EbuAction Rebrands to WAKA, Raises 250 Million JPY Led by Spiral Capital

WAKA (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Keita Noda), a content studio connecting Japanese brands and IP with engagement on the next-generation entertainment platform 'Roblox,' has announced its rebranding from 'EbuAction' to 'WAKA.' Simultaneously, the company has secured 250 million JPY in funding, with Spiral Capital as the lead investor, joined by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Samurai Incubate, United, and F Ventures (follow-on investment).

Additionally, six new individual shareholders have joined, including Yoichi Wada, former President of Square Enix and a prominent entrepreneur, representing expertise in gaming, entertainment, and finance.

Background of the Rebranding: The Meaning of 'WAKA' The new name 'WAKA' carries two meanings. First, it reflects the desire to be a bridge between people, companies, and passion, much like a bee pollinating flowers (the corporate symbol also features a bee). Second, it represents the determination to harmonize with and continuously adapt to the rapidly changing entertainment and platform environment. The new mission is: 'Elevating passion into new value.'

Background of Funding This funding aims to accelerate two core businesses. First, the expansion of the marketing solution business, which has already worked with major entities like NTT Docomo and Asahi Soft Drinks. Second, the full-scale launch of a game acquisition and publishing business leveraging Japanese IP on Roblox. The company is currently securing licenses for popular anime IP and has multiple game acquisition projects underway.

Business Overview WAKA operates two main businesses in the Roblox space: (1) Branded Entertainment: Planning and developing Roblox games that convey the appeal of corporate brands and IP to Gen Alpha/Z. (2) Content Production: Re-producing popular Roblox games through acquisition, IP collaboration, and official publishing to accelerate the global expansion of Japanese IP.

CEO Comment CEO Keita Noda expressed his ambition to go global and achieve overwhelming results, inviting new talent to join the team.