2000
Founded Adways Agency, the predecessor to Adways, with the aim of providing internet advertising services
HISTORY|COMPANY
History | Corporate Information
HISTORY 01
2000 - 2005
01
2001
Established Adways Inc.
Launched the internet ad delivery service "Adways Network"
Launched the mobile version of internet ad delivery service "Adways Network"
2002
Opened the Tokyo office in Taito Ward, Tokyo
2003
Upgraded "Adways Network" (mobile version) and launched the affiliate (performance-based) advertising service "Smart Click"
Upgraded "Adways Network" (PC version) and launched the affiliate advertising service "JANet"
Established Adways Software Development (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China, as a system development base
2004
Upgraded "Smart Click" and launched the affiliate advertising service "Smart-C"
Relocated headquarters to Taito Ward, Tokyo
2005
Launched the affiliate advertising service "CHANet" in China
HISTORY 02
2006 - 2010
02
2006
Relocated headquarters to Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo (Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku Oak Tower)
Listed shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market
2007
Established Adways Advertising (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China, as a sales base
Opened the Osaka office
Entered into a capital and business alliance with Itochu Corporation
2008
Acquired shares of Toy B Entertainment Inc., making it a subsidiary, and renamed it Adways Entertainment Inc.
2009
Opened the Nagoya office
2010
Opened the Fukuoka office
Established Adways Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China
Launched the smartphone app advertising service "AppDriver"
HISTORY 03
2011 - 2015
03
2011
Launched a social app business for smartphones
Established Adways Ventures Inc.
Established ADWAYS TECHNOLOGY JSC. (VIETNAM) in Vietnam
Acquired shares of Lavion Social Inc. and made it a subsidiary
Launched operations in the Philippines through ADWAYS PHILIPPINES INC.
Established ADWAYS TECHNOLOGY LTD. in Hong Kong
Established ADWAYS ASIA HOLDINGS LTD. in Hong Kong
Established PT. ADWAYS INDONESIA in Indonesia
Strengthened the capital alliance with Itochu Corporation, becoming an equity-method affiliate
Established ADWAYS INNOVATIONS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. in Singapore
2012
Launched operations in Taiwan through JS ADWAYS MEDIA INC.
Launched operations in Thailand through ADWAYS LABS (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
Established ADWAYS INTERACTIVE, INC. in San Francisco, United States
Acquired shares of Samurai Link Inc. (now Samurai Adways Inc.) and made it a subsidiary
Transferred shares of Adways Entertainment Inc. and removed it from the list of subsidiaries
Established Adways Robot Inc.
Established ADWAYS KOREA, INC. in South Korea
2013
Launched "Yoyaku Top 10," a pre-registration service for upcoming app releases
Launched "PartyTrack," a globally compatible mobile performance measurement system
Established Bulbit Inc. (now UNICORN, Inc.)
Launched the smartphone app ad delivery service "AppDriver" across Southeast Asia
Acquired shares of Copan Inc. and made it a subsidiary
2014
Okuri Bunt Inc. commenced operations
Relocated headquarters to Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo (Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku Grand Tower)
Launched "Nint for ECommerce," an e-commerce data service for sellers on EC marketplaces
Adways Baby Inc. commenced operations
2015
Acquired shares of Tropics Media Inc. (now Rakuichiban Inc.) and made it a subsidiary
Established ADWAYS VIETNAM CO., LTD. in Vietnam
Launched "Blue Bee Series," offering ad tech operation tools and ad network services for China and Southeast Asia
Launched "STROBELIGHTS," a comprehensive management system supporting major performance advertising platforms
Launched "Nint for China," a cross-border e-commerce data service for China
Launched "Nint for Research," an e-commerce trend data service
HISTORY 04
2016 - 2020
04
2016
Launched "Lindle," a system for automatically generating, managing, and measuring the performance of deep links across apps and web
Opened the Sendai office
Established ADWAYS INNOVATIONS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED in India
Acquired shares of Mist Technologies Inc. and made it a subsidiary
Launched "EC Data Lab," a specialized media platform using e-commerce big data
2017
Transferred the software development business of ADWAYS TECHNOLOGY JSC. (VIETNAM) to LINE Vietnam Co., Ltd
Launched "UNICORN," a fully automated marketing platform
Launched "Dobel," a tool for mass-generating video creatives
Launched "MASSIVE," a tool for automatically generating ad creatives
Launched "INFINITY EXPANSION," a delivery system that automatically expands targeting
Adways Frontier Inc. commenced operations in Sapporo
Launched "Nint for Seller," a data analytics tool for Amazon.co.jp sellers
2018
Brasta Inc. (now ADWAYS EN Inc.) commenced operations
Launched "Brasta," a collaborative product matching service
Established Mukuri Inc.
