WE ARE A BRANDING & SERVICE DESIGN AGENCY BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO AND TOKYO.

Design & Marketing for Cross-Cultural Success

At btrax, we help brands grow across borders by building experiences that resonate in local markets. Our bilingual and bicultural team combines strategic thinking with creative execution—designed for global impact.

We support clients through three key service areas:

Brand Strategy & Localization

We define your brand’s value for a new market—then adapt it with cultural nuance and storytelling that connects. From naming and messaging to visuals and web content, we localize more than just language.

UX Research & Product Innovation

We run in-market research, user interviews, and testing to uncover deep insights. These findings shape intuitive, relevant digital experiences, tailored for Japan or global audiences.

Design & Marketing Execution

We bring ideas to life through websites, campaigns, content, and creative assets, all built to engage users and support your business goals in-market.

Whether you're entering Japan or expanding beyond it, we build brands and services that bridge cultures and drive real growth.

A Team that Bridges Cultures

To deliver design that resonates globally, our teams in San Francisco and Tokyo work seamlessly as one, collaborating across time zones and cultures to bring each project to life.

SAN FRANCISCO

665 Third St. Suite 536 San Francisco, CA 94107

SAN FRANCISCO

665 Third St. Suite 536 San Francisco, CA 94107

SAN FRANCISCO

665 Third St. Suite 536 San Francisco, CA 94107

OUR
ACHIEVEMENTS

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

WE HAVE
HELPED

WE HAVE
HELPED

300+

300+

CLIENTS

WORKED WITH
BRANDS IN

10+

10+

COUNTRIES

DRIVING GLOBAL BUSINESS EXPANSION

20+

20+

YEARS AND COUNTING

OUR CLIENTS

Square logo
Square logo
Square logo
Autodesk logo
Autodesk logo
Autodesk logo
Subaru logo
Subaru logo
Subaru logo
Suntory Logo
Suntory Logo
Suntory Logo
Swatch logo
Swatch logo
Swatch logo
Yamaha logo
Yamaha logo
Yamaha logo
MacPaw logo
MacPaw logo
MacPaw logo
Expedia logo
Expedia logo
Expedia logo
Panasonic logo
Panasonic logo
Panasonic logo
Hitachi logo
Hitachi logo
Hitachi logo
Slack logo
Slack logo
Slack logo
Expedia logo
Expedia logo
Expedia logo
Sony logo
Sony logo
Sony logo
Koala logo
Koala logo
Koala logo

WHY

BTRAX ?

01

01

Multilingual, Multicultural Team

Our diverse team connects stakeholders from various teams and locations to present a unified front in global initiatives.

Our diverse team connects stakeholders from various teams and locations to present a unified front in global initiatives.

02

02

Comprehensive Services

We offer market research, localization, website design, development, and marketing services to help companies grow their business globally.

We offer market research, localization, website design, development, and marketing services to help companies grow their business globally.

03

Global Presence

With our teams based in San Francisco and Tokyo, we drive results through our 100% multilingual and multicultural expertise.

With our teams based in San Francisco and Tokyo, we drive results through our 100% multilingual and multicultural expertise.

btrax History

FROM MUSIC TO DESIGN

FROM MUSIC TO DESIGN

FROM MUSIC TO DESIGN

Brandon Hill, founder, and CEO of btrax, began his journey to start btrax with a move from Japan to the US.

Initially drawn to music, he eventually became captivated by industrial design and web development.

In 2004, with just an apartment and five thousand dollars, he took a chance on his dream to start btrax.

Brandon Hill, founder, and CEO of btrax, began his journey to start btrax with a move from Japan to the US.

Initially drawn to music, he eventually became captivated by industrial design and web development.

In 2004, with just an apartment and five thousand dollars, he took a chance on his dream to start btrax.

Brandon Hill, founder, and CEO of btrax, began his journey to start btrax with a move from Japan to the US.

Initially drawn to music, he eventually became captivated by industrial design and web development.

In 2004, with just an apartment and five thousand dollars, he took a chance on his dream to start btrax.

