MSY Inc.
Japanese gaming lifestyle company behind the GRAPHT brand, creating gaming peripherals, apparel, and community experiences.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
MSY Inc. is a Japanese company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, that operates across gaming peripherals, e-sports services, and creator-focused community platforms. Originally founded in 1978 as General Auto Service Co., Ltd., a used-import-car dealership, the company shifted direction after Masaya Akiyama became representative director in 2005. Under his leadership, MSY began handling gaming-related products, starting with Razer Inc. products in 2005, and gradually transformed into a gaming lifestyle enterprise. The company's best-known consumer-facing brand is GRAPHT, launched in 2011. GRAPHT combines creator art with craftsmanship to produce gaming gear, apparel, and accessories, often in collaboration with major game franchises such as Street Fighter 6, Hatsune Miku, and Persona. MSY also operates COLORS, a brand rooted in Kiryu's local wood-weaving industry, and EQUAL PROJECT, which focuses on recycled materials and sustainable design. The company has secured licensing and distribution agreements with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo, Microsoft, Guillemot Corporation, and others. MSY describes its mission as "Unleash the human imagination, change the values of the world" and promotes a concept called CaaS (Creator as a Service), aiming to create places where like-minded creators gather and unleash their creativity through games. Its business spans e-sports device sales, team and influencer management, community digital platforms, and regional revitalization using anime, manga, games, and VTubers. As of February 2025, MSY employed 61 people with capital of 10 million yen. It remains a private company led by representative director Masaya Akiyama.
History
MSY Inc. traces its origins to June 1978, when Shōzō Akiyama founded General Auto Service Co., Ltd. for the purpose of selling imported used cars. The company operated in the automotive sector for decades. A major turning point came in July 2005, when Masaya Akiyama became representative director. That same year, in August, the company began handling products from Razer Inc., a Singapore-headquartered gaming hardware company, marking its entry into the gaming industry. In March 2006, MSY launched the brand COLORS, inspired by the local wood-weaving industry of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, with the aim of changing the way local industries approach manufacturing. In August 2006, it signed a sales agency agreement with NaturalPoint, Inc., a U.S. company developing motion capture systems. In December 2007, the company changed its name to MSY Inc. MSY continued to expand its gaming-related business. In March 2008, it released the official licensed product 'MONSTER HUNTING GRIP' for PSP on the same day as the game 'Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G'. In November 2008, it published the first volume of 'GOALD (goal of design)', a new media outlet to directly communicate the value of craftsmanship to customers. In December 2009, it announced 'iCrew', a water-resistant, shock-absorbing iPhone case for bicycles. In January 2010, MSY signed a license agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment (now Sony Interactive Entertainment). In July 2010, it signed a global license agreement with KEITH HARING STUDIO LLC. In October 2010, it signed a sales agency agreement with Guillemot Corporation SA, a French game peripheral manufacturer. In March 2011, it signed a global license agreement with THE ESTATE OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT. In June 2011, it signed license agreements with Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Walt Disney Japan. In September 2011, MSY exhibited its two brands GRAPHT and COLORS at the interior and design exhibition Maison&Objet in Paris, France. In October 2011, MSY launched GRAPHT, a brand that combines creators' worldviews (art) with the skills of craftsmen (craft/craftsmanship) to create products that inspire creativity in everyone. In January 2013, it announced EQUAL PROJECT, a brand based on the equation 'unnecessary things = things of another value', and simultaneously launched hangers made from recycled denim scrap and discarded denim fabric in the United States. In February 2013, 'Cartesia' won the Best Bottom Drawer award at the Design Award 2013 selected by Wallpaper (UK). In June 2013, 'Cartesia Desk' won the Bronze Award at the Design for Asia Award 2013 by the Hong Kong Design Centre. In December 2014, MSY signed a global license partnership agreement with SONY for 'Made for Xperia'. In July 2015, it signed a 'Surface' accessory license agreement with Microsoft Corporation. In August 2015, EQUAL PROJECT won the top prize in the 'Green Sustainability' category at the high-end lifestyle exhibition NY NOW in New York. In November 2016, MSY launched 'Team GRAPHT' to discover new talent and enliven the gaming scene together with fans. In recent years, MSY has continued to expand its GRAPHT brand through collaborations with major game franchises such as Street Fighter 6, Hatsune Miku, and Persona. In September 2026, it signed an exclusive distributor agreement with keyboard brand Akko for the Japanese market. The company remains headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, and is led by representative director Masaya Akiyama.
- 2015
Signed 'Surface' accessory license agreement with Microsoft Corporation.
- 2015
EQUAL PROJECT won top prize in 'Green Sustainability' at NY NOW.
- 2014
Signed global license partnership agreement with SONY for 'Made for Xperia'.
- 2013
Announced EQUAL PROJECT and launched recycled denim hangers in the USA.
- 2013
'Cartesia' won Best Bottom Drawer at Wallpaper's Design Award 2013.
- 2013
'Cartesia Desk' won Bronze Award at Design for Asia Award 2013.
- 2011
Signed a global license agreement with THE ESTATE OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (USA).
- 2011
Signed license agreements with Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Walt Disney Japan.
- 2011
Exhibited GRAPHT and COLORS at Maison&Objet in Paris, France.
- 2011
Launched the brand GRAPHT, combining creator art with craftsmanship.
Products and positioning
Gaming lifestyle and creator community company blending art, craftsmanship, and gaming culture.
GRAPHT gaming peripherals
Gaming gear including controllers, audio devices, mousepads, and apparel, often in collaboration with game franchises.
COLORS
Brand inspired by Kiryu's wood-weaving industry, aiming to change local manufacturing.
EQUAL PROJECT
Brand based on the concept of 'unnecessary things = things of another value', using recycled materials.
MONSTER HUNTING GRIP
Official licensed PSP grip for Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G.
iCrew
Water-resistant, shock-absorbing iPhone case for bicycles.
Cartesia
Award-winning design product, including Cartesia Desk.
Sources4 sources
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