Searchina
Searchina is a Japanese business-information and news-distribution company specializing in China-related economic, financial, and consumer intelligence.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Searchina is a Japanese information-services company built around business intelligence, news distribution, and market research concerning China. Its name combines the ideas of “search” and “China,” reflecting the company’s original role as a portal intended to help Japanese users locate and understand information about the Chinese market. The business was founded by Masakazu Motoki, a China-born entrepreneur from Fujian Province who had previously worked for a trading company in Japan. On June 4, 1998, Motoki launched an information portal called China Intelligence Bureau. Searchina Co., Ltd. was subsequently established on September 1, 1999, formalizing the business behind the website. The company’s central proposition has been to make Chinese economic, financial, and social information more accessible to Japanese audiences. Its coverage has included the Chinese economy, Chinese equities, business developments, and consumer activity. Searchina has been described as one of Japan’s major China-information websites, particularly for readers seeking market intelligence rather than general international news. Alongside editorial and news-distribution activities, the company has conducted internet research and promotional monitoring focused on affluent Chinese individuals and consumers in Shanghai. This positioned Searchina between a specialist media outlet, a market-information provider, and a research and promotion partner for organizations interested in China. In July 2008, marking the tenth anniversary of the original portal’s launch, the website changed its name from China Intelligence Bureau to Searchina. The rebranding aligned the public-facing site with the corporate name and gave the business a more concise identity for its expanding information services. Searchina also developed relationships with Chinese information institutions. It contracted with China News Service for news distribution and maintained a joint venture with China Securities Journal, a publication associated with Xinhua News Agency. These relationships supported the company’s role as a conduit for China-related information in Japan, while also linking its operations to Chinese media and financial-information networks. Searchina participated in Japan-facing information and promotional activity related to major China events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The company was also recognized alongside Toyota, OMRON, Panasonic, and KYOCERA by a Chinese governmental organization with an award for contributions to China-Japan newspaper exchanges. This recognition reflected Searchina’s broader exchange-oriented role, beyond simply publishing online articles. In April 2009, Searchina entered a tie-up with Dow Jones Japan to expand information services for Japanese financial business operators. The arrangement indicated an effort to combine Searchina’s China-focused expertise with a wider financial-information distribution network. In February 2010, SBI Group acquired Searchina. The acquisition connected the company with SBI’s financial-services and investment-oriented ecosystem, although the available reference material does not specify the detailed terms, subsequent organizational structure, or current operating scope. Searchina’s documented identity therefore centers on specialist China intelligence, news delivery, financial-market information, and research services serving Japanese users and businesses.
History
Searchina traces its origins to June 4, 1998, when Masakazu Motoki launched a Japanese information portal called China Intelligence Bureau. Motoki, originally from Fujian Province in China, had worked for a trading company in Japan before leaving to establish the portal. The project was designed to provide information about China to Japanese users and eventually developed into a broader business-information and news-distribution operation. Searchina Co., Ltd. was established on September 1, 1999. During its early development, the company concentrated on China-related business information, including coverage of the Chinese economy and Chinese stocks. It also expanded into internet-based research and promotional monitoring, with particular attention to wealthy Chinese individuals and consumers in Shanghai. This work gave Searchina a role not only as a publisher but also as a source of commercial intelligence for organizations seeking to understand Chinese consumers and markets. The company built distribution and content relationships with Chinese information institutions. Searchina contracted with China News Service for news distribution and operated a joint venture with China Securities Journal, a financial publication associated with Xinhua News Agency. These arrangements strengthened its access to China-related news and market information while supporting its position as a specialist China-information service in Japan. In July 2008, around the tenth anniversary of the original website, the portal was renamed Searchina. The change replaced the former China Intelligence Bureau identity and aligned the site with the corporate name. Searchina also took part in Japan-oriented information, exchange, and promotional activity connected with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. A Chinese governmental organization recognized Searchina together with Toyota, OMRON, Panasonic, and KYOCERA for contributions to China-Japan newspaper exchanges. In April 2009, Searchina entered a tie-up with Dow Jones Japan to jointly broaden information services for Japanese financial business operators. The relationship reflected the company’s movement toward more specialized financial and professional information products. In February 2010, SBI Group acquired Searchina. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about the acquisition price, post-acquisition management, or later corporate developments. Searchina is therefore best documented as a Japan-based specialist information company whose historical business combined China-focused news, economic and stock-market coverage, market research, and commercial information services.
