Aquaplus
Encyclopedia
, formally and , is a Japan
ese company which main specializes in the publishing and distribution of visual novel
s under their brand Leaf
which produces adult games
, and games for all-ages are released under Aquaplus' name alone. Aquaplus has been involved with the production of anime
based on Leaf's games. The company is also involved with music
, franchised
restaurants, and at one point was involved with automobile
s.
, Japan
as a visual novel
and music
publishing company at the time called ; their adult game
brand Leaf
was also established at this time. In February 1995, Leaf produced their first game, and later that year in November U-Office started releasing all-ages games for the PC
under their name alone. The company changed its name to in May 1996, and became a joint stock company
. In 1997, Aqua opened their automobile
specialty shop Aqua in Yachiyo, Hyōgo
, Japan. In 1998, the company changed their name to the current Aquaplus. In October of that year, Aquaplus opened a development office in Toshima, Tokyo. In March 1999, Aquaplus published their first visual novel on a home console, To Heart, for the PlayStation
. In May two months later, Fix Records was established as the record label
for album
s released through, and related to, Aquaplus; the soundtrack
for the PS version of To Heart was the label's first production. In June 2000, the head office moved its current location in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
, Japan. In November 2001, Aquaplus produced their PDA
/handheld game console
P/ECE. In 2002, Aquaplus became involved in managing franchised
restaurants. At the end of 2002, Aquaplus moved their development office to Taitō, Tokyo
. In August 2007, Aquaplus closed down their automobile specialty shop Aqua.
s under their brand Leaf
which produces adult games
, and games for all-ages are released under Aquaplus' name alone. Aquaplus manages a recording studio
named Studio Aqua which puts out album
s by Indie music artists in the Kansai region of Japan where Aquaplus is located. Albums released in connection with the visual novels the company publishes are also recorded at Studio Aqua. Aquaplus' record label
is Fix Records, and excluding the artists with albums released by Studio Aqua, all other albums produced by Aquaplus are on this label which includes all albums related to the visual novels by Leaf and Aquaplus, and mainstream
artists such as Suara
. Aquaplus is involved with the franchised
restaurants Toriaizu Gohei and Gyu-Kaku
in Hyōgo
, Japan. Aquaplus had managed an automobile
specialty shop in Taka, Hyōgo
, Japan called Aqua, but closed it down on August 31, 2007. The shop specialized in customizing Subaru
s, including for street races
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese company which main specializes in the publishing and distribution of visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
s under their brand Leaf
Leaf (company)
Leaf is a Japanese visual novel studio under the publisher Aquaplus, and has offices in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, and Tokyo. It and its competitor Key are the most popular and successful dedicated visual novel studios operating today. It was launched out of obscurity by its early release ToHeart...
which produces adult games
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
, and games for all-ages are released under Aquaplus' name alone. Aquaplus has been involved with the production of anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
based on Leaf's games. The company is also involved with music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, franchised
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
restaurants, and at one point was involved with automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s.
History
Aquaplus was established in October 1994 in Itami, HyōgoItami, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 194,488 and a population density of 7,790 persons per km². The total area is 24.97 km².The center of Itami became a wealthy town by the middle of Sengoku period...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
publishing company at the time called ; their adult game
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
brand Leaf
Leaf (company)
Leaf is a Japanese visual novel studio under the publisher Aquaplus, and has offices in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, and Tokyo. It and its competitor Key are the most popular and successful dedicated visual novel studios operating today. It was launched out of obscurity by its early release ToHeart...
was also established at this time. In February 1995, Leaf produced their first game, and later that year in November U-Office started releasing all-ages games for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
under their name alone. The company changed its name to in May 1996, and became a joint stock company
Kabushiki kaisha
is a type of business defined under Japanese law.-Usage in language:Both kabushiki kaisha and the rendaku form kabushiki gaisha are used. The "K" spelling is much more common in the names of companies and in English-language legal literature, whereas the "G" pronunciation is dominant in...
. In 1997, Aqua opened their automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
specialty shop Aqua in Yachiyo, Hyōgo
Yachiyo, Hyogo
was a town located in Taka District, Hyōgo, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 6,262 and a density of 118.00 persons per km². The total area was 53.07 km²....
, Japan. In 1998, the company changed their name to the current Aquaplus. In October of that year, Aquaplus opened a development office in Toshima, Tokyo. In March 1999, Aquaplus published their first visual novel on a home console, To Heart, for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. In May two months later, Fix Records was established as the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
for album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s released through, and related to, Aquaplus; the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the PS version of To Heart was the label's first production. In June 2000, the head office moved its current location in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is located in the north of the city.-Economy:Nissin Foods has its corporate headquarters in Yodogawa-ku. The company moved to its current headquarters in 1977, when the construction of the building was completed....
, Japan. In November 2001, Aquaplus produced their PDA
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
/handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
P/ECE. In 2002, Aquaplus became involved in managing franchised
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
restaurants. At the end of 2002, Aquaplus moved their development office to Taitō, Tokyo
Taito, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Taito City.As of April 1, 2011, the ward has an estimated population of 168,909, with 94,908 households, and a population density of 16,745.86 persons per km². The total area is 10.08 km².-History:The ward was founded...
. In August 2007, Aquaplus closed down their automobile specialty shop Aqua.
Enterprises
Aquaplus is mainly involved with the publishing and distribution of visual novelVisual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
s under their brand Leaf
Leaf (company)
Leaf is a Japanese visual novel studio under the publisher Aquaplus, and has offices in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, and Tokyo. It and its competitor Key are the most popular and successful dedicated visual novel studios operating today. It was launched out of obscurity by its early release ToHeart...
which produces adult games
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
, and games for all-ages are released under Aquaplus' name alone. Aquaplus manages a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
named Studio Aqua which puts out album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s by Indie music artists in the Kansai region of Japan where Aquaplus is located. Albums released in connection with the visual novels the company publishes are also recorded at Studio Aqua. Aquaplus' record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
is Fix Records, and excluding the artists with albums released by Studio Aqua, all other albums produced by Aquaplus are on this label which includes all albums related to the visual novels by Leaf and Aquaplus, and mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
artists such as Suara
Suara
Suara is a female Japanese singer born on August 3, 1979 who is from Osaka, Japan. She works under the label of FIX Records, distributed by King Records. Her two singles "Musōka" and "Hikari no Kisetsu" were both used as opening themes for the anime Utawarerumono and Asatte no Hōkō respectively...
. Aquaplus is involved with the franchised
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
restaurants Toriaizu Gohei and Gyu-Kaku
Gyu-Kaku
is a chain of Japanese yakiniku restaurants specializing in barbecued beef.Gyu-Kaku is known for its unique form of dining in which the customers are involved in the cooking process of grilling their own food. Each table has a charcoal brazier built in and is equipped with tongs for cooking....
in Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan. Aquaplus had managed an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
specialty shop in Taka, Hyōgo
Taka, Hyogo
is a town located in Taka District, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The town was founded on November 1, 2005, as a result of the merger between the towns of Kami, Naka and Yachiyo, all from Taka District....
, Japan called Aqua, but closed it down on August 31, 2007. The shop specialized in customizing Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
s, including for street races
Street racing
Street racing is a form of unsanctioned and illegal motor racing which takes place on public roads. Street racing can either be spontaneous or well-planned and coordinated. Well coordinated races are planned in advance and often have people communicating via 2-way radio/citizens' band radio and...
.