Keller Williams Awards New Master License for Japan

Keller Williams has continued its expansion across Asia, awarding a new master license in Japan. KW Japan, led by Japanese-American entrepreneur Mark Yamamoto, regional operating principle, is expected to open its first market center in Q4 2019.

Japan marks the 10th master license the company has awarded in Asia. Keller Williams, the world's largest real estate technology franchise by agent count, now has more than 50 market centers and 2,164 agents across 10 countries in its Asia region: Cambodia, Dubai (UAE), Greater Shanghai (China), Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, and now Japan.

"We are excited to have a remarkable new leader in Asia who understands this massive opportunity and has a clear vision for the future," said William E. Soteroff, president of KWW in a press release announcing the deal.

Yamamoto's background includes founding Toho Cinemas (formerly Virgin Cinemas Japan), starting the venture in 1997 with Richard Branson, founder of the U.K.-based Virgin Group. The firm was later sold to Toho Co., Ltd. and rebranded. Yamamoto has also founded a mix of other companies based in Japan, the U.S., and Germany.

"The reliance on local management's knowledge of the market and industry is something we did not find with other brands," said Yamamoto in the press release. "That flexibility of thinking at Keller Williams is how we knew this move was best to position our company for strong growth."

Since launching in 2012, Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), the international division of Keller Williams, has more than 200 market centers operating outside the U.S. and Canada, spread across 39 regions throughout the world. In toto, KWW has more than 9,450 agents, up 36.3% since the end of August 2018.

Founded in 1983, Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams has more than 1,030 offices and 181,000 associates worldwide.