Media Kobo

Basic Information

Stock Code
3815
Industry
Information and Communications Industry
Category Detail
Content Production & Distribution
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
October 1997
Listing Year
September 2006
Official Website
https://www.mkb.ne.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Fourside, Dual T, No.1, Papyless, M-UP Holdings, Mediadoo, B-Gree, Link-U Group, AI CROSS, Imagineer, note, Gunosy, Ecosystem

Overview

Media Kobo is a growing company founded in 1997 in the information and communications industry, primarily focusing on paid fortune-telling content and feng shui-related merchandise sales, providing a variety of digital content.

Current Situation

Media Kobo's latest financial performance recorded consolidated sales of approximately 2.251 billion yen for the fiscal year ended August 2017, but operating profit and net profit were in the red. It primarily engages in fortune-telling content delivery for PCs and mobile phones as well as sales of feng shui-related interior goods, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market. Competitors include M-UP Holdings and Mediadoo, with intensifying competition in the diversifying digital content market. In terms of innovation, it is advancing smartphone app development and overseas expansion into the Chinese and Korean markets. Sustainability awareness is also rising, with a focus on sustainable service operations and ensuring user safety. Future strategies include expanding digital content and strengthening the merchandise business, as well as deploying personalized optimization services utilizing AI and big data. Moving forward, it aims for growth by simultaneously pursuing new business creation and enhancing the competitiveness of existing businesses.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Media Kobo began voice response fortune-telling services in 1998.
  • Historic company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in 2006.
  • Unique diversified management as a digital content company with proprietary feng shui merchandise.
  • Released fortune-telling software for Nintendo DS in 2009.
  • Global expansion including local subsidiaries in China and Korea, providing fortune-telling to Korean websites.
  • Handles games and mobile sales businesses through multiple subsidiaries.
  • Absorbed and merged Moviez Co., Ltd. to strengthen video content.
  • Provides games to SNS platforms such as Mixi, Mobage Town, and GREE.
  • Early adoption of Rakuten安心 payment service to establish secure payment environment.
  • Actively plans and sells interior sundries and luck-enhancing goods beyond fortune-telling.
  • Deploys paid services in collaboration with Yahoo! Fortune-Telling and NTT Docomo i-mode.
  • Broad expansion into e-publishing and video delivery with fortune-telling and feng shui as core areas.
  • Operates multiple membership fortune-telling portals in addition to the official site.
  • History of flexible business model transitions in response to market changes.
  • Approximately 158 employees (consolidated, 2015), small to medium-sized yet deploying diverse businesses.

Hidden Connections

  • Subsidiary Giftcam Japan is the core of merchandise business, closely linked with feng shui sundries e-commerce.
  • Competes with peers like Mediadoo and M-UP while having potential for technical collaboration.
  • Influences lifestyle sundries market through feng shui interior business beyond fortune-telling industry.
  • Previously sold subsidiary TNK via MBO to optimize capital structure.
  • Focuses on strengthening collaborations with major platforms like Rakuten, Yahoo!, and NTT Docomo.
  • Established MKB Korea Co., Ltd. in Korea for localized service deployment.
  • Implements cross-media strategy through multiple media including games, e-publishing, and video delivery.
  • Company name 'Kobo' (workshop) reflects commitment to handmade feel and uniqueness, incorporated into brand strategy.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Increase in app usage from smartphone market expansion
  • Expanding trend in digital content paid market
  • Growing demand for feng shui and fortune-telling related merchandise
  • Creation of new fortune-telling services utilizing AI technology
  • Aggressive expansion into overseas Asian markets
  • Strengthening SNS integration and data-driven marketing
  • Rising demand for personalized services for individuals
  • Multi-channel strategy for new customer acquisition
  • Creation of new business opportunities through fusion of digital and merchandise
  • Gaining customer trust through security enhancements and legal compliance
  • Expansion of collaborations with smartphone game market
  • Introduction of cloud services and subscriptions

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve top domestic share in digital fortune-telling content
  • Reach 30%+ overseas sales ratio
  • Double merchandise business sales
  • 10+ new services utilizing AI technology
  • Complete sustainability-related certifications and reporting systems
  • Globalization of multilingual services
  • Surpass 10 billion yen in annual sales
  • Maintain customer satisfaction above 90%
  • Target 5 million smartphone app users
  • Strengthen cross-media promotions

