THINK FITNESS Corporation
Japanese comprehensive fitness company operating GOLD'S GYM clubs, fitness equipment and supplement retail, and fitness media.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
THINK FITNESS Corporation (株式会社THINKフィットネス) is a Japanese comprehensive fitness company headquartered in Koto, Tokyo. It began in March 1986 when Eiji Tezuka opened a fitness club called "Happy" in Koto Ward and started importing and selling barbells and small fitness items; the business was incorporated as Yugen-kaisha Think in May 1986. The company later became a kabushiki-gaisha in 1995 and changed its name to THINK FITNESS in November 2006. The company's defining move came in 1995, when it signed a franchise agreement with GOLD'S GYM FRANCHISING (GGF) of the United States and opened Japan's first GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM East Tokyo," in July of that year. In 1998 it upgraded to a master franchise agreement covering franchise development within Japan. Today THINK FITNESS operates GOLD'S GYM clubs in Japan and also runs other fitness businesses, including the women-oriented Mellow Flow and Woman's SHAPE GYM. Beyond clubs, THINK FITNESS runs a fitness products division that imports and sells training machines and fitness goods, wholesales fitness equipment and supplements, and operates retail brands such as FITNESS Shop and Recyfit, a used training machine sales, purchase and rental business. It also sells supplements under the BEST NUTRITION LAB brand and, through its subsidiary Fitness Sports, publishes training and combat-sports magazines including Iron Man, Fight & Life and BOXING BEAT. The company describes itself as aiming to be a "fitness One Stop Solution" covering products, places and information. THINK FITNESS is privately held. Its representative director and president is Eiji Tezuka, and its capital is 289.62 million yen (as stated on its company profile page). In March 2021 it acquired 67% of Joyful Athletic Club from Joyful Honda and renamed that company MTJ Fitness, expanding beyond GOLD'S GYM into locally rooted fitness club operation. The company also owns the corporate baseball club THINK FITNESS・GOLD'S GYM Baseball Club.
History
THINK FITNESS traces its origins to March 1986, when Eiji Tezuka opened a fitness club named "Happy" in Koto Ward, Tokyo, and began importing and selling barbells and small fitness items. In May 1986 the business was incorporated as Yugen-kaisha Think with capital of 11,250 thousand yen. It increased capital to 17,000 thousand yen in September 1988 and opened the Kinshicho Showroom in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, in October 1988. In May 1992 it opened the fitness club "SUPER GYM AME'S." A turning point came in 1995. In April the company signed a franchise agreement with GOLD'S GYM FRANCHISING (GGF) of the United States, and in July it opened Japan's first GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM East Tokyo." In November 1995 it reorganized into a kabushiki-gaisha and changed its name to Think Co., Ltd. Capital was increased to 19,000 thousand yen in December 1996. In March 1997 it opened its second GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM North Tokyo," in Toshima Ward, and in June 1997 raised capital to 38,000 thousand yen. In September 1997 it began selling GOLD'S GYM goods (apparel and accessories) under an arrangement with GOLD'S GYM INTERNATIONAL, and in October 1997 it opened the "Fitness Shop Osaka Hankyu Ings" store in Kita Ward, Osaka. In February 1998 the company signed a master franchise agreement with GGF that also covered franchise development within Japan. It opened its third GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM Gyotoku Chiba," in Ichikawa, Chiba, in April 1998, and in December 1998 began planning and selling domestically produced original supplements. Through the 2000s it expanded GOLD'S GYM clubs across Japan, including Kobe Motomachi (2000), Saitama Super Arena (2000), South Tokyo (2000), Harajuku Tokyo (2002), Makuhari Chiba (2002), South Tokyo Annex (2002), Yokosuka Kanagawa (2003), West Tokyo (2003), Sendai Chuo (2003), Shonan Kanagawa (2003), Atsugi Kanagawa (2004), Omotesando Tokyo (2004), Umeda Osaka (2004), Nagoya Kanayama (2005), Omiya Saitama (2006), Kyoto Nijo (2006), Kitasenju Tokyo (2006), Ritto Shiga (2006) and Fuchu Tokyo (2006). Capital was repeatedly increased, reaching 259,629 thousand yen in October 2003. In November 2006 the company changed its name to THINK FITNESS Corporation. It continued to expand and diversify: it added floors to existing clubs such as Makuhari Chiba ANNEX (2007) and Harajuku Tokyo (2007), and it developed retail and media businesses. Its subsidiary Fitness Sports publishes training and combat-sports magazines including Iron Man, Fight & Life and BOXING BEAT. The company also operates the corporate baseball club THINK FITNESS・GOLD'S GYM Baseball Club. On March 1, 2021, THINK FITNESS acquired 67% of Joyful Athletic Club from Joyful Honda and made it a subsidiary, renaming it MTJ Fitness. This move took THINK FITNESS beyond GOLD'S GYM operation into locally rooted fitness club management. As of its company profile, THINK FITNESS is headquartered in Koto, Tokyo, with capital of 289.62 million yen, and its representative director and president is Eiji Tezuka.
Opened fitness club "Happy" in Koto Ward, Tokyo, and began importing and selling barbells and small items.
Incorporated as Yugen-kaisha Think with capital of 11,250 thousand yen.
Increased capital to 17,000 thousand yen.
Opened Kinshicho Showroom in Sumida Ward, Tokyo.
Opened fitness club "SUPER GYM AME'S."
Signed franchise agreement with GOLD'S GYM FRANCHISING (GGF) of the United States.
Opened Japan's first GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM East Tokyo."
Reorganized into a kabushiki-gaisha and changed name to Think Co., Ltd.
Increased capital to 19,000 thousand yen.
Opened second GOLD'S GYM, "GOLD'S GYM North Tokyo," in Toshima Ward.
Products and positioning
Comprehensive fitness company aiming to be a "fitness One Stop Solution" spanning clubs, products and information.
GOLD'S GYM PRODUCTS
Brand of supplements, apparel and fitness accessories from GOLD'S GYM.
BEST NUTRITION LAB
Supplement brand for health management, athletic bodybuilding and shaping.
FITNESS Shop
Fitness specialty shop originating in Switzerland, first opened in Japan in 1988.
Recyfit
Used training machine and equipment sales, purchase and rental business.
Mellow Flow
Multi-studio for yoga, aerial yoga, hula and Pilates.
Woman's SHAPE GYM
Women-only fitness gym born from a women's training and sports magazine.
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