IMA Group Inc.

IMA Group Inc. (株式会社イマ・グループ) is a Japanese pure holding company headquartered in Taito, Tokyo, that oversees a group of entertainment businesses. Its origins trace to December 1990, when Bandaihan Ace Co., Ltd. was founded in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, by Shin'ichiro Ikeda to operate capsule-toy vending machines. In February 1998, Ima Corporation was established in Taito, Tokyo, initially as an operating company planning and selling character merchandise. After making Bandaihan Ace a subsidiary in May 2000, the group created Ima Entertainment Co., Ltd. in May 2001 as a wholly owning holding company. In November 2003, as part of a group reorganization, IMA Group Inc. was established as the pure holding company. The group's businesses span toy wholesaling, capsule-toy and vending-machine sales, trading cards, hobby goods, retail store operation, and anime production. Its subsidiaries include Bandaihan Ace, which mainly sells Bandai products such as capsule toys and vending machines, trading cards, trading card games, and hobby goods, and also plans and sells at various events; Sol International, which distributes and plans character merchandise, hobby-related goods, and toys, and operates retail stores; Studio Deen, an anime production company that joined the group in April 2011; and Alpha, a toy wholesaler and toy vending machine leasing business that joined in May 2015. A past group company, Surfers Paradise, was a registration-type search engine centered on illustration sites founded in May 1996, incorporated in October 2004, and ended activities in November 2019, with the company liquidated on December 24, 2020. Ima Entertainment, originally established as a holding company, continued for several years as a subsidiary engaged in planning, production, and sales of trading card games such as Leaf Fight TCG, the GWAVE compilation album series of game theme songs, and PC game software. IMA Group remains a private holding company. Its official website lists news primarily related to anime productions by Studio Deen, reflecting the group's significant presence in the anime industry. The group's representative director, chairman, and CEO is Shin'ichiro Ikeda, who has led the company since its founding.

