Investing in the Anime Market
The anime and gaming market is said to be worth 88 billion yen, so it is not surprising that both the public and private sectors are taking notice of the benefits of investing in the anime business.
The most noticeable example within the public sector is the anime trade fair sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held every year to further promote the anime industry on an international level. In the private sector, Itochu Corp., a major trading house, plans to set up a fund investing in Japanese animation with U.S. media and entertainment giant, Time Warner Inc., to increase the number of animated television programs to be aired around the world. The rise in anime related company stocks up to 1 trillion yen is also another concrete indication of the market’s potential. Some major examples are used anime books and goods store Mandarake's stock rising up to 1.2 million yen, online game company Koei Net's stock quadrupling to 1.7 million yen, and anime entertainment company Broccoli Co. Ltd. and Toei Animation Co. Ltd. experiencing similar boosts.
B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Puget Sound in Washington.