Media Groove Co., Ltd.

Media Groove Co., Ltd. is a Japanese entertainment and mobile application developer headquartered in Tokyo. The company began operations in June 2006, initially selling a blog tool called "Magical Maker" that allowed users to draw moving pictures on photos, and provided it to Ameba and about ten other blog platforms. It subsequently moved into avatar-based social networking and social games, launching the mobile avatar SNS "Chipuya Town" in 2007 and a sister site "Otaipa Town" in partnership with Fuji TV in 2008. Through the 2010s it released a series of social and romance simulation games, including "Alice in Chipuya," "Yumemite Konkatsu," "Trump Kingdom," and the historical romance simulation "Keichō Koi Yami Ninpōchō: Shinobi no Midare." In 2015–2016 it launched the avatar community app "Chouchou Doll" for iOS and Android, followed by the restaurant-themed game "Alice's Tea Party" in 2017 and the fishing-gear flea market service "Tsuri-Furi" in 2017. In 2019 it formed a capital and business alliance with Maruwa Soft Co., Ltd., and in 2020 it began offering WebAR, VR, and MR platform services, including the browser-based AR service "neeAR" launched in December 2020. In October 2023 it released the doll-fan dress-up app "My Marionette Atelier" jointly with CyberAgent's Cyberd. The company is privately held, with stated capital of 20 million yen, and is led by representative director Hitoshi Aihara. Its main clients and partners include DeNA, Fuji TV (FCX), Cyberd, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Kayac, Amutus, Electro Dream, Maruwa Soft, Oscar Promotion, and Business Agent.

Media Groove Co., Ltd. was established in June 2006, when it began selling "Magical Maker," a blog tool that let users draw moving pictures on photos, and provided it to Ameba and about ten other blog platforms. In September 2007 the company launched "Chipuya Town," an original avatar SNS for mobile phones. In July 2008, in partnership with Fuji TV, it released "Otaipa Town," a sister site to Chipuya Town. The company then expanded into social games: "Alice in Chipuya" was released in February 2010, followed by the romance simulation game "Yumemite Konkatsu" in October 2010. Between April and December 2011 it released a string of social games including "Alice in Chipuya 2," "Chipuya DE Sugoroku," and "Trump Kingdom." In December 2015 it announced the avatar community app "Chouchou Doll," which launched its iOS version in January 2016 alongside the Android version, marking a full-scale service start. In October 2016 it released the original historical romance simulation game app "Keichō Koi Yami Ninpōchō: Shinobi no Midare" on iPhone, Android, GREE, Mobage, and Ameba platforms. In April 2017 it released "Alice's Tea Party," a restaurant-themed game linked to Chouchou Doll, and in November 2017 it launched "Tsuri-Furi," a flea market service specialized for fishing gear. In May 2019 the company formed a capital and business alliance with Maruwa Soft Co., Ltd. In November 2020 it started a new business providing WebAR, VR, and MR services, and in December 2020 it officially began selling "neeAR," a browser-only AR (XR) service requiring no app. In October 2023, jointly with Cyberd, it released "My Marionette Atelier," a new dress-up app for the doll market. The company moved its headquarters from Minato Ward to Shibuya Ward in December 2018, and as of its company profile it lists a registered location in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, with a Shibuya office. It is privately held with stated capital of 20 million yen, and its representative director is Hitoshi Aihara.

• Media Groove Co., Ltd. started; began selling the blog drawing tool "Magical Maker" and provided it to Ameba and about ten other blog platforms.

• Launched "Chipuya Town," an original avatar SNS for mobile phones.

• Released "Otaipa Town" (sister site of Chipuya Town) in partnership with Fuji TV.

• Released the social game "Alice in Chipuya."

• Released the romance simulation game "Yumemite Konkatsu."

• Released social games "Alice in Chipuya 2," "Chipuya DE Sugoroku," and "Trump Kingdom" in succession (through December).

• Announced the avatar community app "Chouchou Doll."

• Released iOS version of "Chouchou Doll"; full-scale service started with Android version.

• Released original historical romance simulation game app "Keichō Koi Yami Ninpōchō: Shinobi no Midare" on iPhone, Android, GREE, Mobage, and Ameba.

• Released "Alice's Tea Party," a restaurant-themed game linked to Chouchou Doll.

• Released "Tsuri-Furi," a flea market service specialized for fishing gear.

• Moved headquarters from Minato Ward to Shibuya Ward.

• Formed a capital and business alliance with Maruwa Soft Co., Ltd.

• Started new business providing WebAR, VR, and MR services.

• Officially began selling "neeAR," a browser-only AR (XR) service requiring no app.

• Released "My Marionette Atelier," a new dress-up app for the doll market, jointly with Cyberd.

Entertainment company focused on smartphone app development, avatars, games, and AR/VR/MR services.

• Magical Maker

  Blog tool for drawing moving pictures on photos, provided to Ameba and about ten other blog platforms.

• Chipuya Town

  Original avatar SNS for mobile phones.

• Otaipa Town

  Sister site of Chipuya Town, released in partnership with Fuji TV.

• Alice in Chipuya

  Social game released in February 2010.

• Yumemite Konkatsu

  Romance simulation game released in October 2010.

• Trump Kingdom

  Social game released in 2011.

• Chouchou Doll

  Avatar community app for iOS and Android, announced December 2015 and launched January 2016.

• Keichō Koi Yami Ninpōchō: Shinobi no Midare

  Original historical romance simulation game app released October 2016 on multiple platforms.

• Alice's Tea Party

  Restaurant-themed game linked to Chouchou Doll, released April 2017.

• Tsuri-Furi

  Flea market service specialized for fishing gear, released November 2017.

• neeAR

  Browser-only AR (XR) service requiring no app, officially launched December 2020.

• My Marionette Atelier

  Doll-fan dress-up app released October 2023 jointly with Cyberd.

1. 1株式会社メディアグルーヴmedia-groove.co.jp
2. 2会社概要 | 株式会社メディアグルーヴmedia-groove.co.jp
3. 3Media Groove Co., Ltd. (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org