TIFFCOM: ‘Shogun,’ ‘Tokyo Vice’ Success Boosts Market Interest in Japanese Content

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As a dedicated fan and connoisseur of Japanese cinema, I must say that the recent surge in global interest in Japanese content is nothing short of exhilarating! The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has served as a vibrant platform for this trend to unfold, with the market buzzing with deals and discussions about Japanese productions.

Japan, with its countless visitors among the millions of tourists and the triumph of its movies and television shows abroad, has garnered unprecedented interest. Yet, the effects on sales and partnerships at the TIFFCOM market of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) have shown varying results.

According to Satoru Kamiyama, an executive from Shochiku’s international business division, there has been a significant increase in interest for Japanese content, moving beyond dedicated fans to a broader public. While anime remains popular, live-action productions are also seeing growth in popularity. At the end of TIFFCOM, he mentioned that this year, there have been more negotiations and discussions about deals compared to last year.

Japanese corporations infrequently finalize contracts or announce deals during festivals, because their internal decision-making processes often take time and they must consult with the production committees responsible for most business ventures. These committees typically consist of a dozen or more companies, such as publishers, broadcasters, advertising agencies, and so forth. A general agreement from this committee is required for significant artistic and commercial decisions.

Shogun’s almost universal acclaim — not to mention its record haul of 18 Emmy Awards this year — have boosted interest in Japanese period films and drama, known locally as jidaigeki. Toei recently sold the Tokyo Film Festival opening film 11 Rebels samurai movie by Kazuya Shiraishi (Blood of Wolves) to U.S. distributor Wellgo and Splendid for German-speaking territories. The film is also rumored to have been snapped up by a major streamer.

At this event, Toei has acquired the rights to the series “Muromachi Outsiders,” or “Muromachi Burai,” which is set to premiere in January. Originally penned by Ryosuke Kakine as a series of novels, the adaptation is being overseen by director Yu Irie, who is currently drawing attention at TIFF. Starring Yo Oizumi and esteemed actor Akira Emoto, the story revolves around a band of outlaws on the brink of the Onin War that severely impacted Kyoto during the Muromachi era.

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed buzz in the Western entertainment industry about an increased demand for samurai content following the acclaimed show Shogun. Yet, some Japanese corporations like Asmik have shared that they haven’t reaped significant advantages from the so-called “Shogun effect,” with most queries and agreements still revolving around anime. The impact of Shogun seems to be minimal in most of Asia, where the series didn’t garner a massive following compared to other Japanese period dramas, which have been popular for quite some time.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: “I’ve noticed that my latest project, ‘Max Series’, seems to have sparked a greater interest in collaborative productions and filming in Japan compared to their usual content, according to Japanese cable network Wowow – a partner on ‘Tokyo Vice’. This is quite exciting!

As a gamer, I’ve been buzzing about all the chatter surrounding collaborations lately. Ever since Tokyo Vice, we’ve ventured into creating a fresh new company, leveraging our expertise from that series, named Wowow Bridge. This venture is designed to assist overseas productions yearning to film in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Last month, I spent three exhilarating days immersed in TIFFCOM’s vibrant atmosphere, which took over four floors at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsucho. This was its second year running!

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2024-11-01 14:54