LD&K inc.

LD&K inc. (株式会社エル・ディー・アンド・ケイ) is a Japanese independent music and entertainment company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was founded in March 1991 by Hidemasa Otani as a planning and design firm called Yugen Kaisha Big Boss, and the music label "Living, Dining & Kitchen Records" was launched within the company in November 1994. In November 1995, Yugen Kaisha LD&K was established, and it became a kabushiki kaisha (joint-stock company) in May 2006. In May 2022, the group was reorganized as LD&K HOLDINGS, with Otani remaining the sole shareholder. The company operates across a wide range of entertainment and lifestyle businesses. Its music division runs the LD&K Records label, which has released over 500 titles across diverse genres and has been an associate member of the Recording Industry Association of Japan since 2004. Notable artists associated with the label include Gagaga SP, Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, Kariyushi 58, Nisshoku Natsuko, Dramatic Alaska, Push Pull Pot, and bokula. The company also manages sub-labels such as LD&K international, STAY FREEEE!!!!!!!!, LONG PARTY RECORDS, and LAFFs. Beyond music, LD&K operates a portfolio of cafés, bars, and restaurants — including Udagawa Café in Shibuya, Sakuragaoka Café, Cafe BOHEMIA, and KARIYUSHI COFFEE in Naha — as well as numerous live houses such as Chelsea Hotel, Star Lounge, Club Malcolm, Shimokitazawa Shangri-La, Umeda Shangri-La, and Sakurazaka Central. It also runs recording studios, a dance studio (KPDS), a photo studio (Kannan Shibuya Geijutsu), and video and design operations. The company has announced plans to open OITA PORT HALL, described as one of the largest live houses in Oita, in September 2026. LD&K remains a privately held company wholly owned by founder Hidemasa Otani. Its annual revenue (standalone) grew from 530 million yen in the October 2005 fiscal year to 5,385 million yen in the April 2025 fiscal year, reflecting steady expansion across its music, food and beverage, and live entertainment businesses.

LD&K inc. traces its origins to March 1991, when founder Hidemasa Otani established Yugen Kaisha Big Boss as a planning and design firm. In November 1994, the company launched the music label "Living, Dining & Kitchen Records" — the source of the LD&K name — within its operations. In November 1995, Yugen Kaisha LD&K was established as a separate entity, and in May 2006 the company was reorganized as a kabushiki kaisha (joint-stock company). In May 2022, the group was restructured under LD&K HOLDINGS, with Otani remaining the sole shareholder. The LD&K Records label has released over 500 titles across a wide range of genres and became an associate member of the Recording Industry Association of Japan in 2004. Artists associated with the label over the years include Gagaga SP (from 2000–2001 and again from 2007; they were with Sony Music Records from 2002 to 2006), Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai (from 2010), Kariyushi 58 (from 2006), Nisshoku Natsuko (from 2012), Dramatic Alaska (from 2013), Push Pull Pot (from 2021), and bokula. (from 2021). Sub-labels have included LD&K international (Western music), STAY FREEEE!!!!!!!!, LONG PARTY RECORDS, and LAFFs (a dedicated label for bokula.), while RUFF and RUGGED records is a former label. Beyond recorded music, LD&K expanded into live entertainment and hospitality. The company operates numerous live houses across Japan, including Chelsea Hotel, Star Lounge, Club Malcolm, Kinmirai Kaikan, Shibuya Ongakudo, Shimokitazawa Shangri-La, 1000 CLUB (Yokohama), Shin-Sakae Shangri-La (Nagoya), Umeda Shangri-La (Osaka), TH-R HALL (Suita, Osaka), Himitsu (Fukuoka), and Sakurazaka Central (Naha, Okinawa). It also runs cafés, bars, and restaurants such as Udagawa Café and its annexes, Sakuragaoka Café, Dogenzaka Café, Cafe BOHEMIA, FLAMINGO, Propaganda, Jazz Bar Kohaku, Obo, Onimiso Tajimaya (Kobe), Tengoku (Fukuoka), and KARIYUSHI COFFEE (Naha). Recording studios include LD&K Studio (Shibuya), Higashi-Nakano Studio, and STUDIO HYBRID (Naha). The company also operates the KPDS dance studio in Shin-Okubo and the Kannan Shibuya Geijutsu photo studio. Financially, LD&K's standalone annual revenue grew from 530 million yen in the October 2005 fiscal year to 5,385 million yen in the April 2025 fiscal year, with a notable dip in the April 2021 fiscal year (1,970 million yen, 67% year-on-year) likely reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on live entertainment and dining, followed by a strong recovery. The company continues to expand, with plans to open OITA PORT HALL in Oita in September 2026 and to hold the Tokyo Night Market in October 2026.

• 2026

  OITA PORT HALL planned to open in Oita in September

• 2022

  Group restructured as LD&K HOLDINGS

• 2006

  Reorganized as kabushiki kaisha (joint-stock company)

• 2004

  Became associate member of the Recording Industry Association of Japan

• 1995

  Yugen Kaisha LD&K established

• 1994

  Music label "Living, Dining & Kitchen Records" launched within the company

• 1991

  Founded as Yugen Kaisha Big Boss (planning and design firm) by Hidemasa Otani

Independent Japanese music and lifestyle entertainment group spanning record labels, live venues, dining, and creative studios.

• LD&K Records

  Main independent record label with over 500 releases

• LD&K international

  Sub-label for Western music

• STAY FREEEE!!!!!!!!

  Sub-label

• LONG PARTY RECORDS

  Sub-label

• LAFFs

  Dedicated label for bokula.

• Udagawa Café

  Café in Shibuya, Tokyo

• Shimokitazawa Shangri-La

  Live house in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo

• Chelsea Hotel

  Live house in Shibuya, Tokyo

1. 1LD&K inc. official websiteldandk.com
2. 2会社概要 - LD&K incldandk.com
3. 3LD&K - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4LD&K Records - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org