Tokyo-based Edia Co. posted operating profit of ¥298 million ($2.0 million) for the six months through August, more than doubling the prior year’s figure, as its online lottery platforms and e-book business captured demand in Japan’s expanding digital entertainment market. Revenue climbed 37% to ¥2.32 billion ($15.5 million).
The company raised its full-year forecast to a range of ¥4.5 billion to ¥4.7 billion ($30 million to $31.3 million) from a previous ¥4 billion target. Operating profit is now expected between ¥400 million and ¥500 million ($2.7 million to $3.3 million), up from ¥350 million.
Edia attributed the stronger performance to its Kuji-colle and Marukuji lottery services, which secured partnerships with popular intellectual property franchises. The company’s publishing division benefited from growth in both print and digital comic sales as Japan’s e-book market extends gains that began during pandemic lockdowns.
The optimism comes with caveats. Management said second-half profitability will decline from first-half levels due to syndicated loan fees, costs related to evaluating potential acquisitions, and expenses from large-scale promotional events. The company characterized these as temporary outlays that won’t derail full-year targets, though the wide forecast range suggests uncertainty about how aggressively to pursue growth initiatives.