About SOPHOLA About us

Empower and Revitalize Japan for Next Generation

SOPHOLA, Inc was founded to tackle on the following 3 social issues: local depopulation/aging craftsmanship/ spreading Japan’s appeal on the globe, which are occurring in local areas except for cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka through SOPHOLA’s business activities.

TOP - About SOPHOLA

MISSION, VISION & VALUES

  • Mission

    MISSION

    Empower and
    Revitalize Japan
    for Next Generation

    We will create Japan's society so the next generation can take hope and pride in the future by contributing to resolving social issues of Japan through our business activities.
    SOPHOLA, Inc is a company that creates a brilliant future in Japan by tackling on the following 3 social issues: local depopulation/ aging craftsmanship/ spreading Japan’s appeal on the globe, which are occurring in local areas except for cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka through SOPHOLA’s business activities.

    Mission
  • VISION

    VISION

    Company of Bridging
    Between Present and Future,
    Japan and the World

    We will strive to tackle on local depopulation, aging craftsmanship, and spreading Japan's appeal around the globe, and then become a company of bridging between present and future, between Japan and the world.

    SOPHOLA, Inc is located in in Nagano, from here Nagano, we are aiming to become a mediator between Japan and the world. In digital marketing industries, we will raise the level of digital marketing technology in Japan to world level, not only in big cities but also in local areas, through support of the global cutting edge technology companies with strong intention to expand their businesses in Japan.
    In global B2B e-commerce business, we are creating demand and keeping the light on tradition by selling overseas traditional crafts of local areas especially where depopulation is progressing.

    VISION
  • VALUES

    VALUES

    ”The Strongest“ Will and Determination

    We always use our mind about what to do in order to realize our mission and vision, and overcome any difficulties with ”the strongest“ will and determination.

    ”The Fastest“ Decision and Action

    We always make ”the fastest“ decision and action under any challenging circumstance, not wasting time in response.

    ”The Deepest“ Self-Examination and Improvement

    We always review an outcome of each action through ”the deepest“ self-examination, and practice improvement plans.

    ”SPEEDY“ action with ”Passion“
    We keep learning both from successes and failures
    These values make a continuous progress of SOPHOLA, therefore we are sure we can provide cutting-edge and high-level Value Proposition.

    VALUES

Resolution of SOPHOLA's Founder & CEO

Founder & CEO MASAKI IINO

Create innovative businesses in Nagano and other local regions to solve Japanese social issues by building a bridge between Japan and the world.

I have been living in Nagano for 5 years now. Our dream is to create a digital marketing consulting company/industry that can be involved in the upper process even in rural areas, become one of the motivations for I-turn and U-turn, and contribute to local revitalization. We also have a strong desire to expand the sales channels of traditional crafts and works overseas, and to preserve what Japan is proud of for future generations. With these aspirations in mind, we have been working on business development with nearly 300 domestic advertising agencies/advertisers, 5 traditional craft manufacturers, and 18 overseas cutting-edge technology partners from 13 countries.

In my work, I frequently communicate with overseas companies, but the situation in which the latest overseas technology does not come into Japan in a timely manner continues. The reasons for this include the language barrier in Japan, the barrier of commercial customs, and the barrier of the peculiar market situation in a closed industry. Furthermore, when we look to the regions, we feel that there is a greater disparity in corporate status between major cities and regional cities, as information flow is scarce and technologies and methods that are circulated in major cities have not permeated into the regions.

We will continue to play a role as a "bridge between Japan and the world" in the digital marketing technology and traditional craft fields, and grow into a company that can act as a brake on the rapid decline of regional areas. If you are interested in innovative technologies that Japan does not have or expanding sales channels overseas, we would be grateful if we could work together. We aim to contribute to the regions and promote Japanese culture overseas.

Masaki "Mark" Iino, April-2023

Profile

May/’10
Graduated from University of Utah with MS Degree in Applied Math
Feb-May/’11
Jade K.K.(Part-Time)
Jun/’11-Dec/’12
Adflex Communications K.K.
Jan/’13-2May/’15
Irep Co., Ltd（Since Oct, 2014, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners)
2Jun/2015
Rakuten Inc.
Apr/2016
Linkshare Japan
Vice Office Manager of New Business
Development Office
Dec/’16-Apr/’18
Head of New Business Development Office and Performance Media Marketing Department
Apr/’18
SOPHOLA, Inc
Co-Founder and CEO
May/’18-Apr/’19
Fellow for Adflex Communications, Adgorithmics
Apr/'19-Dec/'19
External Executive, FLIPDESK
Sep/'21-
Digital Marketing Fellow, Chugoku Shimbun Ad
代表: 飯野 正紀

Company

Company Name

SOPHOLA, Inc.

Offices

Nagano Headquarter
5056-21 Horigane-Karasugawa, Azumino, Nagano, Nagano, 399-8211, Japan

Main Partners/Clients

adflex communications, inc
Adgorithmics, K.K.
Nadia Inc.
MORINAGA&CO., LTD.
NTT East Co.
Asoview Inc.
Sonotas Co.
Recruit Staffing Co. Ltd
Kewpie Co.
Asahi Advertising Inc
Marukome Co., Ltd
Link K.K.
RFA digital brains Inc.
Chugoku Shimbun
Chugoku Shimbun Ad

The Friendly Swede (Sweden)
Knud Gadd (Sweden)
Generate Design (Canada)

AdScale BV （The Netherlands）
Longtail UX (Australia)
Markable (United States)
CREADITS （United States）
Scibids （France）
Lunio (United Kingdom)

Main Bank

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Nagano Branch

Established

Apr. 17, 2018

Executives

Masaki Iino (CEO)

Employees

3 as of Mar.2021

Businesses

Consulting/Outsourcing
B2B E-Commerce for Global Businesses

Awards

Oct, 2019: Won Top50 Tech Companies’Award in Intercon 2019
*Intercon, the Internet Conference (https://www.intercon.world/) is hosted by Prism Events, Inc. (https://www.prismevents.co/).

Cloud computing companies, venture capitalists, SaaS providers, IoT, AI technologies to justify the companies, leaders, and socially influential executives who are transforming the Internet and related technologies around the world. It brings together more than 250 technical professionals, including companies and web developers.

The Top 50 Tech Companies Award recognizes significant contributions to the technology area.

Oct, 2021: Won Frontrunner Award in BPO at ITC’s 2021 Go Global Awards
*The 2021 GoGlobal Awards of the International Trade Council the world’s largest non-profit organization that unites the World Trade Chamber of Commerce, honors companies that have developed fierce, technology and strategic economies. There are more and more representatives of institutions, economics, venture capital and financial institutions.

Oct, 2023: Global Business Awards 2023 – Best Digital Marketing Consultant in Japan
*Corporate Vision, now celebrating its 7th year, has been dedicated to recognizing the Best of Best across various global industries and evaluating leading companies. The ‘Global Business Awards 2023’ aims to spotlight today’s business pioneers who maintain excellence and drive success by focusing on the latest trends and developments influencing today’s market.

Affliation

Azumino Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Work with us

We are aiming to become a bridge between Japan and the world, and make a large contribution toward The Future of Japan.

CAREERS