SONICJAM Review 2026: The Tokyo Team That Helped Build UNIQLOCK

Introduction

Some online campaigns are so simple that people still talk about them years later. One of them is UNIQLOCK, a web clock made for Uniqlo that mixed the time with short dance clips. It was playful, a little strange and very memorable.

Behind the fun was careful programming. A Tokyo studio wrote the software.

SONICJAM is a digital creative studio in Tokyo, Japan, founded on September 3, 2001. It does digital communication planning, web development, video production, app development and digital installations. It has about 50 people, including producers, designers, developers and specialists in video, photography, music and copywriting. Its leader, Ken Murata, is both representative director and a guitarist. SONICJAM handled the programming for UNIQLOCK, which the press reports won the Grand Prix at Cannes.

I'll be honest: I loved the music connection here. A studio led by a guitarist, with staff who make music, building a dancing clock? It all fits.

Quick Answer: Should You Hire SONICJAM?

Yes, if you're a brand in Japan that wants an interactive campaign, website, video or installation from a team with 20+ years of experience. If you need a simple English-language website on a small budget, look elsewhere.

How I Researched SONICJAM

Disclosure: my service appears in the alternatives table. SONICJAM and I both design for the web, but SONICJAM is a 50-person Tokyo team that also makes video, apps and installations, and I'm a solo designer on a monthly retainer.

I haven't worked with SONICJAM. On November 3, 2026, I read its company listing on a financial data site, its hiring pages on Wantedly, a 2014 column by its leader in AdverTimes, a Japanese ad industry site, and an article about UNIQLOCK that credits its team. Most sources are in Japanese, so I've kept to clear, confirmed facts.

What Is SONICJAM?

SONICJAM says something lovely about itself: "SONICJAM is made of people." It mixes design and technology with marketing and branding knowledge.

Here's how it works:

• About 50 staff: producers, directors, designers and developers.

• Special skills: many staff also do video, photography, music or writing.

• Teams per project: instead of hiring for fixed roles, it puts together the best mix of people for each project.

Its leader explained this idea in a 2014 column. He compared creative teams to music groups:

• A solo artist follows their own vision.

• A jazz combo is a small group where each player improvises and reacts to the others.

• An orchestra follows a strict score and a conductor.

That's a great way to think about any project. A quick campaign might need a jazz combo. A huge corporate site might need an orchestra.

What Does SONICJAM Do?

UNIQLOCK shows the studio's strength. The idea needed precise timing: the clock and the dance clips had to switch at exactly the right moment. A SONICJAM programmer and production manager are credited with building the software.

What Does SONICJAM Charge?

The catch to plan for

SONICJAM's work often mixes web, video and technology. That's great for big campaigns, but it means more people, more time and a bigger budget. Also, most of its public writing is in Japanese, so check how you'll communicate if your team works in English.

A real-world scenario

Picture a Japanese drink brand launching a summer flavor. It wants a fun website where visitors make a short music clip with the drink's sound effects, plus a pop-up booth in Shibuya.

SONICJAM's mix of music, programming, video and installations fits this perfectly. It might build the interactive site and a matching booth where people play the same sounds in person. If I were the brand, I'd ask SONICJAM to make the clips easy to share on social media, since that's where the campaign would spread.

What Are Clients Saying About SONICJAM?

SONICJAM doesn't collect reviews on Clutch or Google, which is common for Japanese agencies.

The proof comes from its history and work:

• 25 years in business, since 2001.

• About 50 people with a wide range of skills.

• UNIQLOCK, a famous campaign where its team handled the programming. That campaign is reported to have won at the Tokyo Interactive Awards and a Grand Prix at Cannes.

• Its leader writing for AdverTimes, a respected Japanese ad industry site.

That shows a respected, long-running studio. Ask for recent projects too, since UNIQLOCK was many years ago.

Can You Trust SONICJAM?

Yes. It's a registered Tokyo company since 2001, with a named leader, a sizable team and a famous project in its history.

What I Think as a Designer

What I like most is the people-first approach. Building teams around the project, not around job titles, usually leads to more creative work.

I also love the music thinking. I've never seen the "jazz combo versus orchestra" idea used to explain project teams, and it's brilliant.

My caution is recency. UNIQLOCK was a long time ago. Ask SONICJAM what it's proud of from the last two or three years.

What SONICJAM Does Well

• 25 years of digital work.

• Web, video, apps and installations together.

• Programming behind a Cannes winner.

• About 50 multi-skilled people.

• Flexible project teams.

Where SONICJAM Falls Short

• No public prices.

• No online client reviews.

• Famous work is older.

• Mostly Japanese content.

• Not built for small sites.

Who Is SONICJAM Right For?

SONICJAM is a good match if you're:

• a Japanese brand planning an interactive campaign,

• a company wanting a digital installation,

• a brand needing web, video and app together,

• a team that values creative experiments.

Who Should Skip SONICJAM?

You'll probably want someone else if you need:

• a simple, low-cost website,

• service fully in English,

• a no-code site you'll manage yourself,

• branding without digital work.

What to Ask SONICJAM on the First Call

1. "Can you show us three projects from the last two years?"

2. "Would our project need a 'jazz combo' or an 'orchestra' team?"

3. "Who would be our main contact, and in which language?"

4. "Do you build installations in-house?"

5. "Could we speak with a recent client?"

6. "What budget does an interactive campaign usually need?"

Other Studios People Ask About

These rows aren't ranked. My service is first, then four studios from this same batch.

Who's Behind This Review?

I'm Subarno, a self-taught designer who works solo on brands and no-code websites. SONICJAM forms a new team for each project, while with me it's always the same one designer from start to finish.

My $1,000/month retainer covers:

• website design in Figma,

• website builds in Framer or Webflow,

• branding for smaller businesses, like logos, colors and brand guides,

• small website animations and interactions,

• banners, posters and social media content.

Book a free 30-minute call or ping me from my contact page. But if you're a brand in Japan planning an interactive campaign with video and installations, SONICJAM is the better choice.

Bottom Line: Is SONICJAM Worth It?

SONICJAM is a 25-year-old Tokyo studio that mixes design, technology, video and music, with a hand in one of the internet's most famous campaigns. For brands in Japan that want creative, interactive work, it's a strong option.

Ask for recent projects and check the language setup. If both fit, you'll get a team that plays together like a good band.

Questions People Ask About SONICJAM

Where is SONICJAM based?

In Tokyo, Japan.

When was SONICJAM founded?

On September 3, 2001.

Who leads SONICJAM?

Ken Murata, the representative director, who is also a guitarist.

What does SONICJAM do?

Digital planning, web development, video, apps and digital installations.

Did SONICJAM work on UNIQLOCK?

Yes. Its team is credited with programming the UNIQLOCK software.

Is SONICJAM related to the game "Sonic Jam"?

No. It's a separate Tokyo creative company.

Sources

• SONICJAM official website

• SONICJAM company listing on Zonebourse

• SONICJAM pages on Wantedly

• AdverTimes column by Ken Murata (2014)

• Postkiwi article on UNIQLOCK credits

Studios update their prices, people and services often, so confirm every detail directly before you hire.