DIRECT PUBLISHING
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Japanese publishing and marketing company that produces books, subscription media, and seminars based on direct-response marketing.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
DIRECT PUBLISHING (ダイレクト出版株式会社) is a Japanese publishing and marketing company headquartered in Osaka with a branch office in Tokyo. Founded in 2006, the company began by publishing a newsletter specialized in direct-response marketing. Its name derives from direct-response marketing (DRM). The company operates a hybrid business model that combines publishing with marketing agency services: it helps authors and clients turn specialized knowledge into books, digital media, and subscription-based platforms, while handling marketing and sales on their behalf. This allows authors to focus on research and content creation while DIRECT PUBLISHING manages promotion and distribution. The company's main publishing business focuses on translated works, primarily American books on marketing theory, management theory, entrepreneurship, and business skills. It holds exclusive Japanese distribution rights for content by Dan Kennedy, a prominent American direct-response marketing authority. Through its group companies, it also publishes works by Japanese authors and experts, including Takaaki Mitsuhashi's newsletters, Yoshio Ueshima's historical research, and Hideko Yamashita's Danshari-related content. Its subsidiary Keiei Kagaku Shuppan handles several of these publications, while Wealth On (formerly Investment College) publishes investment information. Beyond publishing, DIRECT PUBLISHING operates an education business offering seminars, business schools, online courses, and correspondence courses in areas such as web marketing, copywriting, and modern Japanese history. It also runs a media business, producing YouTube programs that emphasize topics not covered by traditional television and information free from sponsor influence, using these programs as a funnel to drive audiences toward its books and subscription media. The company has its own studios in Tokyo, including the E-one Studio directly connected to Shinagawa Station and the KS Studio, which includes presentation-style studios capable of live streaming for audiences of about 30 people. DIRECT PUBLISHING has established a notable academic partnership with Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In August 2015, it became the first Asian company to create a joint research fund and endowed chair there, named the "Tadahiro Ogawa/History of Modern and Contemporary Japan Endowment Fund." The establishment involved an investment of 4 million USD (approximately 480 million yen). The company also founded a joint research fund with the Hoover Institution and has hosted symposia featuring international scholars. The company is privately held and operates as a group with several subsidiaries, including Keiei Kagaku Shuppan, Wealth On (formerly Investment College), Kennedy Consulting, and the US-based R&H Direct, Inc. It has offices in Osaka's Chuo Ward and Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, and has received recognition for its corporate culture, including being selected in the top 10 of the Best Motivation Company Award 2022 in the mid-sized and growing venture category. In 2021, the group's sales exceeded 10 billion yen.
History
DIRECT PUBLISHING was founded in May 2006 as a company publishing a newsletter specialized in direct-response marketing. In February 2007, it signed an exclusive contract with the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation. In October 2007, it established a Tokyo branch. In April 2008, it obtained investment advisory and agency business registration. On June 6, 2008, it established a group company, Kennedy Consulting Co., Ltd., securing an exclusive sales contract for content by world-renowned marketing consultant Dan Kennedy. In 2010, it established Keiei Kagaku Shuppan Co., Ltd. as a group company and began Danshari-related business, started a monthly business book selection service delivering good foreign books, and relocated its head office due to staff growth. In 2011, it established Investment College Co., Ltd. as a group company, which registered as a financial instruments business operator (investment advisory business). In 2013, it formulated business guides and codes of conduct reflecting its corporate culture and began paid media operations in the political and economic domain. In 2014, it relocated its Osaka head office to Azuchimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka. In February 2015, it launched "PRIDE and HISTORY," dealing with modern Japanese history. In August 2015, it became the first Asian company to establish a joint research fund and endowed chair at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, named the "Tadahiro Ogawa/History of Modern and Contemporary Japan Endowment Fund," with an investment of 4 million USD. In October 2015, it established the US corporation R&H Direct, Inc. as a group company. In 2016, it published the first edition of its culture book and started new graduate recruitment. In 2017, it established the Product Planning Department in its engineering division, greatly expanding app development and system design. In January 2018, it moved its Tokyo branch to Shinagawa, Minato Ward, and released the "Direct Academy" iOS app. It also began publishing "Hoover Digest JAPAN," the world's first translation of the Hoover Institution's essay collection. In 2019, it launched the general magazine "Renaissance" covering politics, economics, and history, and established the Japan-US joint venture "APJ Media LLC" with the Agora Group, a financial publishing conglomerate with over 40 years of history in the US, with capital of 200 million yen (including capital reserve). It also hosted a symposium with Professor Stephanie Kelton of Stony Brook University, who served as an economic policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 US presidential election. In 2020, it began sponsoring the Tokyo MX TV educational variety program "Tokyo Honma Mon Kyoshitsu," suspended office work for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, started an online fitness business in collaboration with charismatic yoga creator aya, and registered APJ Media LLC as a financial instruments business operator (investment advisory business). In 2021, group sales exceeded 10 billion yen (January-December), it opened the Shinagawa EastOne Studio, published the first edition of "Best Idea Collection 2021," began collaboration with Jay Abraham, one of the world's most influential marketing strategists, and established DPG Overseas Content Copyright Management Company in the US. In 2022, it was selected in the top 10 of the Best Motivation Company Award 2022 in the mid-sized and growing venture category. In 2023, it established the Resilience Management Science Research Course as an endowed course at Kyoto University, held the One Taiwan Symposium 2023, spun off its fitness division as Ivy Fitness Co., Ltd., started the YouTube program "Seikei Denron TV," and its representative Ogawa served as a lecturer at Kobe University MBA. In 2024, Investment College changed its name to Wealth On Co., Ltd., hosted the Legacy Summit for investors with 2,000 participants, released the "Direct Academy" Android app, and introduced Amazon Pay. In 2025, it opened a studio in the Shinagawa KS Building, supported 3D Secure, and its engineer spoke at the Qiita Conference, a tech conference with 5,000 participants.
Founded as a company publishing a direct-response marketing newsletter.
Signed exclusive contract with Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation.
Established Tokyo branch.
Obtained investment advisory and agency business registration.
Established Kennedy Consulting Co., Ltd. as a group company.
Established Keiei Kagaku Shuppan Co., Ltd. as a group company.
Established Investment College Co., Ltd. as a group company.
Relocated Osaka head office to Azuchimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka.
Launched 'PRIDE and HISTORY' dealing with modern Japanese history.
Became first Asian company to establish a joint research fund and endowed chair at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
Products and positioning
A new media company that combines publishing and marketing to deliver specialized knowledge through books, digital media, and subscription platforms.
Translated American marketing and business books
Primarily American books on marketing theory, management theory, entrepreneurship, and business skills.
Dan Kennedy content
Exclusive Japanese distribution rights for content by American direct-response marketing authority Dan Kennedy.
Keiei Kagaku Shuppan publications
Publications including Takaaki Mitsuhashi's newsletters, Yoshio Ueshima's historical research, and Hideko Yamashita's Danshari-related content.
Wealth On investment information
Investment information published by Wealth On (formerly Investment College).
Direct Academy app
Mobile app for iOS and Android released in 2018 and 2024 respectively.
YouTube programs
Programs such as 'Seikei Denron TV' emphasizing topics not covered by traditional television.
Sources6 sources
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