T-NEXT Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Group Representative CEO: Noriaki Takahashi; hereinafter “T-NEXT”) announces that it has signed a master license agreement with OBON CORPORATION CO., LTD. (Head Office: Bangkok, Thailand; hereinafter “OBON”) for “Tonkatsu Narikura” in Thailand.
Background and Purpose
T-NEXT is a food content platform company whose vision is “Making the world happier through food,” and whose mission is to contribute to people around the world through food content. Since its founding, the company has acquired global licenses for a wide range of top-tier Japanese brands across categories such as ramen, sweets, yakitori, wagyu, and curry. Through partnerships with leading companies around the world, T-NEXT has successfully enhanced brand presence and value in local markets. With “food content” at the core of its business, T-NEXT serves as a platform company that connects food value across the world, and expects to collaborate with hundreds of partners globally in the future.
OBON, on the other hand, is one of Thailand’s leading corporate groups, having grown with a strong focus on the IT sector. The company has established a solid business foundation and strong influence in the domestic market. In recent years, leveraging its financial strength and extensive network, OBON has expanded its business domains into a wide range of sectors, including food service, retail, and services. In the restaurant business in particular, the company has accumulated extensive operational experience through the development of multiple concepts and brands, demonstrating strengths in expansion across a broad range of areas from urban centers to regional locations, as well as stable operational capabilities.
In addition, the company has recently been actively promoting initiatives in advanced technology fields such as AI. OBON has launched multiple projects in areas including data analytics, operational efficiency, and the advancement of digital services, while placing strong emphasis on business innovation through the use of technology. Backed by its expertise and track record in the IT and AI fields, the company is creating new value beyond its traditional business domains.
Through this master license agreement, the two companies will combine T-NEXT’s strengths in planning and product development for Japanese-origin food brands with OBON’s local business foundation, network, operational know-how in the restaurant business, and technological capabilities in the AI and digital fields. Together, they aim to maximize the value of “Tonkatsu Narikura” in the Thai market and achieve sustainable business growth.
Future Development
With this master license agreement, the two companies will jointly promote expansion strategies to develop “Tonkatsu Narikura,” one of Japan’s leading tonkatsu brands, into a top-class tonkatsu brand in the Thai market. OBON will leverage the strong business foundation, broad network, and operational and expansion capabilities in the restaurant business that it has cultivated in Thailand over many years to accelerate brand recognition and store expansion. Meanwhile, T-NEXT will fully utilize the brand value, product development capabilities, and high-quality operational know-how that “Tonkatsu Narikura” has established in Japan, and will strongly support the maintenance and enhancement of the brand’s authenticity and quality in the local market.
The two companies have already successfully expanded “Chuka Soba Tomita,” one of Japan’s leading ramen brands, in Thailand. The store opened in CentralWorld Shopping Center, one of Bangkok’s largest commercial complexes, and from the time of its opening, it attracted significant attention from customers, celebrities, and media, growing into a highly popular restaurant with long lines every day. For “Tonkatsu Narikura” as well, the two companies will fully leverage the collaborative achievements and successful know-how cultivated through “Chuka Soba Tomita,” combining their strengths to establish a new tonkatsu culture and create a new market in Thailand.
In addition, while closely monitoring market trends and consumer needs, the two companies intend to continue discussions with a view to the future introduction of other Japanese-origin food brands held by T-NEXT following “Tonkatsu Narikura.” Through this approach, they aim to build a brand portfolio in the Thai market from a medium- to long-term perspective and realize sustainable and strategic business growth. T-NEXT’s core business is the “Food Content Platform Business.” By expanding its operations around the world, the company aims to achieve an IPO on the U.S. Nasdaq market and a corporate value exceeding USD 100 billion (approximately JPY 15 trillion), while contributing to the happiness of people everywhere.
Brand Overview
Tonkatsu Narikura
Address : 4-33-9 Naritahigashi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Owner : Seizo Mitani
URL : https://tonkatsu-narikura.com/
A renowned tonkatsu restaurant with numerous accolades, including being listed in the Michelin Guide for nine consecutive years and achieving the No.1 ranking among tonkatsu restaurants in Japan on Tabelog.
OBON Overview
Company Name : OBON CORPORATION CO., LTD.
Address : 8/6, Soi Pattanakarn 30, Pattanakarn Road, Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
Representative : Mr. Ratanaphon Wongnapachant
URL : www.obon.co.th
Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Announcement
T-NEXT Co., Ltd.
Department : Public Relations
TEL : +81-3-4588-4253
MAIL :
Company profile
Company name : T-NEXT Co., Ltd.
Address : Midtown Tower 18F, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Executive : Group CEO Noriaki Takahashi
URL : https://tnext.jp/
Business Description :
T-NEXT acquires global licenses for top-tier food content brands from Japan and around the world, expanding its business in global markets. The company focuses on its core “Food Content Platform” business, with a vision of becoming the world’s No. 1 food content platform company.
