We opened an Otaku International Symposium

The CiP Association and the International Otaku Event Association jointly held the “Japanese Content Lovers International Research Symposium.” We received support from the METI.

Talks were given by Professor Wang of the University of Hong Kong, Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Professor Deguchi, Associate Professor Furuichi of Beijing University, Mr. Ueda of Aniplex, and Mr. Uchida of Marza Animation Planet.

Professor Wang says that although the content industry in Japan has a large market, producers are not making that much money, and that profits from piracy are larger. He also emphasized that cross-cultural translation is necessary to bring the content industry overseas.

According to Professor Furuichi, TV spread through China in the 1990’s, and programs such as Sailor Moon and Slam Dunk were popular, but since the 2000’s, focus has shifted from TV to the internet. Many people are thinking that they want to give their money to Japanese creators rather than bootleg producers.

Professor Deguchi says that manga is changing from a focus on extraordinary tales to stories of everyday life. In the 1990s there were mostly unhappy stories, but analysis has revealed that around 2000 stories all came to have happy endings.

Mr. Ueda explained about the overseas expansion of Aniplex, saying that internet, TV, and packaged content disseminated abroad at the same time as Japanese television.

Mr. Uchida emphasized the possibilities of producing CG images as an industry. He said that CG will spread to areas such as the medical industry in the future, leading to many new industries. However, in Japan the video production support system is meagre compared to overseas, and CiP is expecting to raise it as an industry.

I asked a question. What is the current direction of production?

Furuichi: As China now has capital strength, China has created a system that allows Japanese creators to produce content with Chinese funding. However, Chinese creators are also on the rise. It may get more difficult for Japan in the future.

Companies such as Netflix are becoming big players in animation. Is this a pinch, or is it a chance?

Ueda: Basically, opportunities will come to those who have not had them up until now. In the animation industry, there is also the possibility that the sense of identity and expression goes into creation will change.

Do you have a message for CiP?

Wang: Please do your best to build a foundation for Japanese content in East Asia.

Furuichi: By all means, I would like the Japanese government to provide support for content from the country.

Deguchi: I hope the coexistence of business and culture can be done properly.

Ueda: I want to focus on creating an environment where we can challenge new things.

Uchida: I want to do my best to make a cycle where Japanese content earns profits that return to their origin.