Business Segments

Platform Provision

Overview
Provides infrastructure for fortune-telling and content delivery, supporting paid settlement integration.
Competitiveness
Abundant content and robust paid system integration capabilities
Customers
  • Mobile phone carriers
  • Portal site operating companies
  • Smartphone app distributors
  • SNS platform operators
Products
  • Fortune-telling content delivery system
  • Paid settlement integration service
  • Ad delivery solutions
  • User analysis tools

Content Production and Licensing

Overview
Produces and provides original fortune-telling content and related videos.
Competitiveness
Experienced production team and cross-media deployment capabilities
Customers
  • Advertising agencies
  • Information program production companies
  • Media companies
  • Educational institutions
Products
  • Fortune-telling content production
  • Feng shui explanation videos
  • Licensed delivery
  • Original character design

Merchandise Business Support

Overview
Supports planning, manufacturing, and sales channel development for feng shui-related sundries.
Competitiveness
Integrated support system from product planning to sales
Customers
  • Retail stores
  • Online shop operators
  • Wholesalers
  • Gift shops
Products
  • Feng shui sundries supply
  • Product planning and development
  • EC logistics support
  • Sales promotion tools

Overseas Market Expansion Support

Overview
Supports deployment and operations of fortune-telling services in the Asian market.
Competitiveness
Local subsidiary establishment providing market understanding and responsiveness
Customers
  • Overseas sales agents
  • Local mobile carriers
  • Global media companies
Products
  • Fortune-telling content for Korea and China
  • Multilingual compatible platform
  • Local marketing support

Digital Ad Delivery Service

Overview
Provides ad delivery services utilizing fortune-telling and feng shui-related media.
Competitiveness
High-precision delivery based on target behavior analysis
Customers
  • Advertisers
  • Advertising agencies
  • Online media
Products
  • Targeting ads
  • Performance-based ads
  • SNS ad management service

Membership Service Operation Support

Overview
Provides operation and management services for fixed-rate paid content.
Competitiveness
Flexible system design and attentive operation support
Customers
  • Membership site operators
  • Recurring payment business operators
Products
  • Membership management system
  • Payment agency service
  • Content update support

Data Analysis Solutions

Overview
Supports business improvement and strategy formulation using usage data.
Competitiveness
High-precision analysis technology and industry expertise
Customers
  • Content production companies
  • Marketing companies
  • Research institutions
Products
  • User behavior analysis
  • Sales forecasting model
  • Market trend reports

Smartphone Game Development Support

Overview
Supports development and operation of game products integrated with fortune-telling and psychological tests.
Competitiveness
Proprietary know-how in incorporating fortune-telling elements
Customers
  • Game development companies
  • Mobile app manufacturers
Products
  • Game app planning
  • UI/UX design
  • Operation and maintenance services

Cross-Media Promotion

Overview
Supports planning and implementation of promotions utilizing multiple media.
Competitiveness
Planning capabilities and extensive network
Customers
  • Advertising agencies
  • Media companies
  • Publishers
Products
  • Digital ad production
  • Promotion campaign planning
  • SNS marketing

App Provision Platform

Overview
Provides smartphone app delivery and paid systems.
Competitiveness
Stable operation and multifunctional integration
Customers
  • Carriers
  • Smartphone manufacturers
  • Content providers
Products
  • App delivery system
  • Payment function integration
  • Content update support

Merchandise Logistics Service

Overview
Handles logistics and customer support for feng shui-related merchandise businesses.
Competitiveness
EC logistics expertise and high customer satisfaction
Customers
  • EC businesses
  • Sundries sales companies
  • Feng shui goods manufacturers
Products
  • Inventory management
  • Shipping agency
  • Customer support

Overseas Legal Compliance Consulting

Overview
Provides support for legal compliance and reviews necessary for overseas business expansion.
Competitiveness
Extensive overseas market experience and legal knowledge
Customers
  • Overseas expansion companies
  • Content delivery businesses
  • Cross-border operators
Products
  • Export/import regulation compliance
  • Local legal research
  • Content review support

