Japan is the world's 4th largest ad market. Google and Meta work here just like at home. The only barrier is language and culture. We handle both. You pay per lead.
The Problem
Here's what most businesses figure out too late about working with a traditional ad agency.
Most agencies charge 15-20% of your ad spend as a management fee — every month, no matter what. Zero leads? Same invoice. Their only incentive is to get you to spend more.
You pay for ads. You pay for creative. You pay the agency. If the campaigns don't work? That's your problem. The agency still gets paid.
Most agencies use the same approach everywhere. But Japan needs native-level ad copy, culturally relevant creative, and local market knowledge. Without it, your budget is wasted.
The Opportunity
Unlike China or South Korea, Japan runs on Google and Meta — the same tools you use at home. The market is massive. The platforms are familiar. The only thing in your way is language and culture.
We're not working remotely from another country. We're in Osaka, running ads for international brands since 2019. We're the bridge between your business and 125 million Japanese consumers.
Our Model
We handle everything — from setting up your accounts to creating your ads to sending you monthly reports. You focus on closing leads.
We set up your Google and Meta ad accounts for the Japanese market. Campaign structure, conversion tracking, audiences, billing — all done for you.
We design and build landing pages that work in Japan. Native Japanese copy, mobile-first design, and layouts that match what Japanese users expect.
Display banners, social ads, and ad copy — written and designed in Japanese from scratch by our bilingual team. No translation. Original creative.
We run your campaigns daily — testing ads, adjusting bids, cutting waste keywords. We treat your budget like our own because our pay depends on your results.
Monthly reports in English showing your leads, costs, and what we're doing next. You also get real-time dashboard access so you can check anytime.
One meeting per month (max) to go over results and next steps. We also do quick check-ins when needed. No unnecessary calls — we respect your time.
Side by Side
A simple comparison so you can see what's different.
| Traditional Agency | IGNITE | |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fees | 15-20% of ad spend | 0% |
| Setup Costs | $2,000 - $10,000+ | ¥100,000 (flat) |
| Landing Pages | Extra cost or DIY | ✓ Included |
| Ad Creatives | Extra cost or DIY | ✓ Included |
| Japanese Localization | ✕ Outsourced translation | ✓ Native bilingual team |
| Performance Guarantee | ✕ None | ✓ Pay only for results |
| Minimum Commitment | 6-12 month minimum | 3 months |
| Minimum Ad Budget | Varies | $5,000/mo |
| Creative Control | Client manages revisions | ✓ IGNITE-managed |
| Ad Account Ownership | Agency-owned (common) | ✓ Your account |
| Risk Distribution | 100% on you | Shared — we invest first |
Process
First call to first lead in about 4 weeks. Here's the timeline.
Week 1
We learn about your business and who you want to reach in Japan. We agree on what counts as a lead and set your price per lead.
Week 2-3
We create your landing pages, write your ads in Japanese, design your banners, and set up your campaigns. You approve, and we go live.
Week 4+
Campaigns are live. Leads start coming in. You pay per lead. We optimize daily over the 3-month minimum to keep improving your results.
Why IGNITE
Here's what makes us different from the agencies you've worked with before.
We're in Osaka — not managing your campaigns from the other side of the world. Same timezone as your customers. Same language. Same culture.
We don't just "have a translator." Our team thinks in both languages. We talk strategy with you in English and write your ads in Japanese. No game of telephone.
Our revenue comes from your results. If we don't generate leads for you, we don't get paid. That keeps us honest and motivated.
Strategy, creative, landing pages, ad management — all done in-house. One point of contact. No outsourcing. No delays.
Platforms
Google and Meta are the two biggest ad platforms in Japan. We run both.
Reach people who are already searching for what you sell. Same Google Ads you know — we just run it in Japanese.
Find your ideal customers on Facebook and Instagram in Japan. We create scroll-stopping ads that feel natural to local audiences.
Trusted by 40+ brands across 17 countries
After the one-time setup, we only make money when you get leads. If the campaigns don't work, we don't get paid. That's what keeps us focused on your results.
Performance-based only works when both sides trust each other. We invest time and resources upfront. You commit to a fair evaluation period. That shared skin in the game is what drives real results.
Ad optimization takes time — data collection, A/B testing, audience refinement. We ask for 3 months to prove what we can do. After that, either side can walk away with 30 days' notice. No penalties.
You own your ad accounts. You see every impression, click, and dollar spent. Monthly reports with real numbers — no vanity metrics. If something isn't working, we'll tell you first.
Pricing
A one-time setup fee to get your campaigns built, then you pay per qualified lead. We ask for a minimum 3-month commitment and $5,000/month in ad spend. We're selective about who we work with — because we invest our own resources, we need to believe in the fit before we start.
approx. $670 USD — this rate will increase
Everything you need to go live. We set up your ad accounts, build your landing pages, create your first ads, and get tracking working.
based on your industry & goals
Once your campaigns are running, you pay a fixed price per qualified lead. No retainers. No percentage fees. Just results.
FAQ
Everything you need to know before getting started.
You do. Ad spend goes directly to Google or Meta through your own ad account. We never touch or mark up your ad budget. You maintain full control and visibility over every dollar spent. Our fee is separate and only triggered when we deliver a qualified lead.
We define this together during the strategy call, and it's locked in before any campaign goes live. Typically, it's a form submission, phone call, or booking that meets agreed-upon criteria (e.g., valid contact info, within your service area, expressed genuine intent). Spam and junk leads don't count.
Yes — we require a minimum 3-month commitment. Advertising optimization is not instant. It takes time to gather data, test creative variations, refine targeting, and drive down your cost per lead. Three months gives us enough runway to deliver meaningful results. After the initial period, either side can end the engagement with 30 days' notice — no penalties.
Then you don't pay us. Period. You'll still have ad spend going to Google/Meta, but our fee is zero unless we deliver. That's why we're selective about the clients we work with — we need to believe we can generate results before we invest our own resources.
We require a minimum of $5,000 per month in ad spend (paid directly to Google or Meta through your account). This ensures there's enough budget for meaningful data collection and optimization. Campaigns with insufficient spend take longer to generate actionable insights, which delays results for both of us.
No. We review your website, business model, and goals before deciding whether to take you on. Because we invest our own time and resources into building your campaigns before seeing any return, we need to be confident there's a real opportunity. If we don't think we can deliver, we'll tell you upfront rather than waste both our time. This is a partnership — it has to work for both sides.
Our performance model is specifically designed for businesses targeting the Japanese market. Whether you're based in the US, Europe, Australia, or Asia — if you want to acquire customers in Japan, we're your team. All strategy communication is in English.
Most campaigns go live within 1-2 weeks of our initial strategy call. We build landing pages, create ad assets, and configure tracking in parallel. Our average launch time is 48 hours from final approval.
E-commerce brands selling into Japan, B2B companies targeting Japanese businesses, SaaS, education providers, and professional services. If you're generating leads or sales online and targeting the Japanese market, we can likely help. We'll tell you honestly during the strategy call if we're not the right fit.
Yes. Japan's consumption tax (10%) is applied to all advertising spend on platforms serving users in Japan. This is required by Japanese tax law regardless of where your company is headquartered. If your monthly ad budget is $5,000, expect an additional $500 in consumption tax. We'll help you account for this in your budget planning from day one.
Get Started
Tell us about your business and what you want to achieve in Japan. We review every application and respond within 24 hours with an honest assessment — including whether we believe this model is a good fit for both sides. We don't accept every inquiry. Since we invest our own resources upfront, we only take on clients where we're confident we can deliver results.