by Sumitomo Corporation announced on the 13th that it has invested in REMOW (Chiyoda, Tokyo), an affiliate of Shueisha that handles the overseas expansion of Japanese anime, making it an equity method affiliate. The investment amount has not been disclosed. The company will handle a wide range of Japanese anime based on manga and novels published by Shueisha. In the future, it plans to increase sales of goods and hold events overseas.
REMOW was founded in 2021 and consistently plans and produces Japanese video works such as “Hell Teacher Nube” and “Shika no Konokono Kokoshitantan ” and sells them to broadcasting and distribution companies in Japan and overseas.
Other investors in the company include DeNA, Shochiku, and Tokyo-based TV stations. In addition to Sumitomo’s investment, Shueisha, the largest shareholder, also made an additional investment. This is Sumitomo’s first investment as a trading company.
Sumitomo Corporation has been planning and producing movies and anime for over 30 years and has deep industry knowledge. It has a track record in anime, such as “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K” and “Teasing Master Takagi-san.” Sumitomo Corporation will support overseas expansion by utilizing its network of 125 bases in 63 countries and regions worldwide, including telecommunications.
Japan’s anime market continues to grow. According to a survey by the Association of Japanese Animations, the market size 2011 increased 14% from the previous year to a record high of 3.3465 trillion yen. Looking at the breakdown, the overseas market has surpassed the domestic market, and demand is expected to grow.
Itochu Corporation, a general trading company, is expanding its anime and character licensing business in Asia through its invested companies. It has invested in NEON Group, a prominent Singaporean company that owns the rights to “Harry Potter” and other titles. It is looking into supporting the overseas expansion of Japanese anime and other products.
