Richardson Handjaja
@rhandjaja.bsky.social
Publisher & editor of @animenomics.com, reporting on the business of anime and manga. Previously managing editor of @myanimelist.net.
日本のアニメのビジネス展開を報道します
日本のアニメのビジネス展開を報道します
I reported this on @animenomics.com this morning: In May, the Azuki trademark used for manga publishing was reassigned by KiraKira Media to Azuki Labs as part of a settlement agreement between the two companies that took 18 months to negotiate. Neither company would comment on the settlement.
November 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I reported this on @animenomics.com this morning: In May, the Azuki trademark used for manga publishing was reassigned by KiraKira Media to Azuki Labs as part of a settlement agreement between the two companies that took 18 months to negotiate. Neither company would comment on the settlement.
Studio Chizu president Yuichiro Saito has an ambitious goal for Mamoru Hosoda's upcoming film "Scarlet", which is to win an Academy Award, Nikkei Entertainment! magazine reports.
![Japanese-language excerpt from the December 2025 issue of Nikkei Entertainment! magazine. Highlighted is a passage from the excerpt: "齋藤優一郎プロデューサーの本作の目標は前作を上回る興行、そして「おすかー」だ。" This passage translates to "Producer Yuichiro Saito's goal for this film [Scarlet] is to surpass the box office success of the previous film [Belle] and to win an Oscar."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lyykxvja6foa664pcfsw7mkx/bafkreidofxumgsdvf5hfbxgxq3bjd5jyuyuwylngge5mghnj7gn6s66dey@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Studio Chizu president Yuichiro Saito has an ambitious goal for Mamoru Hosoda's upcoming film "Scarlet", which is to win an Academy Award, Nikkei Entertainment! magazine reports.
Crunchyroll Manga app will not allow screenshots and screen recordings.
![Crunchyroll Manga also offers a legitimate way for burgeoning anime fans to read source material. Suehira says 15 of the top 20 internet piracy sites include anime and manga, and that manga represents 70% of global publishing piracy. “We want [Crunchyroll Manga] to be a solution to the privacy market and really contribute to the ecosystem in Japan,” Suehira says, adding that the app includes features the prevent screenshots and screen recording.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lyykxvja6foa664pcfsw7mkx/bafkreifx2aeagclqx3tcubq2dpplduccegcbqnaqxpx5sg4bwnd5lbv5re@jpeg)
October 3, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Crunchyroll Manga app will not allow screenshots and screen recordings.
Sony Pictures previously said they are releasing Mamoru Hosoda's Scarlet in North America in December, but I just noticed they clarified this as being an Oscar-qualifiying run with a wider release in early 2026.
September 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Sony Pictures previously said they are releasing Mamoru Hosoda's Scarlet in North America in December, but I just noticed they clarified this as being an Oscar-qualifiying run with a wider release in early 2026.
Microsoft discontinuing the Movies & TV storefront means Girls Band Cry will forever be the only title that's in my library.
July 24, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Microsoft discontinuing the Movies & TV storefront means Girls Band Cry will forever be the only title that's in my library.
Toho significantly expanded overseas operations in the last couple of years. On top of acquisitions, it's added headcount to help the IP & Anime business reach foreign markets.
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho significantly expanded overseas operations in the last couple of years. On top of acquisitions, it's added headcount to help the IP & Anime business reach foreign markets.
Toho chief executive Hiroyasu Matsuoka has said in the past that North America is superior in terms of profits and revenue. We see how in a breakdown of overseas sales.
Still, foreign markets only make up 10% of Toho revenue, so the company is setting up operations worldwide.
Still, foreign markets only make up 10% of Toho revenue, so the company is setting up operations worldwide.
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho chief executive Hiroyasu Matsuoka has said in the past that North America is superior in terms of profits and revenue. We see how in a breakdown of overseas sales.
Still, foreign markets only make up 10% of Toho revenue, so the company is setting up operations worldwide.
Still, foreign markets only make up 10% of Toho revenue, so the company is setting up operations worldwide.
Toho establishing the IP & Anime business helps bring up GKIDS results to a more prominent position in the company's financials. (Compare to previous slide.)
Science SARU also falls in the new IP & Anime business unit.
Science SARU also falls in the new IP & Anime business unit.
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho establishing the IP & Anime business helps bring up GKIDS results to a more prominent position in the company's financials. (Compare to previous slide.)
