LANGUAGE
OUR
ROOTS
CULTURE
CLIENTS
TEAM
WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
Shiitake Creative is a multitalented bilingual one-stop creative agency that helps companies realize their ideas. We love what we do, and we're good at it.
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KNOW MORE
OUR
ROOTS
CULTURE
CLIENTS
TEAM
Though (almost) straight-A students in college, at Shiitake, we believe in Cs. When we first sat down to pen the company's purpose, we listed many words that began with C: Communication, Culture, Community, and Change. When you take that C (pronounced "Shii" in Japanese) and "Take" it to the next level, you pave the way to something greater. We strive to be a company that grows toward that greater future with like-minded people: our clients, partners and team. Just like mushrooms do.
OUR
CULTURE
CLIENTS
TEAM
ROOTS
At Shiitake, we believe that diversity is the foundation of creativity and positive change. Diversity helps us see things from different perspectives, discover new values, and unleash the potential we never knew we had. We approach every project from diverse angles and coat it with creativity, playfulness, and professionalism.
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CLIENTS
TEAM
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CULTURE
We've built long-lasting partnerships with some of the most influential and progressive organizations and brands in Japan and overseas. Our clients share our respect for diversity and inclusion and believe in finding the perfect team for a well-done job.
OUR
TEAM
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CULTURE
CLIENTS
JOIN OUR TEAM
Seiya Hongo
CEO
Allergic to mushrooms.
VIEW HIS PROFILE
Ally Hongo
Content Manager
An avid crowdfunding supporter.
VIEW HER PROFILE
Tyana Adamidis
Graphic Designer
A 24/7 review observer, mango hunter.
VIEW HER PROFILE
Jake Dolosa
Art Director
A proud cat dad, professional chef.
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Riko Miller
Project Manager
Always chasing the sun.
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Yuri Suzuki
Copywriter
A free bird.
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A photo of Brooke Jackson, Editorial Assistant at Shiitake Creative
A photo of Brooke Jackson, Editorial Assistant at Shiitake Creative
Brooke Jackson
Editorial Assistant
A lifelong explorer.
VIEW HER PROFILE
FAQs
  • What services do you provide?
    Writing, copywriting, translation and transcreation, advertorial writing, print design, digital design, website design, branding, and more. See our service page for more information.
  • Auto translation and AI-generated support are pretty good these days. What's the benefit of hiring a Japanese creative agency?
    Creative agencies offer you access to an entire team of designers, copywriters and project managers under one roof. They are here to ensure that the language and design used in your products and branding aren't just correct but also speak to your target audience and lead to a call to action. While AI translations are enough to get your order right at a restaurant or write you a great email, you'll need more than that to persuade your audience that you're doing a good job. That's where we come in to provide you with bilingual support, a thorough understanding of your issues and concerns, and offering the correct solutions.
  • Do you charge for an initial consultation?
    No. Please reach out with your query and let us know your needs. Once we understand your requirements, we will provide a quote for the services we can offer to assist you. If you're still interested, we can take it from there.
  • Can I hire Shiitake just for design or copywriting tasks?
    Of course! We can also assist you with polishing up your existing design and text if needed.
  • Do you provide services in other language other than Japanese and English?
    We could. We have a wide network of multilingual writers who can assist with writing in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Indonesian, Thai, Chinese and Korean languages. However, depending on the type of work, we may not be able to have full editorial control of the language we aren't fluent in. If this is the case, we will discuss this directly with you and offer a different solution.
  • Do you work with Japanese governmental authorities and regional tourism bureaus?
    Yes, extensively. Our founding members used to work for several Japan-based English media outlets. Our job heavily involved promoting regional tourism to the overseas market. At Shiitake, we have continued this type of work in various forms. We have worked with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB), and various other regional tourism-focused organizations, including Fukushima, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and more. Our CEO is also a registered advisor for the Japan Tourism Association, and our CCO is an Ota City tourism ambassador and a former member of the Ota City committee for promoting multicultural conviviality.
  • Do you work with clients based outside Japan?
    Yes, all the time! We have collaborated with a leading US-based game accessories brand, a home appliances and wellness company, a prominent overseas media corporation, the world's largest LGBTQ+ tourism association, a skincare brand, and more. Please visit our Works page for further details.
COMPANY
INFORMATION
Company Name
Shiitake Creative Inc.
Management
Seiya Hongo, CEO
Ally Hongo, Director
Established
January 2021
Address
THE CASK GOTANDA #904, 2-5-2 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022
Capital
¥3,000,000
Business
Global business consulting such as inbound and overseas expansion.

Planning and production of article advertisements, videos, booklets, websites, etc.

Marketing support, advertising agency business, event planning and management, etc.
