Singapore-based SpaCare International has teamed up with SpaCare Japan – a consortium led by the Nissen Group – to bring its premium spa brand, The Aspara, into the Japanese spa market.

The 10-year franchising and trademark licensing contract was signed between the two companies in April and will see the establishment of around 60 day spas and 40 amenity spas in Japan.

Under a separate agreement, up to eight Cosmoprof Academies for spa therapists will be opened in Japan, with two academies catering exclusively for the training needs of Aspara’s expansion in Japan.

Peter Sng, SpaCare’s managing director, said: “We are immensely excited at the opportunities that await The Aspara and Cosmoprof brands in Japan.

“This agreement brings together two companies with a shared vision to take the Aspara brand to a new level.”

Japan’s first 30,000sq ft(2,800sq m) Aspara Spa is scheduled to open in the Tokyo district of Ikebukuro during June 2006.

Following the opening of the first facility, the two companies plan to open a new spa each month.

Masahiko Matsumoto, SpaCare Japan’s president, said: “The concept of total relaxation and therapeutic rejuvenation through spa treatments is not that common in Japan.

“We see immense potential for spas in Japan and will combine SpaCare Japan’s knowledge of the Japanese market and SpaCare International’s expertise in spa management to provide a first class service.”

SpaCare International is a fully-owned subsidiary of Cosmoprof International and was established in 1999 to spearhead Comsoprof’s fast growing spa division.