Keller Williams Expands to Japan

By: Keller Williams Realty | 10 Shares 373 Reads

September 12, 2019 // Franchising.com // AUSTIN, TEXAS - Keller Williams (KW), the world’s largest real estate technology franchise by agent count, is expanding across Asia. As momentum continues, KW has awarded a new master license in Japan. KW now has more than 50 market centers and 2,164 agents across 10 countries and regions in Asia.

Since launching in 2012, Keller Williams Worldwide now has more than 200 market centers, operating outside of the U.S. and Canada, across 39 regions throughout the world. Collectively, KWW has over 9,469 agents, up 36.3% since the end of August 2018.

“The team in Japan understands that our model is highly disruptive and unique for their local agents,” said William E. Soteroff, president of Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), the international division of Keller Williams. “We are excited to have a remarkable new leader in Asia who understands this massive opportunity and has a clear vision for the future.”

Led by Regional Operating Principal Mark Yamamoto, the Keller Williams franchise in Japan is currently initializing operations. KW Japan is expected to open its first market center in Q4 ‘19.

An avid entrepreneur, Yamamoto founded Toho Cinemas, formerly called Virgin Cinemas Japan. He started the venture in 1997 with Richard Branson, founder of the UK-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.

“We’ll be delivering an agent-driven consumer experience built upon the high expectations that surround the KW brand,” said Yamamoto. “To that end, our team is using the systems, tools and models, along with all of KW’s regional resources, to customize an offering to what consumers need in Japan.”

“The reliance of local management’s knowledge of the market and industry is something we did not find with other brands; that flexibility of thinking at Keller Williams is how we knew this move was best to position our company for strong growth.”

Japan marks the 10th KW master license in Asia. The brand’s other nine regions include Cambodia; Dubai, UAE; Greater Shanghai, China; Indonesia; Israel; Malaysia; the Philippines; Turkey; and Vietnam.

“We could not be more thrilled with Mark’s vision for KW Japan – he is laser-focused on high standards of growth during a significant change in the market,” said Soteroff.

The international division of KW is currently exploring further expansion opportunities across Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia.

Core criteria for new licensees starts with having a qualified leadership team grounded in the Keller Williams culture; the company also strives for government, banking and judicial system stability and a higher maturity level for a real estate market.

Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW regions include Argentina; Belgium; Belize; Bermuda; Cambodia; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Czech Republic; Dubai, UAE; France; Greater Shanghai, China; Greece; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Mexico; Monaco; Morocco; Nicaragua; Northern Cyprus; Panama; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; Southern Africa; Southern Cyprus; Spain; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; United Kingdom; and Vietnam.

To learn more about Keller Williams Worldwide, please visit kwworldwide.com

About Keller Williams

Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams, the world’s largest real estate technology franchise by agent count, has more than 1,030 offices and 181,000 associates. The firm is also No. 1 in units and sales volume in the United States.

In 2019, Fast Company named Keller Williams the No. 1 “Most Innovative Company” in real estate. In 2015, KW began its evolution into a technology company, now building the real estate platform that agents’ buyers and sellers prefer.

Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders. For more information, visit kwworldwide.com.

SOURCE Keller Williams

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