01 / 05
01 / 05
01 / 05

MEET OUR TEAM

Brandon K. Hill is the CEO and Founder of btrax, a design agency based in San Francisco and Tokyo. He serves as an advisor to the City of San Francisco. He has spoken at global tech conferences such as Tech in Asia, Web Summit, and RISE Conference, and actively mentors startups through programs including METI's Next Innovator, J-StarX, and Startup Weekend.

Brandon
Brandon

Founder & CEO

Brandon K. Hill is the CEO and Founder of btrax, a design agency based in San Francisco and Tokyo. He serves as an advisor to the City of San Francisco. He has spoken at global tech conferences such as Tech in Asia, Web Summit, and RISE Conference, and actively mentors startups through programs including METI's Next Innovator, J-StarX, and Startup Weekend.

Brandon
Brandon

Founder & CEO

Brandon
Brandon

Founder & CEO

John Hayato Branderhorst is Director of Operations at btrax, where he helps U.S. and Japanese companies navigate cross-border growth. A second-generation Japanese American raised between the U.S. and Okinawa, he brings lived cultural insight and strategic expertise to every project, from localization to market entry. He once launched a ramen business in San Francisco.

John
John

Director of Operations

John Hayato Branderhorst is Director of Operations at btrax, where he helps U.S. and Japanese companies navigate cross-border growth. A second-generation Japanese American raised between the U.S. and Okinawa, he brings lived cultural insight and strategic expertise to every project, from localization to market entry. He once launched a ramen business in San Francisco.

John
John

Director of Operations

John
John

Director of Operations

Salina Phon is a HR Operations Manager at btrax, where she champions employee experience, inclusive culture, and internal communications. With a background in communication studies and a passion for HR, she leads recruiting, onboarding, and culture-building initiatives for global design and marketing teams. She practices pilates and yoga regularly as part of her wellness routine.

Salina

HR Operations Manager

Salina Phon is a HR Operations Manager at btrax, where she champions employee experience, inclusive culture, and internal communications. With a background in communication studies and a passion for HR, she leads recruiting, onboarding, and culture-building initiatives for global design and marketing teams. She practices pilates and yoga regularly as part of her wellness routine.

Salina

HR Operations Manager

Salina

HR Operations Manager

Tamayo Suzumura is the General Manager of btrax Japan, where she leads cross-border strategy and operations. With a background in international consulting and business design, she helps global companies expand into Japan through culture-driven leadership, team development, and creative collaboration. Outside of work, she enjoys playing chamber music and regularly practices classical piano.

Tamayo

General Manager of btrax Japan

Tamayo Suzumura is the General Manager of btrax Japan, where she leads cross-border strategy and operations. With a background in international consulting and business design, she helps global companies expand into Japan through culture-driven leadership, team development, and creative collaboration. Outside of work, she enjoys playing chamber music and regularly practices classical piano.

Tamayo

General Manager of btrax Japan

Tamayo

General Manager of btrax Japan

Jared Javier is a UI Designer at btrax, based in San Francisco. With a background in Visual Communication Design from San Francisco State University, he specializes in web design, branding, and motion graphics. He brings ideas to life through intuitive interfaces and bold visual storytelling. He collects blind box figures and hopes to design his own 3D collectible series one day.


Jared
Jared

UI Designer

Jared Javier is a UI Designer at btrax, based in San Francisco. With a background in Visual Communication Design from San Francisco State University, he specializes in web design, branding, and motion graphics. He brings ideas to life through intuitive interfaces and bold visual storytelling. He collects blind box figures and hopes to design his own 3D collectible series one day.


Jared
Jared

UI Designer

Jared
Jared

UI Designer

Mana Hashimoto is a bilingual Senior Business Development Consultant at btrax, based in San Francisco. With roots in Japan and Canada, she specializes in cross-cultural brand strategy, market entry support, and storytelling that connects global audiences through design, research, and marketing. Before joining btrax, she worked as a Management Consultant in Tokyo.