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Seiya Hongo
CEO
A free-spirited self-starter and a cultural chameleon who has spent one-third of his life in Indonesia and the US. Shiitake's best person to place himself in the shoes of Japanese clients who want to approach foreign audiences and overseas clients who want to reach the Japanese market. Bilingual in Japanese and English (and un poco de Español), Seiya is the glue that holds Shiitake together, linking the clients, marketing, and creative teams. His knowledge, experience, and strong negotiation skills come from working with some of Japan's most respected brands and organizations, including JNTO, JTB, Mitsukoshi Isetan, and more. A bossy boss at work, outside the office, Seiya is a sweet dad to a 5-year-old boy and two rescue cats.
HIS WORKS
MITSUKOSHI NAGOYA SAKAE
Ota City, Tokyo
Kagoshima Convention & Visitors Bureau
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
Accessible Japan
Antwerp
Turtle Beach
Ally Hongo
Content Manager
Born in sunny Bulgaria, Ally has lived in Japan since the age of 15. An avid magazine reader since early childhood, Ally had always known that she wanted to make a living off writing, which she eventually did when she landed her first newspaper job at the English edition of Japan's Mainichi Shimbun in 2011. She's since worked for several of Japan's top English language publications, including Japan Today, Tokyo Weekender, and Savvy Tokyo, where she served as the editor-in-chief from 2016 until 2020. Her work has appeared in several overseas publications, including BBC and Wanderlust. In 2021, Ally co-founded Shiitake Creative with Seiya and oversees all content-related client projects and copywriting.
HER WORKS
MITSUKOSHI NAGOYA SAKAE
Ota City, Tokyo
Kagoshima Convention & Visitors Bureau
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tyana Adamidis
Graphic Designer
Tyana hails from Melbourne, Australia, where she worked as an in-house and freelance graphic designer for several companies. After traveling to all corners of Australia, Tyana moved to Japan in 2022 to explore the world further with her Japanese partner. In the same year, she joined Shiitake, where she currently creates beautiful designs for multiple clients and manages our social media channels. Tyana is a savvy traveler with solid knowledge of all must-visit destinations in Japan, for which she regularly creates beautiful content on social media. Tyana is seriously into art, cats (that she is allergic to), and Google reviews. In 2023, she finally learned to cook something other than chicken over rice, most likely thanks to Jake.
HER WORKS
Ota City, Tokyo
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Turtle Beach
iiNomi
Paradigm
Jake Dolosa
Art Director
After working as an in-house designer for the global luxury hospitality brands Mandarin Oriental Manila and The Peninsula Tokyo, Jake joined Shiitake Creative Inc. in 2022, overseeing all creative content, including photography and videography. Using his hospitality and luxury industry knowledge, Jake has been involved in various design communication projects focusing on presenting Japan's top content to overseas visitors and residents. Born and raised in the Philippines, Jake moved to Japan in 2017, where he now lives with his partner and three adorable rescue cats. In his free time, Jake is an avid traveler, always seeking the best cat-friendly destinations in Japan, a fantastic cook and host, and a regular at the local gym (mainly for the selfies).
HIS WORKS
MITSUKOSHI NAGOYA SAKAE
Ota City, Tokyo
Kagoshima Convention & Visitors Bureau
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
Accessible Japan
Paradigm
Riko Miller
Project Manager
Raised in between the blues and greens of Japan's Shikoku and Hawaii's Kona, Riko is Shiitake's always smiling, "people-person" extrovert. Her love for travel and various cultures has equipped her with strong interpersonal skills and flexibility toward solving any challenges that come her way. Her day-to-day consists of carefully listening to the varied needs of our clients and leading the team to create something spectacular. Surprisingly for a Gen Z-er, she loves a day away from her phone at the beach carrying a hefty medium format film camera from the 70s.
HER WORKS
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
Yuri Suzuki
Copywriter
Born and raised in Japan, Yuri studied the world at the Aoyama Gakuin School of English and American Literature, focusing on British fantasy literature and American black literature. An avid traveler, Yuri has been around the world, always searching for creative inspiration. After graduating from college, Yuri launched a career as a Japanese copywriter at the Japan-based creative agency Karasu KK and has since gained a wide range of experience working on brand promotion of everything from grocery stores to car manufacturers. In her free time, Yuri runs OLIVE, a web magazine that introduces international films. She also loves bird-watching and long walks. Overly focused on her work (or bird-watching), she sometimes forgets to return to the office.
A photo of Brooke Jackson, Editorial Assistant at Shiitake Creative
Brooke Jackson
Editorial Assistant
Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Brooke has called Japan home for just over five years, attaining a Master’s degree from Waseda University and completing several work placements at Tokyo-based publications, including Metropolis Magazine and Tokyo Weekender. Since early childhood, Brooke has spent her summer vacations abroad, visiting over 25 countries and sparking a deep, lifelong passion for all things learning, literature, and living life one adventure at a time. Brooke has an eye for detail, is an ace at trivia, and is a big movie buff. When she isn’t writing or thinking about writing, she’s watching films, listening to podcasts, and researching her way down random internet rabbit holes over a glass of wine.