The biggest little agency in Japan.
Destination West is the biggest little agency in Japan. In-house statistical analysis reveals that we have the highest creative yield per person of any agency in Japan. Stress analysis confirms the finding.
We all speak and read both Japanese and English. Some better than others, of course.
We are one of the few foreign-owned companies accredited to buy media space both in Japan and abroad.
We have an extensive research network that encompasses Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and have completed large-scale projects in all those regions.
Our creative and production resources also span the globe. Over the years we've completed projects on every continent except Antarctica.
"Passionate" is the word most used to describe the way we work, and "sophisticated" and "elegant" are the words most used to describe the work itself.
You can find examples of our work below. Check them out, and if you like what you see, get in touch to find out more about what we can do for you.
OUR WORK
LATEST & GREATEST
Some of the stuff we've been working on lately.
Ads for Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Mirai that appeared in both English and Japanese-language media.
Newspaper and magazine ad announcing The Hotel Okura’s re-opening in 2019.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s bi-annual “Tokyo” magazine which we reasearched, photographed, designed and edited.
Series of advertorials for famed architectural firm Takenaka Inc., appearing in the online Wall Street Journal and 4-page reprints.
State Street Global Advisiors asked us to do their Japanese-language advertising in assorted financial media.
Product brochure for specialty monitor maker Eizo, this for marine applications.
Ad for Osaka Stock Exchange introducing their new J-GATE trading system.
New website for Music Masters Course Japan, a scholarhip program for aspiring classical musicians.
Onliner banner ad for publisher Japan Library.
Corporate ad for materials giant Toray, to coincide with US auto show. Appeared in the Wall Street Journal.
Corporate ad for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Corporate ad series for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
CLASSICS
Some of the best stuff from our 35 year history.
One of the ads in Toyota’s early campaign introducing the hybrid concept. Won the Nikkei Ad Show award.
Advertorial introducing Toyota’s efforts to help protect the environment.
One of our early brochures for EIZO’s LCD monitor lineup.
Brochure for EIZO’s ColorEdge series. We used 7-color printing at 600 dpi for brilliant color presentation.
Season brochure for the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, for whom we also created the orchestra’s logo.
New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra’s 40th anniversary concert series brochure.
Company Guide for Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Series of brochures for Tokyo Stock Exchange data services.
Television ad for Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Early corporate ad for Hotel Okura.
Trade ad for Hotel Okura’s new reservation code.
Ad for Mistubishi Estate promoting things to do and see in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo.
Event space design and promotional material production for specialty monitor maker EIZO at CeBIT. Included wall graphics, video and brochure.
Truck signage for New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
Recruitment beochure for BASF Japan, used for over 10 years.
Ad for Toyota Cavalier, built in the US and sold in Japan.
Second in a series of corporate ads for materials giant Toray, highlighting their automotive activities.
Corporate ad for the Tokyo Stock Exchange, announcing new improvements to thier ‘arrowhead’ trading system.
ABOUT US
Destination West Advertising was founded in 1982 to fix a glaring problem: Japanese companies were spending fortunes every year on English-language advertising, but their messages weren’t getting across. The ads didn’t look right. They didn’t sound right.
We came up with a simple solution: professional advertising created by experienced foreign copywriters and designers. A few bold companies gave us a chance, and things started to change. Their ads started working. Their messages started getting across.
Since then we’ve grown from a small production boutique to a small, full-service advertising agency. We work in both English and Japanese, for both Japanese companies advertising to an international audience and for foreign companies entering the Japanese market.
