About Akiyaz
Leveraging Nascent Infrastructure to Build the Future
Founded by Matt Ketchum, a long-term contributor to the rural business ecosystem in Japan driven by unorthodox challenges, Akiyaz connects bold ideas with underused spaces in Japan.
We don’t just handle property. We build networks and deliver results that unlock real potential.
Reimagining Possibility, One Bold Project at a Time
Akiyaz connects bold ideas with underused spaces across Japan, leveraging nascent infrastructure to build a vibrant future. Founded by Matt Ketchum, a long-term contributor to Japan’s rural business ecosystem, our work redefines what’s possible in overlooked places. Our unique model for Japan property brokerage is deeply integrated with a mission of long-term rural revitalization in Japan, transforming forgotten properties, including the traditional akiya, into cornerstones of sustainable growth. We don’t just handle property transactions. Instead, we build powerful networks and deliver concrete results that unlock the true potential of a place and its people.
At Akiyaz, we firmly believe the future belongs to those willing to challenge the ordinary. Matt Ketchum, a serial entrepreneur, founded the company to pursue audacious projects that defy conventional boundaries. Akiyaz is the realization of a lifelong goal: to forge extraordinary outcomes in places that are often overlooked, undervalued, or misunderstood. Matt’s work thrives at the intersection of real estate, digital transformation, and cultural renewal. With a career rooted in building ventures that operate outside standard practice, his mission with Akiyaz is clear. He aims to revitalize spaces, energize communities, and create sustainable pathways for growth where others only see obstacles.
The Akiyaz Approach
Our methodology is built on four core pillars. These principles guide every project, ensuring that bold visions are translated into practical, resilient, and respectful outcomes. We combine ambitious thinking with grounded execution to create value that endures.
Visionary Strategy
Every project begins with bold thinking and a clear-eyed strategy tailored to local realities and global possibilities.
Practical Excellence
Collaborative Innovation
Respect for Context
Every place has a story. We honor local history, needs, and potential while building something forward-looking and new.
About Our Services
Akiyaz offers a suite of services designed to unlock the full potential of Japan’s underutilized regions and properties. Our solutions empower both municipalities and individuals to build not just property portfolios, but future-ready communities. We provide the data, strategy, and connections needed to turn ambitious ideas into reality.
About Our Services
Akiyaz offers a suite of services designed to unlock the full potential of Japan’s underutilized regions and properties. Our solutions empower both municipalities and individuals to build not just property portfolios, but future-ready communities. We provide the data, strategy, and connections needed to turn ambitious ideas into reality.
About the Founder: Matt Ketchum
Matt Ketchum is a serial entrepreneur whose ventures span real estate, digital media, hospitality, and cultural programming. Driven by an unshakable belief in transformational possibility, Matt has built a career by going where others hesitate. He consistently embraces the uncertain, the unconventional, and the untested. His work is guided by the simple but powerful idea that with courage, creativity, and the right collaborators, even the most unlikely visions can take root and thrive.
With Akiyaz, he combines sharp business acumen with an explorer’s mindset. Matt excels at forging connections between opportunity and impact in Japan’s most promising, yet underappreciated, spaces. This unique perspective allows him to see potential where others see decline, making him a pivotal force in the field of rural revitalization in Japan.
About Our Brokers
Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model, we believe in strategic alignment. That means introducing you to the right broker for your needs, whether you’re a foreign investor, a creative entrepreneur, or someone seeking a sustainable lifestyle shift. Each broker we collaborate with shares our commitment to transparency, long-term value, and building trust through results—not just transactions.
A Network Built for Bold Visions
Akiyaz is not a traditional real estate firm. It is a dynamic, project-driven platform that brings together multiple municipalities, agents, scriveners, architects, designers, and engineers, each handpicked to fit the unique needs of every initiative.
Rather than relying on a fixed roster, Akiyaz thrives on assembling flexible, expert teams that adapt to the vision and complexity of each project. Whether the goal is to restore a historic property, digitally transform an underconnected town, or launch a new business tied to regional revitalization, the Akiyaz model ensures that the right minds and hands are engaged at every stage.