Mana
Mana

Senior Business Development Consultant

Mana Hashimoto is a bilingual Senior Business Development Consultant at btrax, based in San Francisco. With roots in Japan and Canada, she specializes in cross-cultural brand strategy, market entry support, and storytelling that connects global audiences through design, research, and marketing. Before joining btrax, she worked as a Management Consultant in Tokyo.

Mana
Mana

Senior Business Development Consultant

Mana
Mana

Senior Business Development Consultant

Mari Kimata is a Tokyo-based UX researcher at btrax, specializing in cross-cultural user insights between Japan and global markets. With a background in art and design, she uncovers deep user needs to help brands localize experiences through thoughtful research, interviews, and cultural analysis. She has a background in photography and often explores Tokyo with a camera in hand.

Mari

Design Research Specialist

Mari Kimata is a Tokyo-based UX researcher at btrax, specializing in cross-cultural user insights between Japan and global markets. With a background in art and design, she uncovers deep user needs to help brands localize experiences through thoughtful research, interviews, and cultural analysis. She has a background in photography and often explores Tokyo with a camera in hand.

Mari

Design Research Specialist

Mari

Design Research Specialist

As a Business Producer at btrax with experience in consulting and IT ventures, Mitsutaka "Mitchy" Kaneko helps large Japanese companies adopt design thinking to drive innovation and business transformation. He holds an MBA from Bond University and completed the Stanford LEAD Executive Education program in leadership and strategy. He is also an accomplished musician playing the Clarinet.

Mitchy

Business Strategist

As a Business Producer at btrax with experience in consulting and IT ventures, Mitsutaka "Mitchy" Kaneko helps large Japanese companies adopt design thinking to drive innovation and business transformation. He holds an MBA from Bond University and completed the Stanford LEAD Executive Education program in leadership and strategy. He is also an accomplished musician playing the Clarinet.

Mitchy

Business Strategist

Mitchy

Business Strategist

Mizuho Maeda is a Service Designer at btrax, specializing in user-centered new business development. In 2020, she was selected as one of 20 finalists in an entrepreneurship program by METI and JETRO, which led to her proposal being implemented within a major Japanese company. She now works with corporate clients on new business initiatives and design thinking workshops. An avid traveler, she has visited over 30 countries.

Mizuho

Service Design Lead

Mizuho Maeda is a Service Designer at btrax, specializing in user-centered new business development. In 2020, she was selected as one of 20 finalists in an entrepreneurship program by METI and JETRO, which led to her proposal being implemented within a major Japanese company. She now works with corporate clients on new business initiatives and design thinking workshops. An avid traveler, she has visited over 30 countries.

Mizuho

Service Design Lead

Mizuho

Service Design Lead

Ryuichi Sakurai is a San Francisco-based marketer at btrax. With roots in Japan and Singapore, he supports global brands with cross-cultural marketing, project management, and brand localization. He specializes in helping international teams align strategy and execution across markets. He studied business at the University of Washington and previously worked in the insurance industry in Tokyo.

Ryuichi

Marketing Specialist

Ryuichi Sakurai is a San Francisco-based marketer at btrax. With roots in Japan and Singapore, he supports global brands with cross-cultural marketing, project management, and brand localization. He specializes in helping international teams align strategy and execution across markets. He studied business at the University of Washington and previously worked in the insurance industry in Tokyo.

Ryuichi

Marketing Specialist

Ryuichi

Marketing Specialist

Based in Tokyo, Suzuka Ito is a UI/UX designer at btrax who thrives in cross-cultural environments. With experience collaborating across international teams, she navigates diverse perspectives and workflows to keep projects moving forward. From copywriting and content structure to overall UX strategy, she designs experiences that connect with users and support business goals. She has spent 7 years living in San Francisco Bay Area.

Suzuka

Associate UI/UX Designer

Based in Tokyo, Suzuka Ito is a UI/UX designer at btrax who thrives in cross-cultural environments. With experience collaborating across international teams, she navigates diverse perspectives and workflows to keep projects moving forward. From copywriting and content structure to overall UX strategy, she designs experiences that connect with users and support business goals. She has spent 7 years living in San Francisco Bay Area.

Suzuka

Associate UI/UX Designer

Suzuka

Associate UI/UX Designer

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