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 property opportunities to build a vibrant future for communities across the country. Our core mission is centered on rural revitalization Japan, leveraging nascent infrastructure and deep local expertise. Founded by Matt Ketchum, we specialize in identifying the vast potential within the nation’s underused spaces in Japan. We transform forgotten properties, including the traditional akiya, into cornerstones of sustainable growth and innovation. Consequently, we don’t just facilitate simple property transactions; we build powerful networks and deliver concrete results that unlock the true potential of a place and its people.
Our firm, Akiyaz KK, was founded in December 2024 and is headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo. We operate as a strategic advisory and real estate firm that specializes in unlocking value in Japan’s vast inventory of vacant properties (空き家) and underutilized regional assets. We believe Japan’s rural decline is not a problem to be fixed but an opportunity to reimagine what is possible. By combining local insight, digital strategy, and international creativity, we help pioneer investors and forward-thinking municipalities build futures rooted in authenticity, experimentation, and genuine value creation.
Company Name
Akiyaz KK
Executives
Matt Ketchum, CEO
Founded
December 2024
Capital
¥5,000,000
Employees
1-10
Location
Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan
Business Activities
Akiyaz is a real estate & strategic advisory firm that specializes in unlocking value in Japan’s vast inventory of vacant properties (空き家) and underutilized regional assets. Our core business activities include:
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Vacant Property Advisory: Connecting domestic & international clients with properties that suit personal, commercial, or creative goals.
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Digital Infrastructure Consulting: Partnering with municipalities to improve web presence, tourism pipelines, and foreign engagement capacity.
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Rural Business Incubation: Supporting entrepreneurial use of akiya for hospitality, retreats, events, and product development.
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Market Entry & Visa Support: Helping clients establish Japanese corporations and secure Business Manager visas in collaboration with legal partners.
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Multimedia Production & Strategy: Creating videos, blogs, and editorial content that reframe how people perceive rural Japan and akiya opportunities.
Mission
At Akiyaz, our mission is to transform Japan’s overlooked properties into engines of possibility. We believe Japan’s rural decline is not a problem to fix, but an opportunity to reimagine. By combining local insight, digital strategy, and international creativity, we help pioneer investors and forward-thinking municipalities build futures rooted in authenticity, experimentation, and value creation.
Akiyaz believes the future belongs to those who challenge the ordinary. Founder Matt Ketchum created Akiyaz for audacious projects that defy conventional boundaries, forging extraordinary outcomes in overlooked places. Matt’s work thrives at the intersection of real estate, digital transformation, and cultural renewal. His mission is clear: to revitalize spaces, energize communities, and create sustainable growth where others only see obstacles.
The Akiyaz Approach: From Vision to Lasting Impact
Akiyaz offers a suite of services designed to unlock the full potential of Japan’s properties and regions. 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 tangible reality. Our approach is built on three core pillars that ensure success from initial concept to lasting impact.
A Network of Vetted Experts
At Akiyaz, we operate on a flexible, project-driven model that prioritizes expertise and local knowledge. We work with a trusted, hand-picked network of independent real estate brokers across Japan to ensure each client receives localized, expert guidance. This bespoke approach allows us to match you with the right professional who intimately understands the specific market dynamics, regulations, and cultural nuances of your target region. The following are a few examples of our esteemed partners.
About the Founder: Matt Ketchum
Matt Ketchum is a serial entrepreneur whose ventures have consistently pushed boundaries across real estate, digital media, hospitality, and cultural programming. He is driven by an unshakable belief in transformational possibility. Matt has built a career by venturing where others often hesitate, consistently embracing 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. This unique perspective allows him to see incredible potential where others see only decline. Matt excels at forging critical connections between opportunity and impact in Japan’s most promising, yet underappreciated, spaces. He is a pivotal force in identifying and repurposing underused spaces in Japan, making him an essential partner in the ongoing effort toward rural revitalization in Japan.
Our Services: A Platform for Growth
Akiyaz provides a focused set of business activities designed to address the key challenges and opportunities in the Japanese property market. From individual property acquisition to municipal-level strategic planning, our services create a comprehensive platform for growth.
Ready to Build Something Bold?
At Akiyaz, we work with a trusted network of independent real estate brokers across Japan to ensure each client receives localized, expert guidance tailored to their goals. From luxury urban properties to rural akiya listings, our partnerships allow us to match clients with brokers who understand the specific dynamics of the region—and who bring deep knowledge of the local market, regulations, and cultural nuances.
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.
Get In Touch with Akiyaz Today
Whether you are a municipal leader planning for the future, an investor seeking unique opportunities, or an entrepreneur with a vision for revitalization, Akiyaz provides the network and expertise to bring your project to life.
Connect with us today to discuss how we can unlock potential together.
