Our late founder, Masao Inagaki, founded ASATSU (Asahi Tsushin-sha) in 1956 with only 4 employees. This small advertising agency with a challenger spirit grew rapidly to become the third largest agency in Japan. And in 1999, the merger with Daiichi Kikaku formed ASATSU-DK (ADK).
Starting January 2019, ADK will transform into a holding company structure with ADK Holdings Inc. (ADKHD) as a pure holding company. ADK will become a collective group of business entities in which each operating company will strengthen professional areas and increase productivity, optimising the output we can offer.
ASATSU INC. (1956-1998)
1956 March
Established headquarters in Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, led by current Chairman Emeritus, Masao Inagaki. Began operations as advertising agency in Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, primarily to handle magazine advertising
1967 May
Head office moved to Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
1984 January
Resource and professional tie-up with BBDO International, Inc. (currently BBDO Worldwide, Inc.) of USA
1987 October
Listed on second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
1990 June
Elevated to first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
1991 May
Establishment of strategic business alliance with Xinhua News Agency of China
1994 February
Establishment of joint-capital venture in Beijing, China, with umbrella company of People’s Daily
1995 July
Head office moved to Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
1998 August
Resource and professional tie-up with WPP Group plc, one of the world’s top three advertising organizations
Dai-ichi Kikaku Co.,Ltd. (1951-1998)
1951 December
Establishment of Dai-ichi Kikaku Senden Co., Ltd., at Ginza 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, led by Naoya Sakai and Saburo Hotta. Began operations as advertising agency, primarily to handle radio advertising
1958 January
Growth necessitates moving head office to Ginza 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
1961 September
Moved head office to Ginza 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and changed name to Dai-ichi Kikaku Co., Ltd.
1962 September
Merged with Futaba Kigyou Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and Keishin-sha Co., Ltd. (Edogawa-ku, Tokyo)
1974 June
Created “DIK Network Partners”, a business tie-up with local agencies
1976 June
Business tie-up with Doyle Dane Bernbach, Inc. (currently DDB Needham Worldwide, Inc.)
1981 November
Moved head office to Ginza 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and administrative office to current location in Uchisaiwaicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
1988 October
Merged with Dai-ichi Ad Board Co., Ltd.
1996 September
Went public
ASATSU-DK INC. (1999-2018)
1999 January
ASATSU Inc. and Dai-Ichi Kikaku Co., Ltd., merged, marking the beginning of ASATSU-DK
2000 November
Establishment of ASATSU-DK VIETNAM INC.
2001 September
Appointment of Koichiro Naganuma as President & Group COO
2002
April
Establishment of Shanghai Advertising and Decorating Co.,Ltd.
July
ADK Acquires Equity Stake in Animation Studio Eiken
November
Head office moved to “ADK Shochiku Square” Tsukiji,Chuo-ku,Tokyo
2003 April
2003 Establishment of ADK Arts Inc.
2004 November
Establishment of Drill Inc., a joint venture with Dentsu
2005 August
Establishes The University of Tokyo Asatsu-DK China Education Fund
2006
March
The 50th anniversary foundation
May
Establishment of BOYS Inc.
August
Establishment of CGM Marketing, Inc. a joint venture with Dentsu and Digital Garage
September
Establishment of ASP Co., Ltd. a joint venture with Septeni
2009
January
Establishment of Okayama/Takamatsu office by consolidation of Okayama and Takamatsu office
January
Establishment of ADK-FORTUNE PVT. LTD.
January
Establishment of Asatsu (Shanghai) Exposition & Advertising Co., Ltd.
July
Establishment of Moscow Liaison Office
2010 March
Appointment of Yoji Shimizu as Representative Director, President & COO
2011 August
Establishment of ADK Digital Communications Inc.
2013 March
Appointment of Shinichi Ueno as Representative Director, President & Group CEO
2014 June
ADK has relocated its head office to “Toranomon Hills” in Toranomon, Minato-ku
2017
December
Completion of TOB by Bain Capital Private Equity
December
Termination of the Capital and Business Alliance with the WPP Group
2018 March
Delisting from the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
ADK Group (2019-)
2019
January
Transformed into a holding company structure with ADK Holdings Inc. (ADKHD) as a pure holding company
April
Establishes Data Chemistry Inc. with JR East Marketing & Communications, Inc. and Tokyu Agency Inc. as an affiliated company of ADK Marketing Solutions Inc.
May
Establishes FACT Inc. as an affiliated company of ADK Creative One Inc.
July
Establishes navy Inc. as an affiliated company of ADK Creative One Inc.
July
Establishes ADK Digital Operations Inc. with Northern Lights Inc. as an affiliated company of ADK Marketing Solutions Inc.
