Audika
Japanese hearing-aid retail subsidiary of Denmark's Demant, operating the Audika hearing care chain in Japan.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Audika K.K. is the Japanese hearing-aid retail arm of Demant A/S, the Danish multinational hearing healthcare group. Headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, the company operates a nationwide chain of hearing-aid specialty stores under the Audika brand, selling and fitting hearing aids — primarily Oticon models — and providing hearing assessments, custom fitting, and aftercare. Its corporate purpose is "Life-changing hearing care," and its brand concept is "Your hearing is our expertise." The Japanese entity traces its roots to Hokuriku Hearing Aid Co., Ltd., founded in Fukui in 1983 by Mitsuru Takahashi, a former Oticon employee, and to Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid Co., Ltd., established in Shizuoka in 1988. Together these businesses grew into the MTHA hearing-aid specialty store group, which at its peak operated more than 100 directly managed stores and was Japan's largest independent hearing-aid retail group. In November 2022, Demant acquired all shares of both Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid and Hokuriku Hearing Aid, making them wholly owned subsidiaries and integrating them into Demant's global Audika hearing care division. The company was renamed Audika K.K. in November 2024 and moved its headquarters from Kawasaki to Shinagawa Seaside in October 2025. As of 2026 it operates 39 stores across Japan, many of them certified hearing-aid specialty shops, and runs free hearing consultations at public facilities nationwide. Beyond retail, Audika K.K. participates in public hearing-screening initiatives, including an age-related hearing loss early-detection project in Okayama Prefecture using the OtoKiosk automated audiometry device and the Audika Go mobile screening vehicle. The global Audika Group, headquartered in Smørum, Denmark, operates in 28 countries with more than 4,500 hearing clinics and generated DKK 10.724 billion in revenue in 2025, equal to 45% of Demant's consolidated revenue.
History
The Japanese business that became Audika K.K. originated with Hokuriku Hearing Aid Co., Ltd., founded in December 1983 in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, by Mitsuru Takahashi, a native of Niigata who had worked for Oticon. In February 1988, Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid Co., Ltd. was established in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture. In November 2001, MTHA Shoji Co., Ltd. was founded in Shizuoka to wholesale hearing aids and audiometric equipment and to develop dealers. Hokuriku Hearing Aid moved its headquarters to Tsu, Mie Prefecture. In March 2013, a mold manufacturing department was established in Shizuoka to produce ear molds. In December 2016, the company trademarked "LISTENING MATE," a hearing aid fitted using a proprietary method to emphasize speech intelligibility. By this period, the group operated as the MTHA hearing-aid specialty store group, with more than 100 directly managed stores nationwide, making it Japan's largest independent hearing-aid retail group. It had close ties to Oticon because its founder was an Oticon alumnus, and Oticon accounted for a large share of its hearing-aid sales. In November 2022, Demant A/S, the Danish hearing healthcare company, acquired all shares of Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid and Hokuriku Hearing Aid, making them wholly owned subsidiaries. The founding Takahashi family withdrew from management, and Søren Nielsen, President and CEO of Demant, and Satoshi Kinoshita, President of Demant Japan, became Representative Directors. The headquarters was moved to Tsu, Mie, where Hokuriku Hearing Aid was based. In January 2023, Hokuriku Hearing Aid was absorbed, and MTHA Shoji effectively ceased to exist through a name change. Kinoshita stepped down as President of Demant Japan to become an advisor. In July 2023, the first Audika shop in Japan opened in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, as a full renovation of the Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid Center Utsunomiya store. In October 2023, the Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid Center Okayama store relocated and reopened as the second Audika shop in Japan, and a contact center was established in Fukuoka. In April 2024, the company joined an industry-academia-government project led by the Okayama Prefecture ENT Association and Okayama University Hospital's Hearing Support Center for early detection of age-related hearing loss, operating the Audika Go hearing screening vehicle equipped with the OtoKiosk automated audiometry device — the first such municipal deployment in Japan. In October 2024, several stores were consolidated or closed, and Goryokaku Hearing Aid Center in Hakodate, Hokkaido, was acquired and integrated as the third Audika shop. On November 11, 2024, the company changed its name to Audika K.K. On November 15, 2024, it moved its headquarters from Tsu, Mie to Kawasaki, Kanagawa, where Demant Japan is located. On November 30, 2024, several stores closed and others were consolidated. In December 2024, the store name "XX Hearing Aid Center" was abolished and all stores were renamed "Audika XX Store." On January 27, 2025, the Yonago store closed. On May 14, 2025, Audika signed an annual sponsorship contract with K-1 fighter Haru Komiya as Hearing Care Ambassador. In August 2025, Satoshi Kinoshita stepped down as Representative Director, and Toru Saito, President of Demant Japan, became Representative Director, concurrently heading Demant Japan, Diatec Japan, and Audika. In October 2025, the headquarters moved from Kawasaki to Shinagawa Seaside, and the Uozu store closed. In January 2026, the Morioka store closed. As of 2026, the company operates 39 stores across Japan. The global Audika Group, meanwhile, traces its brand origins to France, where brothers Jean-Claude and Alain Tonnard founded Sode SOC Organ Developp Entr S.A. in 1976 as France's first hearing correction center network. The company was renamed SOC Organisat Development Entreprise S.A. in 1985 and began franchising. In 1997 it changed its name to Audika S.A., and in May 1998 it listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (delisted December 24, 2015). From 2003, French actor and director Robert Hossein served as brand ambassador. In September 2007 it entered Italy, reaching about 60 locations by 2010. In 2011 it became Audika Group (now Audika Groupe S.A.S.). In June 2014, Amplifon expressed interest in acquiring it, but in September 2015 Demant acquired 53.9% of Audika Group shares held by Holton S.A.S., gaining control, and fully acquired it in December 2015. Since 2018, the group has been headquartered in Smørum, Denmark, and operates globally under the same store name. The Audika brand is a hearing care brand owned by Demant (registered with EUIPO in September 2009) and is also the group name for Demant's hearing-aid retail division.
Brothers Jean-Claude and Alain Tonnard found Sode SOC Organ Developp Entr S.A. in Paris, France's first hearing correction center network.
Mitsuru Takahashi founds Hokuriku Hearing Aid Co., Ltd. in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture.
Company renamed SOC Organisat Development Entreprise S.A. and begins franchising hearing correction centers.
Shin-Nihon Hearing Aid Co., Ltd. established in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Company renamed Audika S.A.
Audika lists on the Paris Stock Exchange (delisted December 24, 2015).
MTHA Shoji Co., Ltd. founded in Shizuoka for wholesale and dealer development.
French actor and director Robert Hossein becomes brand ambassador.
Audika enters Italy, reaching about 60 locations by 2010.
Audika trademark registered with EUIPO by Demant.
Products and positioning
Premium hearing-aid specialty retail with expert fitting, personalized counseling, and comprehensive aftercare; part of a global hearing care network.
Oticon Zeal
Multifunctional all-in-one in-the-ear hearing aid.
Oticon Intent
Hearing aid model.
Oticon Real
Hearing aid model.
Oticon Own
Hearing aid model.
Oticon Zircon
Hearing aid model.
Oticon Xceed
Hearing aid model.
LISTENING MATE
Hearing aid fitted with proprietary method to emphasize speech intelligibility.
Sources4 sources
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