Science SARU also falls in the new IP & Anime business unit.
Science SARU also falls in the new IP & Anime business unit.
About half of Toho's IP & Anime business revenue comes from video content distribution, e.g. streaming, in-flight entertainment, direct theatrical distribution abroad.
Merchandising is usually the largest driver of revenue in anime, so there's plenty of room to grow here.
Merchandising is usually the largest driver of revenue in anime, so there's plenty of room to grow here.
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
About half of Toho's IP & Anime business revenue comes from video content distribution, e.g. streaming, in-flight entertainment, direct theatrical distribution abroad.
Merchandising is usually the largest driver of revenue in anime, so there's plenty of room to grow here.
Merchandising is usually the largest driver of revenue in anime, so there's plenty of room to grow here.
Toho reorganized its business units at the beginning of the fiscal year and now has a standalone IP & Anime business that includes its Godzilla and Toho Animation properties.
So far, that business has a 33% operating profit margin.
So far, that business has a 33% operating profit margin.
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho reorganized its business units at the beginning of the fiscal year and now has a standalone IP & Anime business that includes its Godzilla and Toho Animation properties.
So far, that business has a 33% operating profit margin.
So far, that business has a 33% operating profit margin.
Toho announced 1Q FY26 earnings results last week, and the appendix of the presentation is twice as long as the actual financial results portion.
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho announced 1Q FY26 earnings results last week, and the appendix of the presentation is twice as long as the actual financial results portion.
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
I should admit that I haven't actually watched all that much anime since 2015.
June 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I should admit that I haven't actually watched all that much anime since 2015.
This is cool. There's a book that teaches Japanese readers English using Delicious in Dungeon content.
June 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This is cool. There's a book that teaches Japanese readers English using Delicious in Dungeon content.
I noticed this mistake because @animenewsnetwork.com reported $100 million as the investment amount, an order of magnitude smaller.
I want to commend Wonhee Cho for including links to the ministry's original Korean-language announcement, which writes out the investment amount as 1,500억 원.
I want to commend Wonhee Cho for including links to the ministry's original Korean-language announcement, which writes out the investment amount as 1,500억 원.
April 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I noticed this mistake because @animenewsnetwork.com reported $100 million as the investment amount, an order of magnitude smaller.
I want to commend Wonhee Cho for including links to the ministry's original Korean-language announcement, which writes out the investment amount as 1,500억 원.
I want to commend Wonhee Cho for including links to the ministry's original Korean-language announcement, which writes out the investment amount as 1,500억 원.
South Korea's Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism last week announced new investment in the country's animation industry.
However, every English-language mainstream and trade publication misreported this as a US$1 billion investment.
Here's a lesson on niche media reporting and translation. 🧵
However, every English-language mainstream and trade publication misreported this as a US$1 billion investment.
Here's a lesson on niche media reporting and translation. 🧵
![Screenshot of a web article in The Korea Herald dated April 24, 2025, with the title "Culture Minsitry [sic] unveils plans to boost animation industry, expand global reach" and the subtitle "With a 1.5 trillion won boost and new AI and export policies, Korea aims to turn animation into a growth engine".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lyykxvja6foa664pcfsw7mkx/bafkreiboc2rwdlyq6oagr5nsyrkgqj6eh7xgolzd7fh7ugethmzkxfikde@jpeg)
April 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
South Korea's Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism last week announced new investment in the country's animation industry.
However, every English-language mainstream and trade publication misreported this as a US$1 billion investment.
Here's a lesson on niche media reporting and translation. 🧵
However, every English-language mainstream and trade publication misreported this as a US$1 billion investment.
Here's a lesson on niche media reporting and translation. 🧵
At this 2016 event, the Tintoy Chuo and the Fusion Wayang Kulit crew also showed off wayang kulit renditions of MS-06S Char's Zaku II from Mobile Suit Gundam and Evangelion Unit-01 from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
April 20, 2025 at 2:50 AM
At this 2016 event, the Tintoy Chuo and the Fusion Wayang Kulit crew also showed off wayang kulit renditions of MS-06S Char's Zaku II from Mobile Suit Gundam and Evangelion Unit-01 from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Congratulations Fusion Wayang Kulit crew on their #StarWarsCelebration appearance! Tintoy Chuo and crew are also anime fans. In 2016, I captured them demoing a wayang kulit rendition of the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross. It also transforms!
