Stepup Communications Co., Ltd.

Stepup Communications Co., Ltd. (株式会社ステップアップコミュニケーションズ) is a Japanese company headquartered in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. It specializes in web development, AI implementation consulting, and educational services. The company was founded in 2004, though its origins trace back to 1996 when representative director Seiichi Shibata started as an individual proprietor under the name SEI (Site Energy Internet). The company's business is organized around four service areas: BP (Business Plan support), HP (Homepage production), SP (Sales Promotion tool production), and EP (Education Produce). It also emphasizes four effects: Branding, Learning, Marketing, and Sharing. The company's credo includes principles such as "Digital for Analog," "Flat and Open," and "Rooted in Yamagata, reaching the world." Its client base consists of approximately 30% regional and government entities and 70% companies and shops. The company operates from two offices in Yamagata City: the Interaction Office (samidare cafe) and the Core Office (headquarters). It has developed several projects including SmartHP One, CMG (Community Marketing Generation), fulusato, samidare, tukiyama, and Yamagatan. In recent years, it has focused on developing and delivering AI (Artificial Intelligence) × HI (Human Intelligence) training programs, starting in 2024.

The origins of Stepup Communications trace back to April 1996, when Seiichi Shibata started as an individual proprietor under the name SEI (Site Energy Internet). In July 2002, Shibata established Yamagatan Co., Ltd. (a Hawaii corporation), building on the regional community website "Yamagatan.com" that he had been planning and operating since 1996. On March 3, 2004, the company changed its name to Stepup Communications Co., Ltd. (有限会社ステップアップコミュニケーションズ) and became a Japanese corporation. In July 2005, the company launched samidare (さみだれ), followed by tukiyama (つきやま) in October 2011. On May 15, 2013, it transitioned from a special limited company (特例有限会社) to a stock company (株式会社) and changed its name to Stepup Communications Co., Ltd. (株式会社ステップアップコミュニケーションズ). In November 2014, it launched CMG (Community Marketing Generation). In March 2015, it began the Michinoku Vision Project, publishing "Volume 1: 100 Young Entrepreneurs of Yamagata." In March 2020, it published "Michinoku Vision Volume 2: 110 Grassroots Leaders of Miyagi and Yamagata." In February 2024, it developed an AI (Artificial Intelligence) × HI (Human Intelligence) training program, which started in April 2024. By December 2025, it was producing 90 real training sessions per year. On May 5, 2026, it released the beta version of SmartHP One (Smart Homepage One) for a regional limited release. The company continues to operate from Yamagata City, offering web production, AI consulting, and educational services.

• Started as an individual proprietor under the name SEI (Site Energy Internet).

• Established Yamagatan Co., Ltd. (a Hawaii corporation).

• Changed company name to Stepup Communications Co., Ltd. and became a Japanese corporation.

• Launched samidare (さみだれ).

• Launched tukiyama (つきやま).

• Transitioned from special limited company to stock company and changed name to Stepup Communications Co., Ltd.

• Launched CMG (Community Marketing Generation).

• Started Michinoku Vision Project; published "Volume 1: 100 Young Entrepreneurs of Yamagata."

• Published "Michinoku Vision Volume 2: 110 Grassroots Leaders of Miyagi and Yamagata."

• Developed AI (Artificial Intelligence) × HI (Human Intelligence) training program.

• Started AI × HI training program.

• Producing 90 real AI × HI training sessions per year.

• Released SmartHP One beta version for regional limited release.

• Renewed official website.

A regional professional services firm combining web production, AI consulting, and education, rooted in Yamagata with a global outlook.

• SmartHP One

  A smart homepage service, beta version released in 2026.

• CMG (Community Marketing Generation)

  A community marketing generation service launched in 2014.

• AI × HI Training Program

  Training program combining artificial intelligence and human intelligence, started in 2024.

• samidare

  A project launched in 2005.

• tukiyama

  A project launched in 2011.

• Yamagatan

  A regional community website project.

1. 1山形のホームページ制作・AI導入コンサルタント・AI研修｜株式会社ステップアップコミュニケーションズstep-up.co.jp
2. 2会社概要｜山形市のホームページ制作・AI導入コンサルタント・AI研修 | 株式会社ステップアップコミュニケーションズstep-up.co.jp
3. 3Stepup Communications - Wikidatawikidata.org