ADK Holdings Inc., Japan’s third-largest advertising agency, operates as a holding company managing a vast network of creative, production, and publishing subsidiaries. Headquartered in the Toranomon Hills business complex in Minato, Tokyo, the firm oversees approximately 80 offices across more than 20 countries, maintaining a significant global footprint.
Corporate History and Ownership Shifts
The agency traces its origins to March 1956, when Masao Inagaki founded Asatsu Inc. In August 1998, Asatsu entered a strategic business tie-up with the WPP Group. By January 1, 1999, the firm merged with Dai-ichi Kikaku Co., Ltd., which was established in 1951, to form Asatsu-DK. The “DK” in the name directly referenced the Dai-ichi Kikaku lineage.
The company expanded its European footprint early, establishing Asatsu-DK Europe in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1993. Over subsequent decades, the agency grew its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the full buyout of anime planning company d-rights on January 1, 2019, after previously sharing ownership with Mitsubishi Corporation.
Ownership of the agency shifted significantly in the 21st century. Bain Capital held the agency until June 24, 2025, when South Korean video game developer Krafton announced a deal to acquire ADK Holdings from Bain Capital Japan as part of a strategic partnership between the two corporations.
Subsidiaries and Entertainment Production
ADK Holdings maintains ownership and operational control over a diverse array of subsidiaries spanning media production, publishing, and creative services. Key holdings include production companies NAS and d-rights, animation studios Eiken and Gonzo, publishing house Nihon Bungeisha, film and print processor Taiyo Seihan, production studio Sun Artist Studio, television commercial production house Prime Pictures, and creative services firm Tokyo Ad Party.
The agency maintains a prominent role in the Japanese anime industry, providing production and promotional services for numerous major franchises. Through its internal divisions and subsidiaries, ADK has contributed to multiple installments of Sunrise’s Gundam franchise, including Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Turn A Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, and Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny.
Tokyo Olympic Bribery Investigation
In October 2022, the agency faced severe legal scrutiny when Tokyo prosecutors arrested then-ADK President Shinichi Ueno as part of a sweeping bribery investigation surrounding the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prosecutors alleged that ADK funneled ¥47 million to a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee through two distinct routes. The payments were allegedly made in exchange for preferential treatment in securing lucrative sponsorship contracts for the global sporting event.
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