Apies

Apies Co., Ltd. (株式会社アピエス) is a Japanese company headquartered in Wakō, Saitama Prefecture, that rents and sells amusement equipment. Its main products today are amusement vending machines such as fortune-telling machines and senjafuda (pilgrim slip) vending machines. As of 2018, it held roughly an 80% domestic share of omikuji (fortune slip) vending machines and was described as the only manufacturer and seller in Japan after the withdrawal of Joshidōsha. The company's origins lie in the video game industry. It was founded in 1969 as IPM Shōkai by Kenzo Tsujimoto, who later became chairman of Capcom, and was incorporated in 1974 as IPM Co., Ltd. It initially leased arcade game machines such as medal games and pinball machines to small shops. It entered computer games and in 1979 changed its name to Irem Co., Ltd. after IBM sent a letter saying the IPM name was confusing. Under the Irem name it became known for arcade and home video games including R-Type, Spartan X, and Mr. Heli's Great Adventure. Irem's game development business was transferred to Irem Software Engineering in 1997, while the amusement vendor business remained. The company changed its name to Apies Co., Ltd. in 1998. It was owned at various times by Nanao (now EIZO), Daiei, Yubis, and Atlas (the former company), and in 2001 its shares were sold to its then-president via an MBO for 1,000 yen. It has since focused on amusement vending machines and has withdrawn from operating amusement facilities.

The company was founded in July 1969 as IPM Shōkai by Kenzo Tsujimoto in Osaka Prefecture. On July 10, 1974, it was incorporated as IPM Co., Ltd. Initially it leased arcade game machines such as medal games and pinball machines to small shops like candy stores and bakeries. In 1977, amid the block-breaking game boom, it formed a production partnership with Nanao Electric of Ishikawa Prefecture. On July 1, 1979, the company changed its name to Irem Co., Ltd.; the change was prompted by a letter from IBM saying the IPM name was confusing, though press reports at the time cited business expansion. In February 1980, Nanao (now EIZO), which had made Nanao Electric a subsidiary, made Irem a subsidiary. On December 15, 1982, Nanao president Tetsu Takashima concurrently became president of Irem, and Tsujimoto became chairman without representative rights. In 1983, Tsujimoto resigned as chairman. In 1985, the game development and sales divisions were spun off as Irem Sales Co., Ltd.; they were merged back in 1989. Around this time, Daiei acquired half of the shares from Nanao, making Irem part of the Daiei group, but later, due to Daiei's business difficulties, all shares were sold back to Nanao, returning Irem to Nanao's fold. In 1994, the company withdrew from game development and moved its development division to Ishikawa Prefecture, where Nanao was located. In 1996, it returned to game development with "Gussun Paradise." In June 1997, after transferring its game development division to Irem Software Engineering Co., Ltd., it was sold from Nanao to Yubis and became part of the Yubis group. In 1998, the company changed its name to Apies Co., Ltd. In 1999, it was acquired by Atlas (the former company), which had invested in Yubis the previous year. In 2001, Atlas sold all shares to the then-president of Apies (a former Atlas employee) via an MBO for 1,000 yen. After the game business was separated, Apies continued as an amusement vendor, focusing on fortune-telling machines and senjafuda vending machines. As of 2018, it held about 80% of the domestic market for omikuji vending machines and was the only manufacturer and seller in Japan after Joshidōsha withdrew. It formerly operated amusement facilities but has withdrawn from that business.

• 2018

  Held about 80% domestic share of omikuji vending machines; only manufacturer/seller in Japan after Joshidōsha withdrawal.

• 2001

  Atlas sold all shares to then-president via MBO for 1,000 yen.

• 1999

  Acquired by Atlas (former company).

• 1998

  Renamed Apies Co., Ltd.

• 1997

  Transferred game development division to Irem Software Engineering; sold from Nanao to Yubis.

• 1996

  Returned to game development with 'Gussun Paradise'.

• 1994

  Withdrew from game development; moved development division to Ishikawa.

• 1989

  Irem Sales merged back.

• 1985

  Game development and sales divisions spun off as Irem Sales Co., Ltd.

• 1983

  Tsujimoto resigned as chairman.

• 1982

  Nanao president Tetsu Takashima concurrently became Irem president; Tsujimoto became chairman without representative rights.

• 1980

  Became a subsidiary of Nanao (now EIZO).

• 1979

  Renamed Irem Co., Ltd. on July 1.

• 1977

  Production partnership with Nanao Electric amid block-breaking boom.

• 1974

  Incorporated as IPM Co., Ltd. on July 10.

• 1969

  Founded as IPM Shōkai by Kenzo Tsujimoto in Osaka.

Amusement equipment vendor and rental company; leading domestic maker of omikuji vending machines.

• Table Block

• IPM Invader

• Commander

• PT Mahjong

• R-Type

• Spartan X

• Mr. Heli's Great Adventure

• Vigilante

• Image Fight

• Legend of Hero Tonma

• Dragon Breed

• X Multiply

• R-Type II

• Daiku no Gen-san

• Undercover Cops

• In the Hunt

• Gussun Oyoyo

• Fire Barrel

• Gussun Paradise

• Omikuji vending machines

• Fortune-telling machines

• Senjafuda vending machines

1. 1Apies - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2アピエス - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Apies official websiteapies.co.jp