “Takanawa Chikutei” from the Meiji era, allowing users to explore a 200m virtual space combining the past, present, and future through immersive AR storytelling. Designed to function through smartphone browsers, this experience transcends language and age barriers, encapsulating the city’s vision for enriching life a hundred years into the future.

What Playknot Can Offer

• - XR / AR: Creation and implementation of immersive experiences using XR technologies, from web AR requiring no installations to fence-linked AR content.
• - SNS Promotional Videos (3DCG x Live Action): Development of visually striking videos optimized for vertical formats, blending virtual OOH with VFX and CG synthesis for organic dissemination.
• - Communication Design & Creative Development: Transformation of complex systems or technologies into easily understandable visuals and language across various media.
• - Brand & Media Design: Building experiences that consistently convey brand value, from UX/information design of owned media to visual identity creation.
• - Campaign Planning & Creative Production: Rapid production processes leveraging generative AI, markedly reducing lead time from concept to graphics delivery.
• - 3DCG & Motion Design: High-quality 3DCG visuals for product promotions and corporate introductions, with Blender at the forefront of their pipeline.

Company Overview

Company Name: Playknot Co., Ltd.
Established: June 2021
Representative Directors: Takuma Honyashiki & Kyohei Yamaguchi
Address: 5-33-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0051, S yukatei Shinjuku Gyoen II
Business Activities: Business development support, marketing support, AI utilization support, XR utilization support, web development support.
Corporate Website: Playknot Website
Inquiry: Contact Us