April 20, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Congratulations Fusion Wayang Kulit crew on their #StarWarsCelebration appearance! Tintoy Chuo and crew are also anime fans. In 2016, I captured them demoing a wayang kulit rendition of the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross. It also transforms!
Shojo manga #MagicalGirlDandelion has been more popular in the U.S. than in Japan since it began serialization last year, Masami Hatanaka, the chief producer leading Shogakukan's division for girls' and women's manga, told The Tsukuru magazine in its annual manga and anime issue.
April 16, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Shojo manga #MagicalGirlDandelion has been more popular in the U.S. than in Japan since it began serialization last year, Masami Hatanaka, the chief producer leading Shogakukan's division for girls' and women's manga, told The Tsukuru magazine in its annual manga and anime issue.
Toho's year-end consolidated financial results show the final price tag of its acquisition of GKIDS in October was ¥19.2 billion (≈US$129 million), paid in cash. The original estimate given in January was US$140 million.
April 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Toho's year-end consolidated financial results show the final price tag of its acquisition of GKIDS in October was ¥19.2 billion (≈US$129 million), paid in cash. The original estimate given in January was US$140 million.
My package forwarder issued a correction. De minimis exemption on Japanese goods remains in effect for now. White House's executive order says this will likely change in the future.
April 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
My package forwarder issued a correction. De minimis exemption on Japanese goods remains in effect for now. White House's executive order says this will likely change in the future.
My Japanese package forwarding service just sent out this notice in relation to new U.S. tariffs on Japan.
It looks like de minimis duty exemption is going away for Japanese products as well.
It looks like de minimis duty exemption is going away for Japanese products as well.
April 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
My Japanese package forwarding service just sent out this notice in relation to new U.S. tariffs on Japan.
It looks like de minimis duty exemption is going away for Japanese products as well.
It looks like de minimis duty exemption is going away for Japanese products as well.
U.S. looks set to enact a 24% tariff on Japan, but as I've reported on @animenomics.com most Japanese toys are made in China (34% tariff) and Vietnam (46% tariff), so the effective tariff rate on many anime merchandise imports into the U.S. will likely be much higher.
April 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM
U.S. looks set to enact a 24% tariff on Japan, but as I've reported on @animenomics.com most Japanese toys are made in China (34% tariff) and Vietnam (46% tariff), so the effective tariff rate on many anime merchandise imports into the U.S. will likely be much higher.
Excellent April Fools' joke. Indonesia's Comic Frontier and Malaysia's Comic Fiesta, both events having the CF acronym, exchanged names for the day.
April 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Excellent April Fools' joke. Indonesia's Comic Frontier and Malaysia's Comic Fiesta, both events having the CF acronym, exchanged names for the day.
I feel oddly proud as a Cornell alum that a professor made this kind of impact on someone's academic career.
This is an excerpt from the outstanding academic paper "Decolonising anime studies: a prolegomenon" by Ryotaro Mihara, published last week in Japan Forum, Volume 37, Issue 1.
This is an excerpt from the outstanding academic paper "Decolonising anime studies: a prolegomenon" by Ryotaro Mihara, published last week in Japan Forum, Volume 37, Issue 1.
March 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I feel oddly proud as a Cornell alum that a professor made this kind of impact on someone's academic career.
This is an excerpt from the outstanding academic paper "Decolonising anime studies: a prolegomenon" by Ryotaro Mihara, published last week in Japan Forum, Volume 37, Issue 1.
This is an excerpt from the outstanding academic paper "Decolonising anime studies: a prolegomenon" by Ryotaro Mihara, published last week in Japan Forum, Volume 37, Issue 1.
Readership of shonen titles (highlighted in green) are so broad gender-wise now, as shown in this spectrum chart published in Nikkei Entertainment! magazine last October.
Titles popular with men are on the left, but there are also many on the right popular with women.
Titles popular with men are on the left, but there are also many on the right popular with women.
March 14, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Readership of shonen titles (highlighted in green) are so broad gender-wise now, as shown in this spectrum chart published in Nikkei Entertainment! magazine last October.
Titles popular with men are on the left, but there are also many on the right popular with women.
Titles popular with men are on the left, but there are also many on the right popular with women.