About Insentiv Media
Insentiv Media was founded in 1988 at the dawn of desktop publishing, quickly establishing itself as one of Japan’s first truly digital-forward agencies. Long before Photoshop and mainstream internet use, we were integrating designers and programmers into one team — a radical move at the time. This unique structure opened doors to projects like developing printer drivers for Fuji Xerox, building real-time product simulators, and engineering one of the first global content management systems for Toyota, an open-source solution that was marketed as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for publishing — powering clients like Medical Tribune and Tosoh with robust, scalable digital infrastructure.
In our early years, we pioneered interactive media, built multilingual investor relations tools, and delivered innovative solutions to global names like Charles Schwab, Sony, and even a virtual digital assistant for Hitachi. As digital evolved, so did we — integrating SEO and SEM services (a first, as these were traditionally siloed in creative and media agencies), analytics, usability and A/B testing, and data-driven communications well ahead of the curve.
At the then forefront of Web 2.0 and social media, Insentiv Media expanded to 35 employees, with locations in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Melbourne, Australia before merging with McCann Erickson in 2007. From 2008 to 2022, Insentiv’s founder led digital, creative and strategic transformation at McCann Erickson, MRM, Proximity, and Edelman Japan, serving global accounts such as BMW, Nissan, Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson, Kao, etc, at the senior management level. In 2023, Insentiv Media returned — refreshed, reconnected, and ready for what’s next.
Today, we operate as a lean strategic consultancy, drawing on decades of experience and a global partner network to deliver bespoke, integrated communications solutions. Whether launching new products, transforming perception, or entering the Japan market — we help brands turn vision into visibility and ideas into influence.