SERVICES
Brand Development & Identity
- Corporate Branding and Visual Identity
- Logos and Slogans
Print Production
- Newspaper and Magazine Advertising
- Flyers, Brochures and Catalogs
- Direct Mail and Collateral Materials
Film & Video
- Television Commercials
- Promotional Films for Tradeshows and Conferences
- Video Presentations for Online and Real-World Events
Websites & Digital Content
- Website Design and Production
- Online Brochures, Catalogs and Banner Ads
- Branded Microsites and Social Media Content
- Mobile App Development
Public Relations
- Press Conference and Trade Event Staging
- Investor Relations Advertising and Reports
Media Planning & Buying
- Research, Planning, Placement and Buying
Market Research
- Testing and Tracking
Consulting
- Cross-Cultural Messaging and Transcreation
CLIENTS
Toyota
- Corporate Advertising, Media Planning and Buying
- Investor Relations Advertising, Motor Show Advertising and Collateral
Tokyo Stock Exchange
- Corporate Advertising, Media Planning and Buying
- Corporate and Product brochures
Osaka Stock Exchange
- Service Advertising, Brochures, Event Booths
New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
- Logo and Corporate Identity
- Website
- Concert Advertising, Media Planning and Buying
- Concert Direct Mail Pieces, Leaflets, Programs
- Signage, Collateral
- (all in English and Japanese)
EIZO (professional display systems)
- Printed and Online Brochures and Catalogs
- Website, Interactive Demonstrations (Flash)
- Print Advertising
Asahi Kasei - Planova (medical technology)
- Product Advertising, Brochures and Catalogs (In English, Japanese and Chinese)
McGill University, Canada
- Japan Ad Campaign Media Planning and Buying (In English and Japanese)
Keio University, Tokyo
- Ad Campaign, Media Planning and Buying
Dow Automotive, USA
- Multimedia presentations
State Street Global Advisors
- Product advertising (in Japanese)
Fidelity International
- Financial product advertising (in Japanese)
MBA Tour, USA
- Ad Campaign (In English and Japanese), Media Planning and Buying
Hotel Okura
- Ad Campaigns, Media Planning and Buying
- Direct Marketing and Collateral
Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs (Keizai Koho Center)
- Advertising & Publication Consultation, Media Planning and Buying
Japan Automobile Dealers Association
- Consulting, Issue Advertising, Media Buying
Tokyo Municipal Government
- Semi-annual “Tokyo” PR magazine, Special Initiative logos
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (newspaper)
- Corporate Advertising
Dentsu, Inc. (agency)
- Ad Development and Production
Hakuhodo (agency)
- Concept Development
Nikkeisha (agency)
- Ad Development and Production
AWARDS
2004
- Advertising Design of the Year award, Mostly Classical magazine (New Japan Philharmonic)
- Nikkei Ad Award Gold Prize (Toyota)
2000
- Tokyo Ad Show Gold Prize (Destination West)
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (TEPCO)
- Tokyo Ad Show Bronze Prize (Hotel Okura)
1998
- Tokyo Ad Show Gold Prize (Toyota)
- Tokyo Ad Show Finalist (Sony)
- Yomiuri Ad Contest Finalist (Sony)
- TIME Best of the Web (Tokyo Food Page)
1997
- Tokyo Ad Show Gold Prize (Toyota)
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (Hotel Okura)
- Nikkei Ad Awards Gold Prize (Toyota)
1996
- Tokyo Ad Show Finalist (JADA)
- Nikkei Ad Awards Gold Prize (Toyota)
1995
- Nikkei Ad Awards Gold Prize (Toyota)
1994
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (Hotel Okura)
- Nikkei Ad Awards Gold Prize (Toyota)
1992
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (Komatsu)
1991
- Tokyo Ad Show Gold Prize (Toyota)
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
- Nikkei Ad Awards Gold Prize (Toyota)
1990
- Tokyo Ad Show Finalist (Toyota)
1989
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (ACCJ)
1988
- Tokyo Ad Show Grand Prix (Toyota)
- Business Week “Top 12 of the Year” Award (Fujitsu)
- Nikkei Ad Awards Silver Prize (Sanyo Shoken)
- POP Festival Silver Prize (Yamaha)
1987
- Business Week “Top 12 of the Year” Award (Fujitsu)
1986
- Tokyo Ad Show Silver Prize (Fujitsu)
- Tokyo Ad Show Best Black & White (Toyota)
- Business Week “Top 12 of the Year” Award (Fujitsu)
1985
- Business Week “Top 12 of the Year” Award (Fujitsu)
1983
- Tokyo Ad Show Grand Prix (Fujitsu)
PRINCIPALS
Naoko Suzuki, President
Started out as our accountant and only a few years later had become our president. Speaks English and Japanese, expert in media planning and buying, familiar with just about every type of production, committed to getting the best possible results for our clients.
Dwight Waldron, Creative Director
Came to Tokyo in 1976 as a University of California exchange student and never found his way back. Has won numerous awards over the years for everything from ads and logos to webites and brochures. Designs with elegance and simplicity, finds creative solutions for clients’ needs.
CONTACT US
Destination West Advertising Cerulean Tower 15F 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8512
Email:
Tel: +81(0)3-5456-5905
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