Jun. 27, 2024Marubeni CorporationMarubeni Forest LinX CorporationShogakukan Inc.
Shogakukan Inc. (hereinafter, “Shogakukan”), Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”), and Marubeni Forest LinX Corporation (hereinafter, “Forest LinX”) have established a new company, as part of a joint venture for the global development of Japanese manga and anime content (hereinafter, the “Project”).
Overseas sales of Japanese content were estimated in 2022 to be equivalent to 4.7 trillion yen. The popularity of Japanese manga and anime is growing rapidly to a backdrop of rising demand for stay-at-home stocks occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as aggressive distribution by major overseas distributors, with the market expanding to encompass a variety of merchandise, including games. The government has set a goal of increasing the size of the overseas market for Japanese content to 20 trillion yen by 2033, positioning this as the “New Cool Japan Strategy*”.
Meanwhile, the sales channels for such Japanese content are not well established, especially in overseas markets. Lack of direct distribution networks and retail outlets means that attractive content cannot be delivered to fans around the world, resulting in lost opportunities. This situation has led to an increase in pirated products, highlighting the need for a system that ensures the distribution of legitimate goods.
The Project aims to offer a breakthrough solution to this situation thereby contributing to maximizing the value of Japanese content by connecting authors with fans around the world. Specifically, the Project will deliver Japanese content in a variety of domains, including the development of goods using manga and anime content, sales at retail outlets, and the establishment of an overseas sales distribution network, as well as digital content utilizing the latest technology.
Marubeni and Forest LinX will promote the overseas expansion of the Japanese content industry by establishing retail outlets and distribution networks through their domestic and international networks.
Shogakukan will meanwhile leverage its network of contacts in the publishing and animation industries to encourage participation in the Project and contribute to the further development of the Japanese content industry.
*Quoted in “New Cool Japan Strategy,” Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, Prime Minister's Office, June 4, 2024.https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/titeki2/chitekizaisan2024/pdf/siryou4.pdf
