The Neon & The Tradition: Navigating Japan’s Entertainment Powerhouse

The Japanese film industry is dominated by major studios—Toho, Toei, Shochiku, and Kadokawa—which are members of the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (Eiren). These companies are vertically integrated, controlling a film from development and production to distribution and ancillary markets. Toho, in particular, is a powerhouse, responsible for producing and distributing many of Japan’s biggest box office hits, including the Godzilla franchise and numerous Studio Ghibli films.