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Long track record in fortune-telling content development
  • Listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market
  • Diverse content lineup
  • Diversified management including feng shui merchandise business
  • Early overseas expansion achievements
  • Smartphone compatibility technology
  • Secured diverse delivery channels
  • Stable revenue base from paid model
  • Robust payment system integration
  • Strong customer base and repeat users
  • Specialized fortune-tellers and production team
  • Flexible business partnerships and subsidiary deployments
  • Stable capital and financial structure
  • Aggressive marketing initiatives
  • Global expansion through multilingual support

Competitive Advantages

  • In-house development of diverse fortune-telling and feng shui-related content
  • Credibility and fundraising strength from TSE Growth listing
  • Stable transaction relationships with mobile carriers and major portal sites
  • First-mover advantage in Korea and China via local subsidiaries
  • Revenue stability ensured by multiple paid revenue sources
  • Cross-media strategy combining smartphone apps, web, and merchandise
  • Differentiation from competitors through payment platform integration know-how
  • Rapid content updates and user response system
  • High targeting accuracy from proprietary marketing analysis
  • Broad customer coverage through multi-brand deployment
  • Risk diversification by expanding into merchandise beyond fortune-telling
  • Increased revenue sources through business diversification via subsidiaries and consolidated entities
  • Cost reduction via in-house system from planning to operation
  • Utilization of both online and offline sales channels
  • Advanced app development technology and user UX improvement capabilities

Threats

  • Intensifying competition in digital content market
  • Rising customer acquisition costs due to reliance on paid model
  • Impact of smartphone OS platform regulation changes
  • Risks from cultural differences and legal regulations in overseas markets
  • Impact of reduced consumer spending due to economic fluctuations
  • Increased burden from strengthened compliance with laws like Personal Information Protection Act
  • Increased development investment burden from rapid technological evolution
  • Service outage risks from network failures
  • Revenue decline from customer migration to subscription services
  • Proliferation of imitation content and piracy
  • Revenue instability from ad income dependency
  • Cyberattack and data breach risks

Innovations

2023: Expansion of Smartphone-Compatible Fortune-Telling Apps

Overview
Developed multifunctional fortune-telling apps to strengthen user acquisition.
Impact
300% increase in app downloads

2022: Introduction of AI-Based Automatic Fortune-Telling Content Generation System

Overview
Utilized AI technology to automate fortune-telling text and video generation.
Impact
20% reduction in content production costs

2024: Development of Multilingual Compatible Platform

Overview
Advanced sales expansion through multilingual services for Korea and China.
Impact
Expected 15% increase in overseas sales

2021: Renewal of Feng Shui Related Merchandise Online Shop

Overview
Promoted sales through UX improvements and added payment functions.
Impact
5% sales increase

2022: Strengthening of Electronic Books and Electronic Publishing Business

Overview
Expanded production and delivery of smartphone-compatible e-publications.
Impact
Increase in annual subscribers

2023: Implementation of Cross-Media Ad Promotions

Overview
New promotion linking SNS and digital ads.
Impact
Improved brand awareness

2022: Initiation of Collaboration with Smartphone Game Content

Overview
Incorporated fortune-telling elements into games to develop new customers.
Impact
Increase in new users

2024: Enhanced User Behavior Analysis via Data Analytics

Overview
Advanced personalization through user behavior analysis.
Impact
10% increase in payment rate

2021: Introduction of Security Enhancement Measures

Overview
Advanced personal information protection framework.
Impact
Improved safety securing customer trust

2023: Addition and Development of New Fortune-Telling Genres

Overview
Expanded specialized areas such as astrology.
Impact
Improved content utilization rate

Sustainability

  • Thorough personal information protection and privacy measures
  • Paperless delivery promotion to save paper resources
  • Promotion of work-style reforms and health support for employees
  • Strengthened support for local events and cultural activities
  • Promotion of green energy usage
  • Environmental load reduction measures such as online seminars
  • Respect for diversity and promotion of inclusivity
  • Promotion of digital device recycling
  • Enhanced transparency through CSR report publication
  • Risk reduction through strengthened cybersecurity
  • CO2 reduction via remote work promotion
  • Building sustainable supply chains