DIGITAL PLUS, Inc.
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJapanese internet company operating fintech and GAFA media businesses, formerly known as Real World, Inc.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
DIGITAL PLUS, Inc. (株式会社デジタルプラス) is a Japanese internet company headquartered in Motoyoyogicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. It was founded in July 2005 as Real World, Inc. (株式会社リアルワールド) by Masaaki Kikuchi, who had previously worked at CyberAgent, and it changed its corporate name to DIGITAL PLUS, Inc. in April 2022. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market and operates two reportable business segments: a fintech business centered on digital gift services, and a media business. The fintech segment provides the digital gift service "Digital Gift" (デジタルギフト®), a subscription-based digital gift service that digitizes gift certificates traditionally issued as paper vouchers, allowing recipients to choose how to receive them, for example via Seven Bank ATMs or PayPay. The company also offers "RealPay" (now renamed "Digital Wallet"), a service that consolidates points earned across various point programs. The media segment, described by the company as its "GAFA media business," operates multiple internet media properties, with flagship titles including "Manga Tairiku" (漫画大陸), which introduces official manga apps and e-book sites, and "Su-chan Mobile Hikaku" (すーちゃんモバイル比較), which compares budget SIM services. The company's mission is stated as "digital for the sake of not making people unhappy" (人を不幸にしないための、デジタルと). Its history includes a period of aggressive expansion and subsequent restructuring: it acquired businesses such as "Lifemile" from CyberAgent in 2011, established overseas subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2014. From 2018 onward it pursued a strategy of "selection and concentration," selling subsidiaries including LifeTech, Northern Lights, and Mark-i, and transferring several media businesses. In 2022 it renamed RealPay Gift to Digital Gift, changed its corporate name, and renamed RealPay to Digital Wallet. It continued to acquire businesses such as "Mahina," "Peace," and "Q-kyu" in 2023, and in October 2024 it relocated the headquarters of its subsidiary Digital Fintech to Sapporo. As of 2022, the company reported 22 employees excluding part-time, dispatched, contract, and outsourced workers.
History
DIGITAL PLUS, Inc. was founded in July 2005 as Real World, Inc. (株式会社リアルワールド) in Shinsencho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, by Masaaki Kikuchi, who had previously worked at CyberAgent. The company launched the cloud media service "Gendama" at the same time. In March 2006, it moved its headquarters to Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku. In October 2008, it established the Sapporo Lab in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and launched the crowdsourcing service "CROWD." In 2009, annual operating profit exceeded 100 million yen. In May 2010, it moved its headquarters to Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, and annual sales exceeded 1 billion yen. In April 2011, it acquired the "Lifemile" business from CyberAgent, bringing total membership past 8 million, and established REALWORLD ASIA PTE. LTD. in Singapore as a subsidiary for Asian operations. In July 2012, it established PT. SITUS KARUNIA INDONESIA in Indonesia for cloud operations. In September 2013, it spun off the Sapporo Lab as READO Inc. (now LifeTech Inc.), a subsidiary for customer support and advertising. In September 2014, it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (then Mothers), acquired shares of Mark-i Inc. making it a group company, and reported 132 employees (excluding part-time, dispatched, contract, and outsourced workers). In January 2015, it moved its headquarters to Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Izumi Garden Tower 33F), and total membership exceeded 10 million. In April 2016, it established REAL FINTECH Inc. as a subsidiary to enter the financial business, with annual sales exceeding 4.6 billion yen, annual operating profit exceeding 200 million yen, and point circulation exceeding 10 billion yen. In July 2017, it acquired shares of Northern Lights Inc., making it a group company, and reported 164 employees. In 2018, the company decided on a fundamental management reform: it established Real X Inc. to operate the cloud media "Gendama," established Kachiko Inc. for video business, and sold all shares of LifeTech Inc. In 2019, it continued business reorganization and cost reduction: it established AI Marketing Inc. for Instagram business, sold all shares of Northern Lights Inc. and Mark-i Inc., and moved its headquarters to Motoyoyogicho, Shibuya-ku. In 2020, it released "RealPay Gift" at REAL FINTECH Inc., sold all shares of Real X Inc., absorbed AI Marketing Inc. and Kachiko Inc. into the parent company, and acquired the businesses "Manga Tairiku" and "Su-chan Mobile Hikaku," starting the GAFA media business. In 2021, point circulation exceeded 20 billion yen. In January 2022, "RealPay Gift" was renamed "Digital Gift," and Real World, Inc. changed its corporate name to DIGITAL PLUS, Inc. In September 2022, it transferred "Su-chan Mobile Hikaku," and transferred "Manga Tairiku" and "Datsumo Dokoiko." In October 2022, REAL FINTECH Inc. was renamed Digital Fintech Inc., and "RealPay" was renamed "Digital Wallet." In December 2022, it acquired the "Digital Creative Business." In January 2023, it acquired the "Digital Marketing Support Business." In February 2023, it established Digital and Inc. as a subsidiary. In March 2023, it acquired "Mahina." In July 2023, it acquired "Peace" and "Q-kyu." In October 2024, it relocated the headquarters of Digital Fintech Inc. to Sapporo.
- 2023
Acquired "Digital Marketing Support Business".
- 2023
Established Digital and Inc. as subsidiary.
- 2023
Acquired "Mahina".
- 2023
Acquired "Peace" and "Q-kyu".
- 2022
"RealPay Gift" renamed "Digital Gift"; Real World, Inc. changed corporate name to DIGITAL PLUS, Inc.
- 2022
Transferred "Su-chan Mobile Hikaku"; transferred "Manga Tairiku" and "Datsumo Dokoiko".
- 2022
REAL FINTECH Inc. renamed Digital Fintech Inc.; "RealPay" renamed "Digital Wallet".
- 2022
Acquired "Digital Creative Business".
- 2021
Point circulation exceeded 20 billion yen.
- 2020
Released "RealPay Gift"; sold all shares of Real X Inc.; absorbed AI Marketing Inc. and Kachiko Inc.; acquired "Manga Tairiku" and "Su-chan Mobile Hikaku"; started GAFA media business.
Products and positioning
A Japanese internet company focused on fintech (digital gifts and point consolidation) and GAFA media, pursuing a strategy of selection and concentration after a period of expansion.
Digital Gift (デジタルギフト®)
Subscription-based digital gift service that digitizes gift certificates; recipients can choose from Seven Bank ATM, PayPay, and other receipt methods.
Digital Wallet (デジタルウォレット, formerly RealPay)
Service that consolidates points earned across various point programs.
Manga Tairiku (漫画大陸)
Media introducing official manga apps and e-book sites.
Su-chan Mobile Hikaku (すーちゃんモバイル比較)
Media comparing budget SIM services.
Sources6 sources
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