Online payment infrastructure. Rapid growth through developer-friendly APIs.

In the trust-critical payments space, the reliability of .com is essential.

All-in-one workspace tool.

Originally used notion.so, then migrated to .com as it grew. A textbook example of .com gravity.

E-commerce platform empowering small and medium businesses to sell online.

As an e-commerce backbone, consumer trust is paramount. A .com-only territory.

Accommodation marketplace, expanding into experiences.

A global consumer service spread by word of mouth — a memorable .com is essential.

Browser-based IDE with integrated AI code completion.

Previously used repl.it. A classic pattern of migrating to .com after growth.

AI image generation service, accessed via Discord.

An AI company that chose .com over .ai — demonstrating .com gravity for consumer services.

Business messaging tool. Part of Salesforce.

The quintessential enterprise SaaS .com. Slack's punchy name pairs perfectly with .com.

Frontend deployment platform. Creator of Next.js.

Developer-facing yet chose .com over .dev. Prioritizing platform-scale presence.

Creator of ChatGPT and GPT series. AI research company.

The leading AI company chose .com over .ai. Consumer reach trumps industry signaling.

Collaborative UI design tool. Browser-based.

figma.com, not figma.design. Even for design tools, .com wins when targeting the mass market.

Global apparel SPA brand.

Secured .com early for international expansion. The shift from uniqlo.co.jp reflects a global brand strategy.

Global lifestyle brand for household goods and apparel.

Migrated from muji.net to .com — a domain choice to deliver the "no-brand" philosophy globally.

One of the world's largest automakers. Global corporate site.

Dual strategy: toyota.co.jp for Japan, toyota.com for global. A textbook Japanese corporate domain approach.

Electronics and entertainment conglomerate. Global site.

Used alongside sony.co.jp. Two domains that trace Sony's history of global expansion.

Global gaming company. North American and global site.

Split with nintendo.co.jp. In gaming, .com serves as the consumer-facing touchpoint.

Global manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment.

Run in parallel with honda.co.jp. A prime example of Japanese manufacturers splitting .com and .co.jp.

Integrated IT company spanning e-commerce, FinTech, and mobile. Global site.

rakuten.co.jp for the domestic marketplace, rakuten.com for global. Domains delineate geographic boundaries.

Japan's largest restaurant review platform.

Japan-focused yet chose .com. The coined word "tabelog" (eat + log) works perfectly as a domain.

FinTech company offering personal finance and cloud accounting for businesses.

English brand name + .com signals global ambitions for a Japan-born FinTech.

Content platform for creators.

Migrated from note.mu (Mauritius) to .com. An iconic example of escaping ccTLD risk.

Operator of NewsPicks. Economic information platform company.

English brand name + .com with global expansion in mind. Actually went global with Quartz acquisition.

Marketplace for rental spaces.

English name + .com aiming to be the global standard for space sharing.

Business social network and job platform. Find work through "shared passion."

English coinage + .com to position a Japan-born business SNS globally. Also based in Singapore.

Major CDP (Customer Data Platform) provider. Japan-born, Silicon Valley-based.

Founded by Japanese entrepreneurs but grew in Silicon Valley. .com reflects its position as a global standard.

Sharing platform for printing and logistics.

Driving DX in the printing industry. .com signals ambitions to scale as an industrial platform.

Business chat tool for SMBs.

Dominant share among Japanese SMBs. Despite the English name + .com, most users are domestic.

Manga app operator and IoT hotel business.

English brand + .com but primarily domestic. Startups use .com to project a "global feel."

Subscription delivery service for organic vegetables and ingredients.

A food e-commerce pioneer. "Oisix" coins Japanese "oishii" (delicious) + "X". .com gives it room to grow.

Japan's largest recipe video platform.

Coined from Japanese "kurashi" (lifestyle). Even with a Japanese brand name, .com reflects video media's global orientation.

Premium hotel, ryokan, and restaurant booking site.

Named after the zen monk Ikkyū. A Japanese cultural brand name harmonizes with .com's prestige for the premium segment.

Social economic media. News curation with expert commentary.

English name + .com appeals to intellectual professionals. Also operates a US edition.

Japan's leading economic media. Nikkei digital edition.

The "Nikkei" brand on .com. After acquiring the Financial Times, nikkei.com became the face of a global economic media group.

Technology investment company. Global investments through Vision Fund and more.

Telecom uses softbank.jp, but the global investment face is softbank.com. Different domains for different business identities.

Automobile manufacturer known for AWD and boxer engines.

Rebranded from Fuji Heavy Industries to SUBARU while unifying the global brand. .com as the stage for brand renewal.

Japan's largest cosmetics company with over 150 years of history.

Founded in 1872, this heritage brand reigns as a global beauty brand on .com. Tradition meets .com credibility.

Sports equipment maker. World-renowned for running shoes.

Acronym from "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano." A Latin-derived name that works globally on .com.

Major game and entertainment company. Owns Pac-Man, Gundam, and more.

Secured .com despite the longer merged name. Essential as the global gateway for their IP business.

Beverage and spirits maker. Whisky, beer, and soft drinks.

Became a global spirits major after acquiring Jim Beam. suntory.co.jp for Japan, suntory.com for the world.

Musical instrument and audio equipment maker. From pianos to synthesizers.

Yamaha (instruments) and Yamaha Motor are separate companies. yamaha.com belongs to instruments. A brand name "ownership" case.

World's largest tire manufacturer. Name translates founder's surname Ishibashi.

"Ishibashi" → "Bridge + Stone" — the name's origin is inherently global-minded. .com was inevitable.

Camera, printer, and medical equipment manufacturer.

Name derived from "Kannon" (Avalokitesvara). canon.com is the global hub for photography enthusiasts.

Diversified electronics conglomerate. From infrastructure to IT.

"Hitachi" comes from a city in Ibaraki. A rare case of a provincial city name becoming a global brand on .com.

Electronics conglomerate. Semiconductors, infrastructure, and energy.

Abbreviation of "Tokyo Shibaura Electric" became global. Securing .com in the 1990s showed foresight.

IT, network, and AI solutions. Strong in government and telecom infrastructure.

The scarcity value of a 3-letter .com. "Nippon Electric" established its global IT identity as NEC.

IT services and computer manufacturer. Developed the Fugaku supercomputer.

"Fuji Telecommunications" became Fujitsu. A flagship Japanese IT brand expanding globally on .com.

Global leader in air conditioning and HVAC. Pioneer in refrigerant technology.

Even for B2B-heavy manufacturing, .com is essential. The gateway for a manufacturer whose products are in buildings worldwide.

Food and amino acid manufacturer. A staple of Japanese dining tables.

Shifted to .com as the amino acid business went global. "AJINOMOTO" became a worldwide food brand.

Cloud storage and file sharing service.

Originally getdropbox.com, then acquired dropbox.com. Dropping "get" elevated the brand — a domain evolution story.