The history of IMA Group begins with its founder, Shin'ichiro Ikeda, who was born in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. After graduating from Dokkyo University, he studied abroad at Seattle University and returned to Japan a year later. Having loved toys since childhood, he joined Bandaihan Co., Ltd. and entered the toy business. In 1986 (Showa 61), he became the head of Bandaihan's Utsunomiya sales office. He succeeded in turning the office's performance profitable, but Bandaihan's head office continued to suffer from poor performance. Wanting to improve the treatment of employees at the Utsunomiya office, he considered independence. In December 1990 (Heisei 2), he acquired the sales rights of the office from Bandaihan and established Bandaihan Ace Co., Ltd. (Representative Director Shin'ichiro Ikeda, capital 10 million yen, main business: capsule toy operator). He set a goal to repay the acquisition price in five years, but with the efforts of employees, it was fully repaid in three and a half years. Upon achieving that goal, he acquired two companies in the same industry. Through these business expansion measures and the unity of employees including new hires, the foundation of the company was solidified. Based on the above experience, he has managed the company with the principles of wanting to create the best organization rather than the largest, doing business that values trust and creation, thorough low-cost operations, fair management, and building a powerful organization. Also, considering "the company is a place for human development through work," he established and operates the company with the goal of experiencing the wonder of achievement together with successors. Key milestones: December 1990: Bandaihan Ace Co., Ltd. established (head office in Utsunomiya, Tochigi; Representative Director Shin'ichiro Ikeda; capital 10 million yen). Started capsule toy operator business. October 1994: Became a sales agent for Bandai Co., Ltd., started wholesale of capsule toys and capsule vending machines. Moved head office to Taito, Tokyo (Komagata 1-2-14 Wind Building 3F). Increased capital to 20 million yen, made former head office the Utsunomiya sales office. April 1996: Established Tohoku sales office in Koriyama, Fukushima to expand capsule toy operator business. January 1997: Moved head office (Taito, Motoasakusa 3-1-1 Yonekura Building 2F). February 1998: Established Ima Corporation Co., Ltd. (head office in Taito, Tokyo; Representative Director Shin'ichiro Ikeda; capital 9 million yen). Mainly planned and sold trading cards, miscellaneous goods, amusement goods other than Bandai products. November 1998: Moved head office (Taito, Komagata 1-3-14 Komagata TC Building 3.4F). Changed Ima Corporation from a limited company to a stock company. Increased capital to 54 million yen through third-party allotment. May 2000: Through share exchange, made BJA a wholly owned subsidiary, increased capital to 225.75 million yen. Moved head office (Taito, Komagata 1-3-16 Sumitomo Fudosan Komagata Building 4F [now Komagata Plaza Building]). January 2001: Opened Operator Department Tokyo Sales Office to expand capsule toy operator business. May 2001: For group management reorganization, established Ima Entertainment Co., Ltd. (capital 90 million yen) as a wholly owning holding company. Established Sol International Co., Ltd. (capital 30 million yen, wholly owned subsidiary of IMA-E) to conduct toy wholesale business. April 2002: Increased capital to 135.3 million yen through third-party allotment. Opened Lego Click Brick "Grandberry Mall Minamimachida Store." June 2002: Increased capital to 40 million yen through shareholder allotment. February 2003: Opened Lego Click Brick "Odaiba Venus Fort Store." October 2003: Due to group reorganization, established pure holding company Ima Group Co., Ltd. (head office in Taito, Tokyo; capital 10 million yen). November 2003: Due to group reorganization, sold subsidiary shares (BJA, SOL) owned by Ima Entertainment Co., Ltd. to Ima Group Co., Ltd. Moved Operator Division Tohoku Sales Office (Koriyama, Otsuki-machi Aza Kowarihayashi 1-1). August 2004: Opened Tokyo Sales Office as new office for Capsule Division and Operator Division (Tokyo, Katsushika-ku Aoto 8-2-11-105). Former Operator Department Tokyo Sales Office used as warehouse. October 2004: Increased capital to 30 million yen, capital reserve 20 million yen, issued shares 1,000 through shareholder allotment. March 2005: Opened BJA Morioka Sales Office. Later, in April 2011, Studio Deen, an anime production company, joined the group. In May 2015, Alpha, a toy wholesaler and toy vending machine leasing business, joined. Surfers Paradise, a registration-type search engine centered on illustration sites founded in May 1996, was incorporated in October 2004 and brought under the group; it ended activities in November 2019 and was liquidated on December 24, 2020. Ima Entertainment, originally established as a holding company, continued for several years as a subsidiary engaged in planning, production, and sales of trading card games such as Leaf Fight TCG, the GWAVE compilation album series of game theme songs, and PC game software.

• Bandaihan Ace Co., Ltd. established in Utsunomiya, Tochigi; capsule toy operator business started.

• Became a sales agent for Bandai Co., Ltd.; started wholesale of capsule toys and capsule vending machines; moved head office to Taito, Tokyo.

• Established Tohoku sales office in Koriyama, Fukushima.

• Ima Corporation Co., Ltd. established in Taito, Tokyo.

• Bandaihan Ace became a wholly owned subsidiary through share exchange; capital increased to 225.75 million yen.

• Ima Entertainment Co., Ltd. established as a wholly owning holding company; Sol International Co., Ltd. established.

• IMA Group Inc. established as a pure holding company.

• Studio Deen, an anime production company, joined the group.

• Alpha, a toy wholesaler and toy vending machine leasing business, joined the group.

• Surfers Paradise ended activities.

• Surfers Paradise liquidated.

A holding company managing a portfolio of entertainment businesses, with a strong presence in toy distribution and anime production.

• Capsule toys

  Sold by Bandaihan Ace, mainly Bandai products.

• Toy vending machines

  Sold and leased by Bandaihan Ace and Alpha.

• Trading cards and trading card games

  Sold by Bandaihan Ace; Ima Entertainment planned and sold Leaf Fight TCG.

• Character merchandise and hobby goods

  Distributed by Sol International.

• Anime production

  Produced by Studio Deen.

1. 1イマ・グループ〜会社情報サイト〜ima-gr.co.jp
2. 2イマ・グループ〜会社情報サイト〜会社沿革ima-gr.co.jp
3. 3イマ・グループ - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4IMA Group - Wikidatawikidata.org