The verdict in three sentences
CISOs and CIOs in Tokyo judge a cybersecurity firm by its website long before an RFP: services named precisely, certifications as actually held, and an incident response contact that works at 3 a.m. A redesign with a Tokyo agency typically costs a 2026 ballpark of JPY 3 to 8 million (about USD 20,000 to 53,000), while Kolonell applies a fixed grid of USD 2,900 (Starter), 4,900 (Growth) and 8,900 (Premium). The risks to manage are lost search visibility, a weak Japanese version and security claims that cannot be backed up.
Signs your site is hurting you with enterprise buyers
Security buyers are sceptical by profession. They notice:
- Service pages that mix penetration testing, SOC monitoring and consulting without explaining scope or deliverables.
- Certification logos (ISO 27001, CREST or others) without the certified scope, or that are no longer valid.
- An incident response page with only a contact form and no hotline or response commitment.
- A Japanese version that reads as translated, or an English version missing for global headquarters.
- No technical content written by your own analysts.
- A site that itself scores poorly on basic security headers or runs an outdated CMS.
That last point matters more in this niche than any other: a prospect's security team may scan your site before the first meeting.
Budget: Tokyo providers vs the Kolonell grid
Local ranges are a prudent 2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages, converted approximately at USD 1 = JPY 150. Kolonell prices are fixed in USD.
| Option | Local price (JPY, 2026 ballpark) | Approx. USD | Timeline | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance developer and designer | 0.8 to 2.5 million | 5,300 to 16,700 | 6 to 12 weeks | Build on a theme, little copywriting |
| Tokyo web production company | 3 to 8 million | 20,000 to 53,000 | 3 to 5 months | Planning, design, CMS, Japanese copy |
| Premium B2B tech agency | 10 to 20 million | 67,000 to 133,000 | 5 to 8 months | Brand, content hub, marketing automation |
| Kolonell Starter | n/a | 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Focused site, clear contact and incident path |
| Kolonell Growth | n/a | 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Service pages, research and advisories section |
| Kolonell Premium | n/a | 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Maintenance after the 3 included months | Market assumption: JPY 30,000 to 100,000 / month | 200 to 670 / month | Ongoing | Kolonell: on quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) once content is ready, and 3 months of support. Japanese copy for a Premium site is scoped in the quote. Client portals, a threat intelligence feed, a ticketing integration or a gated report library are on quote. See the international website offer.
Timeline and risks
| Phase | Starter, Growth | Premium | Main risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Week 1 | Week 1 | Losing indexed advisories | Export all URLs, rank pages by organic traffic |
| Structure and design | Weeks 1 to 2 | Weeks 1 to 3 | Services described vaguely | One page per service with scope, method, deliverable |
| Content | Weeks 2 to 3 | Weeks 3 to 5 | Unverifiable claims | Every certification checked against its current scope |
| Review | Week 3 | Week 5 | Privacy and legal pages out of date | Your counsel reviews before go-live |
| Launch | Weeks 3 to 4 | Weeks 5 to 6 | Downtime, broken links | 301 map, Search Console checks, rollback plan |
Compliance. Contact forms and analytics collect personal information, so your privacy policy must reflect the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), overseen by the Personal Information Protection Commission. If you serve EU clients, frameworks such as NIS2 or DORA may shape what your clients ask of you; describe your services against them only where you can deliver. Have your counsel review these pages; this is not legal advice.
Never invent clients, incidents or case studies. Anonymised examples need written client approval.
Questions to ask any provider
- How do you harden the new site itself (headers, CMS updates, admin access)?
- Who writes the Japanese, and who validates technical accuracy?
- How will the 301 redirects protect our advisories and blog posts?
- Can our analysts publish quickly without a developer?
- Who is reachable during Tokyo business hours (JST)?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When a Tokyo agency is the better choice
If you need extensive Japanese copywriting from scratch, frequent in-person meetings with several departments, or integration with domestic marketing automation tools in the first release, a Tokyo production company at JPY 5 million and above may serve you better. The fixed grid fits firms that already have their positioning and want a credible site live within weeks.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: "Shiokaze Cyber Defense", a 35-person firm offering penetration testing and managed detection, receives a JPY 6 million quote (about USD 40,000). It chooses Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900 for English and the languages set in its quote, plus USD 3,500 for a Japanese technical editor and USD 2,000 for a third-party security review of the new site, for USD 14,400. The difference of 40,000 − 14,400 = USD 25,600 funds a year of research content by its own analysts.
FAQ
How long does the redesign take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once content is ready. Tokyo production companies often plan 3 to 5 months.
Will we lose search traffic on our advisories?
A complete URL inventory and 301 map keep the risk low, though 4 to 8 weeks of fluctuation is common. No serious provider promises a ranking.
Should we display certifications?
Yes, if they are current and you state the certified scope. An ISO 27001 logo without scope raises more questions than it answers.
Do we need Japanese and English?
Most Tokyo enterprise buyers expect Japanese, and global headquarters expect English. Premium is the multilingual tier at USD 8,900, with languages set in the quote.
What does maintenance cost?
Three months of support are included, then maintenance is on quote. As a market assumption, Tokyo providers charge JPY 30,000 to 100,000 a month (about USD 200 to 670).
Let's scope your project. Send us your service list, languages and current URL count, and we will propose the right tier with a go-live date. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
