Global Brain has invested in Anique Inc. (Anique), a company comprehensively supporting value maximization of Japanese manga, anime, and game IP, through its Global Brain Flagship Fund IX as the lead investor. This round of funding was also joined by Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund (Canon MJ MIRAI Fund) and TAKANAWA GATEWAY Global Co-Benefits Fund L.P. (TAKANAWA Fund). Recently, Japanese anime and manga culture has garnered enthusiastic support worldwide, with the market rapidly shifting from viewing to experiencing and owning. Anique has built a solid sales track record in high-barrier overseas markets—such as China, Taiwan, the US, and South Korea—by producing high-quality merchandiseat captures the essence of the titles’ worlds and by creating both real and digital experiential value. Furthermore, to create real places where fans can immerse themselves in the worlds, Anique has successfully built real customer touchpoints by entering the food and beverage business through two strategic acquisitions and operating the immersive themed cafe 洒落CAFE (Sha-re CAFE)—a concept inspired by the Japanese spirit of wit, ease, and playful style: 洒落 (Sha-re). With this financing, Anique plans to accelerate further global expansion and strengthen the creation of real customer touchpoints, including starting with 洒落CAFE. Global Brain has decided to invest in Anique, highly recognizing the team's execution ability to maximize the potential of Japanese IP from both creative and business perspectives. Global Brain will provide active support for Anique's further growth and the improvement of the global presence of Japanese IP.

About Anique

Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Representative: Takahide Kasai
Founded: March 2019
URL: https://anique.jp/en/

About Canon MJ MIRAI Fund

Name: Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund L.P.
General Partner: Global Brain Corporation

About TAKANAWA Fund

Name: TAKANAWA GATEWAY Global Co-Benefits Fund L.P.
General Partner: Global Brain Corporation
Fund Size: Up to approximately JPY 10 billion (planned)
Fund Term: 10 years

About Global Brain

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Representative: Yasuhiko Yurimoto
Founded: January 1998
URL: https://globalbrains.com

Global Brain has invested in Anique Inc., a company delivering the experiential value of Japanese anime and manga IP to the world, as the lead investor