Arab News Japan

TryHard Holdings Limited has officially gone public on NASDAQ, becoming the first Japanese entertainment company ever to be listed.

The milestone marks a major turning point for both the company and Japan’s nightlife industry, signaling its ambitions to take Japanese entertainment to a global stage.

Founded in 2013, TryHard Holdings has grown from its Osaka roots into one of Japan’s leading entertainment groups. The company operates 22 nightclubs nationwide and produces large-scale festivals and cultural events, including MUSIC CIRCUS and the Senshu Dream Fireworks Festival. Its listing on NASDAQ reflects a bold step toward international expansion and recognition.

The decision to go public in the United States aims to build a stronger global image, attract international partnerships, and create opportunities to share Japanese culture with the world. Plans are already underway to export its signature events overseas, open clubs abroad, and develop new concepts that blend traditional Japanese culture with modern entertainment.

In 2014, TryHard launched MUSIC CIRCUS, a festival that quickly grew into one of Japan’s most recognized dance music events, drawing more than 10,000 attendees in its debut year. The company later partnered with SoftBank Hawks to host MUSIC CIRCUS FUKUOKA at Fukuoka PayPay Dome — Japan’s first all-night dome festival — and continued to innovate during the pandemic with drive-in and infection-controlled events that kept entertainment alive when much of the industry was on pause.

Beyond nightlife, TryHard has expanded its focus to regional revitalization, using entertainment as a way to connect local communities with global audiences. In partnership with SBI Holdings, the Senshu Dream Fireworks Festival has been reborn as SBI Mai Fireworks, evolving into a traveling entertainment brand that combines traditional Japanese artistry with modern show production. Collaborations with JTB, NEXYZ.Group, and Daiwa Lease Co., Ltd. have further solidified TryHard’s role in shaping a new era of cultural tourism.

Through its DJ-1 Project, the company has also supported young artists across Japan, providing platforms and funding for emerging DJs to pursue careers on the international stage.