Japanese animations and films have the potential to fascinate people around the world. To increase their export, the challenge is how to create an environment in which quality works can continue to be produced.
Japan's film exports in 2018 increased for a sixth straight year. Many box-office hits, including director Hirokazu Koreeda's "Shoplifters" (Manbiki Kazoku), which won the top Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year, have drawn many viewers mainly in Asia.
Japan's anime industry has continued to grow, too. Its combined domestic and international market scale has topped 2 trillion yen. The leading factor is a huge increase in exports to China and other countries.
TV dramas and informative programs also make for promising content. Nippon TV dramas "Mother" and "Woman" were adapted in Turkey and broadcast in dozens of countries.
The domestic content market has been leveling off. That the Japanese film industry and TV broadcasters are trying to find a way to reach markets overseas could be described as appropriate.
However, Japan greatly lags behind South Korea in the export value of visual works. Japan's content industry has much room to grow. It is urged to devise a strategy for export growth.
In addition to outstanding plots and popularity of characters, Japanese visual works have struck a chord with people through their fine depiction of the joys and sorrows of everyday life. Such strong points must be valued.
Take advantage of streaming
In many cases for film productions, a production committee method in which many companies contribute funds is used. It has been pointed out that this complicates the relation of rights. It is important to devise plans for Japanese works to be easily appreciated overseas by sorting out the rights relationships during the production process with overseas business in mind.
It is also a concerning factor that the labor environment for those involved in production is severe. Not a few animation workers are forced to work long hours at low wages.
In order to produce quality works continuously, an urgent task to tackle is how to create measures to sustain creators' lives and to foster creators.
It also has to be noticed that the world of visual content is at a great turning point. It is not only about movie theaters, as smartphones and other means are expanding the ways in which audiences enjoy such entertainment.
Visual content streaming services such as Hulu have gained popularity in Japan. Major U.S. streaming company Netflix has started to show Japanese anime and other such content to subscribers around the world.
Amid the growing popularity of such services, the Japanese film industry and TV companies must take advantage of this opportunity to sell their works overseas.
The more chances foreign viewers have of experiencing Japanese works, the more their understanding of Japan will deepen. Expanding exports of visual works will also have a positive impact on drawing inbound tourists to Japan.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2019)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
