How It Started

My name is Ted Harada, and I worked in the anime industry planning, designing and marketing character goods for over 6 years before founding OverDrive, Inc. My work included getting the license to produce and distribute character goods, then planning and designing the merchandise, and finally marketing it to retail stores in Japan.

I saw that anime was becoming a growing part of world culture, but there wasn’t enough supply to meet the worldwide demand.

For example, I love Spider man, and every year I would want a Spider man calendar but could never get my hands on one in Japan. I would have to go to America to buy one or spend hours on internet auctions only to learn that they wouldn’t ship to Japan.

I always knew people overseas must have had the problem with the anime characters they love. My intuition was confirmed when I went to America and found that the few stores that carry Japanese things had only a poor selection of overpriced merchandise.
Hoping to fix this problem, I started OverDrive, Inc. in June, 2006.

“When the World needs Japan and when Japan needs the World, OverDrive is here.”
-Ted Harada, President of OverDrive, Inc.

What We Do

OverDrive started as a subcontractor for various anime companies who wanted to make character goods. These companies would come to us for planning and consulting because of our extensive knowledge in the industry. Then we would design and manufacture the products.
Now, in addition to subcontracting and consulting, OverDrive does many things to connect Japan with the rest of the world and the world with Japan.

We provide an information service for companies worldwide by distributing information about Japanese anime, manga, games, and culture.
The OverDrive “Cool Japan” Web Mall was created to spread Japanese goods and Otaku news directly to you!

And currently under development, COSMODE magazine, the #1 Cosplay magazine in the world, will be released in English and Spanish to most of the world.

Where we are

Our office is in Tokyo between Akihabara and Asakusabashi Station. Our location is within walking distance to many Toy Distributers and the world famous Akihabara Electric Town, home of the Otaku.

Akihabara is known worldwide for its many electronic and computer stores and, more recently, its anime and otaku stores. Akihabara has anything an Otaku needs from normal mass produced anime, manga and games to niche products, such as, anime figures and Cosplay costumes.

Being in close proximity to the Otaku culture gives us a cutting edge; we always know the latest in Otaku culture.

Contact Information

OverDrive, Inc.
Harada Bldg 1F
5-9-7 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku
Tokyo, 111-0053, Japan
Tel:+81-3-5835-0647
Fax:+81-3-5835-0648