- 2010
Acquisition by SBI Group
[1]SBI Group acquired Searchina, bringing the specialist information company into its corporate group.
- 2009
Dow Jones Japan tie-up
[1]Searchina began cooperating with Dow Jones Japan to extend information services for Japanese financial businesses.
- 2008
Website renamed Searchina
[1]The former China Intelligence Bureau website adopted the Searchina name during the tenth anniversary period of its launch.
- 1999
Searchina Co., Ltd. is established
[1]The corporate entity behind the information portal was established on September 1.
- 1998
China Intelligence Bureau portal is launched
[1]Masakazu Motoki launched the portal that later became Searchina, establishing the company’s China-focused information business.
Products and positioning
A specialist Japan-based source of China-related business, financial, news, and market intelligence, positioned between digital media, information services, and research.
Digital media and information portal · 1998
Searchina information portal
Searchina’s core portal provides Japan-oriented information about China. It developed from the China Intelligence Bureau website and became the company’s principal public identity after the 2008 renaming. The portal’s documented focus includes Chinese business developments, economic conditions, financial markets, and other China-related news.
Business information
China business and economic information
This service area covers information concerning the Chinese economy and business environment for Japanese readers and organizations. It represents Searchina’s main specialist positioning and distinguishes the company from general-purpose news publishers.
Financial information
Chinese stock information
Searchina has been associated with coverage of Chinese stocks and financial markets. The service is aimed at users who need China-specific market information, including Japanese financial-business operators and other audiences monitoring Chinese securities.
Market research
Shanghai consumer research
The company has monitored affluent Chinese individuals and consumers in Shanghai through internet research and promotional activity. This work extends Searchina beyond editorial publishing into consumer intelligence and market-oriented research.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Shanghai World Expo information and promotional activity
Japan · China
Searchina participated in Japan-facing activity connected with the Shanghai World Expo, using its China-information capabilities in support of Japan-China exchange and promotion.
Outcome. No detailed performance results or campaign materials are identified in the reference material.
- 2008Beijing Olympic Games information and promotional activity
Japan · China
Searchina played a role in the Japanese market’s information and promotional activity surrounding the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, consistent with its China-focused media and research position.
Outcome. The reference material identifies the company as having played an important role but does not provide campaign metrics or specific deliverables.
Brand decisions
2010
Join SBI Group through acquisitionM&ABackground
Searchina had developed a specialist China-information and financial-news business serving Japanese audiences.
Action taken
SBI Group acquired Searchina in February 2010.
Aftermath
The acquisition placed Searchina within SBI Group. The available source does not specify the purchase price or subsequent integration arrangements.
2009
Cooperate with Dow Jones JapanStrategyBackground
Searchina sought to extend its China-focused information capabilities to Japanese financial business users.
Action taken
The company entered a tie-up with Dow Jones Japan to jointly expand information services.
Aftermath
The arrangement broadened Searchina’s professional financial-information positioning, although detailed commercial results are not provided.
2008
Rebrand the portal as SearchinaStrategyBackground
The original China Intelligence Bureau portal had reached its tenth anniversary, while the corporate identity was Searchina.
Action taken
The website name was changed to Searchina in July 2008, aligning the portal with the company name.
Aftermath
The rebrand unified the company and website identities and reinforced the Searchina name as the public-facing brand.
Recent events
- 2010
SBI Group acquires Searchina[1]
M&A
SBI Group acquired Searchina, linking the specialist China-information company to SBI’s broader financial and investment group.
- 2009
Searchina forms information-services tie-up with Dow Jones Japan[1]
M&A · Other
Searchina and Dow Jones Japan agreed to cooperate in extending information services for Japanese financial-sector users.
- 2008
China Intelligence Bureau website adopts the Searchina name[1]
Other
The website was renamed Searchina during the tenth anniversary period of its original launch, bringing its site identity into line with the corporate name.
- 1999
Searchina Co., Ltd. is established[1]
Other
The company behind the China Intelligence Bureau portal was formally established as Searchina Co., Ltd.
- 1998
Searchina launches the China Intelligence Bureau portal[1]
Other
Masakazu Motoki launched the portal that became the foundation of Searchina’s China-focused information business.
Sources2 sources
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