2019
Launched "YACLE," a service that suggests compliant advertising expressions under Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act
Launched "STROBELIGHTS X," a unified management system for performance advertising data
Launched "STROBELIGHTS 4G VIDEO ANALYZER," a multi-dimensional analysis tool for Google Ads app campaign video ads
Concluded an exclusive sales agreement with "POKKT," a mobile video advertising platform for major brand advertisers in India and Southeast Asia, for its Japan expansion
Transferred shares of ADWAYS INNOVATIONS INDIA PVT. LTD. and removed it from the list of subsidiaries
preheat Inc. commenced operations
Launched "GANet," an affiliate network for cross-border e-commerce operators, in China and Taiwan
Launched "STROBELIGHTS Best Practice Checker," a tool for maintaining optimal settings for Google Ads app campaigns
Entered into a capital and business alliance with Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc.
2020
Bulbit Inc. was renamed UNICORN, Inc.
Launched "UNICORN Interactive AD," an advanced creative ad format
Transferred listing to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
HISTORY 05
2021 - 2025
05
2021
Established Shanghai Chengzi Xing Digital Media Technology Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Itochu Textile Merchants (China) Ltd.
Transferred shares of Rakuichiban Inc. and removed it from the list of subsidiaries
Change of President & CEO | Sho Yamada appointed as President & CEO; Haruhisa Okamura appointed as Chairman of the Board
UNICORN, Inc. became the first company in Japan to be certified as an Apple Search Ads Partner
Established newborns Inc. (now Old Rookie Café)
Entered into a capital alliance with Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc.
Subsidiary JS ADWAYS MEDIA INC. acquired shares of Match Advertising Inc. and made it a subsidiary
2022
Old Rookie Sauna commenced operations
Became an equity-method affiliate of Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc.
Transferred to the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market
Launched the fully automated marketing platform "UNICORN" in Taiwan
Launched the "AMP (Amplify Marketing Program)" series, a digital advertising maximization solution
Launched the "AMP MediaAnalyzer" series, a media algorithm analysis and behavioral causal visioning system
Launched "MediaAnalyzer 4G," specialized in optimizing Google Ads
Launched "MediaAnalyzer 4M," specialized in optimizing Facebook and Instagram ads provided by Meta
Launched "MediaAnalyzer 4T," specialized in optimizing TikTok ads
2023
Established ADWAYS DEEE Inc. as a consolidated subsidiary through a company split (simplified incorporation-type split)
Launched "MediaAnalyzer 4X," specialized in optimizing X (Twitter) ads
Established the company’s Purpose and Values to drive further growth and value creation
Published the Medium-Term Management Plan for Fiscal Years 2023–2025
Relocated headquarters to the current location in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo (Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku First Tower)
Old Rookie Café commenced operations
Established the Sustainability Committee
Formulated the "Basic Policy on Human Rights"
2024
UNICORN partnered with Parsempo to launch an ad delivery platform for retail media and an integrated digital signage solution
ADWAYS EN Inc. commenced operations
Revised the Medium-Term Management Plan for Fiscal Years 2023–2025 and formulated the Medium-Term Management Plan for Fiscal Years 2023–2027
UNICORN, Inc. and MetricWorks Inc. established MetricWorks Japan Inc. as a joint venture
Launched "MARKETING DOC," a vital sign measurement service for verifying marketing effectiveness
Launched "Creative Analyzer," an analytics tool specialized in advertising creatives
Established UNICORN THA Co., Ltd. in Thailand as a subsidiary of UNICORN, Inc.
JS Adways partnered with Taiwan FamilyMart to launch "Family ADs pDOOH," a programmatic DOOH solution
Formulated the "Sustainability Policy"
2025
Established VECT INNOVATION Inc.
