About
Background
Sonagraf was founded in 2022 in Japan as 株式会社SonaGraf by award‑winning CG artist Jaakko Saari. Since then, we have collaborated with leading brands across Japan, Europe, and Finland, expanding our work into localization and cross‑cultural communication.
Our portfolio includes projects for high‑end clients such as Lexus, Canon, and Nikon, along with immersive XR experiences, real‑time graphics training, and broadcast‑ready visual solutions for companies in Japan and worldwide.
We also support Japanese companies visiting Finland by facilitating cross‑cultural B2B connections with innovative European high‑tech partners.
Focus
Sonagraf specializes in immersive storytelling, cinematics, and XR production. We build complete virtual worlds supported by high‑end multichannel audio and spatial sound design.
Unreal Engine is at the core of our workflow. Our team frequently works on Virtual Production stages as advisors and content specialists, supporting studios with real‑time pipelines and on‑set problem‑solving.
We also provide corporate training with a focus on in‑camera VFX, photorealistic real‑time graphics, and practical Unreal Engine workflows for broadcast and production teams.
Mission
To craft human stories that resonate.
To help our customers to realize their vision for virtual worlds that exceed their expectations.
To aid cross cultural communication between Finland and Japan.
Values
We believe in honesty, respect and justice.
We believe in equal opportunities regardless of one’s culture or background.
We stay ahead by exploring new technologies and integrating them into our creative process. When a project demands extra effort, we lean in—not back—so our clients receive results that surpass expectations.
Environment
We have a scientific world view. We recognize the ever growing importance of preservation of our environment as well as the massive impact climate change is causing.
We strive to minimize the carbon footprint caused by our operation by utilizing solar powered render farms and servers, but also by minimizing unnecessary paper consumption, opting for digital signing of documents.
Founder
Jaakko Saari is a Project Associate Professor at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo and CG lead with over a decade worth of experience.
He has worked at several large commercial advertisements and projects as a lead artist, utilizing real-time CG and technologies such as volumetric video and virtual production. He has also provided training for several Fortune 500 companies, elevating their projects to the next level.
He is also formally trained photographer, a graduate from New York Institute of Photography and has held several exhibitions in Japan.
He is fluent in Japanese.
Manager
Sachiko Stenroos is a seasoned writer and coordinator with a strong portfolio of lifestyle and interior design articles published in various magazines. She also brings extensive experience as a professional translator, bridging cultural and linguistic gaps with precision.
Based in Finland, Sachiko oversees operations at Sonagraf’s Finnish office. As a native Japanese speaker, she leads our localization and quality control efforts for VR/AR applications—ensuring that every experience resonates authentically across languages and markets.
Trusted by:
What has been said:
Alan Company, BCN Visuals
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jaakko on dozens of projects and have been consistently impressed by his talent and professionalism. His ability to create rich, detailed environments that are not only visually stunning but also realistic and believable is truly impressive (both in render and real-time software). He is able to take vague ideas and turn them into beautifully crafted 3D world.
In addition to being a talented CG environment artist, Jaakko is also a joy to work with. His positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure that the project is a success are just a few of the reasons why I would highly recommend him. Plus great team player! (Hard to find in today’s digital world)”
Jesse van Blokland, JVB.Design
Took a 4 week training course for learning UE5 and the work flow needed for it as well as some additional training on software for said workflows. He provided great value of training and knowledge that let me succeed in learning UE5 but has allowed me to get up and running in UE5 in a very timely manner. Not only that he has many years in the technical artist field giving him the ability to provide training and wisdom on what’s expected for clients and what to expect and anticipate from the industry as a whole. I would recommend him for the creative and highly professional work he produces as well as the quality training he can provide as well.
