Report

PSA Media & Entertainment: Are We at Peak Japan Soft Power? Considering Consolidation Possibilities?

Switch 2, Hello Kitty and Demon Slayer have underlined the success of Japan’s global pop culture influence. In this review, Pelham Smithers discusses whether 2025 will be the peak, or if there more to come. In light of the capital limitations faced by Japanese game developers evident at TGS2025, Pelham thinks further consolidation is likely and suggests three likely scenarios.
Underlyings
Capcom Co. Ltd.

Capcom is engaged in the development, manufacture and sales of video games, online games, mobile games and arcade games, as well as the operation of amusement arcades. Co.'s business segments are digital contents, amusement facility and amusement equipment. Co. is engaged in the planning, development, manufacture and sales of home video games, online games and mobile games including "Rockman," "Monster Hunter World" and "Dragons Dogma"; the operation of "Plaza Capcom" amusement facilities in Japan; and the development, production and distribution of arcade games for amusement facilities. Co. is also engaged in the licensing business of game characters and the real estate leasing business.

Electronic Arts Inc.

Electronic Arts develops, markets, publishes and distributes games, content and services that can be played and watched on a variety of platforms, including game consoles, personal computers, and mobile phones. The company markets and sells its games and services through digital distribution channels and through retail channels. Digitally, the company's console games and services can be purchased through third-party storefronts. In its games and services, the company utilizes brands that it either wholly own or license from others. The company develops and publishes games and services across genres. Within and alongside its games, the company provides live services, including in-game purchases, downloadable content, and esports.

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Gungho Online Entertainment Inc.

GungHo Online Entertainment is mainly engaged in the planning, development, and operation of online games. Along with its subsidiaries and associated companies, Co. is engaged in the planning, development, operation and distribution of smart phone applications and online computer games, and the sale of console games. Co. is also engaged in the sale of game contents through download service as well as the licensing of self-developed games. Co.'s principal smart phone applications are "Puzzle & Dragons," "Summons Board," "Divine Gate," and "Princess Punt Sweets," and its principal online computer games are "Ragnarok Online" and "Emil Chronicle Online."

Kadokawa Corporation

KADOKAWA DWANGO is a holding company. Co., through its affiliates, operates in three business segments: web services, publication, and video and game. Co. is engaged in the operation of a video service called "niconico;" the planning and operation of various events; the leasing of event venues; the mobile contents distribution; the publication and sale of paper-based books, e-books, and magazines; the sale of Internet advertising and packaged software; the planning, production, and distribution of movies; the sale of the copyrights; the e-commerce sales of character merchandise and pop idol CDs; the sale of CDs featuring content created from anime and "niconico," and the education business.

KONAMI HOLDINGS CORP

Konami Holdings is engaged in the development, publishing, marketing and distribution of video game software products globally for stationary consoles such as Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft Xbox 360, and for portable consoles such as Sony PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, as well as for use on personal computers. In addition, Co. plans, produces, operates and distributes entertainment content for mobile phone online games. Co. classifies its businesses into four segments: Digital Entertainment, Health & Fitness, Gaming & System, and Amusement.

Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft is a technology company. The company develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. The company provides an array of services, including cloud-based solutions as well as solution support and consulting services. The company also delivers relevant online advertising. The company's products include operating systems; cross-device productivity applications; server applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; and video games. The company also designs, manufactures, and sells devices, including personal computers, tablets, gaming and entertainment consoles, other devices, and related accessories.

NetEase Inc. Sponsored ADR

Netflix Inc.

Netflix is engaged in subscription streaming entertainment service including TV series, documentaries and feature films across a variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, without commercials. Additionally, several members in the United States subscribe to the company's DVD-by-mail service. The company improves its streaming content with a focus on a programming mix of content. The company's members can download a selection of titles for offline viewing. The company operates its business as a global operating segment.

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Nintendo is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture, and sale of home-use game hardware/software and peripheral equipment as well as software under the name of "Nintendo DS," "Nintendo 3DS," "Game Boy," "Nintendo 64,"" Game Boy Advance," "Wii," "Nintendo GameCube," "Game Boy Color" and "e-Reader (trading card games)." Co.'s principal software trademarks include "Pokemon," "Super Mario Bros.," "The Legend of Zelda," "STARFOX64" and others. Co. also provides online games and repair services. In addition, Co. is involved in the manufacture and sale of Japanese playing cards called "Karuta," playing cards and board games, as well as the management of intellectual property rights.

Sanrio Company Ltd.

Sanrio is engaged in the planning and sale of social communication gifts, greeting cards and books; and the planning and operation of theme parks using its own developed characters. The principal characters include "Hello Kitty," "Little Twin Stars Kiki & Lala," "My Melody," "Shinkansen,"" Cinnamoroll," "Pompom Purin," "Jewelpet" and " Patty & Jimmy." Co. also engaged in the management of restaurants (Kentucky Fried Chickens), the lease of cars, the production and rental of robots, the film production, as well as the provision of non-life insurance agency services.

Sony Corporation

Sony is engaged in the development, design, production, manufacture, offer and sale of various kinds of electronic equipment, instruments and devices for consumer, professional and industrial markets such as network services, game hardware and software, televisions, audio and video recorders and players, still and video cameras, mobile phones, and semiconductors. Co. is engaged in the development, production, manufacture, and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music of songs as well as the production and distribution of animation titles. Co. is also engaged in the production, acquisition and distribution of motion pictures and television.

Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd.

Square Enix Holdings is a holding company that is mainly engaged in the entertainment industry. Co., through its subsidiaries, operates in four business segments. The Digital Entertainment business is engaged in the design, development, sale, licensed sale and operation of digital entertainment contents focusing on computer games. The Amusement segment is engaged in the operation of amusement facilities, the design, development, manufacture, sale and rental of amusement equipment. The Publishing segment is involved in the publication of comic magazines, books and game related books. The Rights Property segment is involved design, production, sale and grant of secondary works.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

Take-Two Interactive Software is a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers. The company develops and publishes products principally through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K, as well as its Private Division label and Social Point, a developer of mobile games. The company's products are designed for console gaming systems such as the Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. PlayStation?4, Microsoft Corporation Xbox One?, and Xbox 360?, the Nintendo Switch, and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets. The company delivers its products through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services.

Toho Co. Ltd.

Toho is mainly engaged in movie, theater and real estate businesses. Movie segment is engaged in the production and distribution of movies, the operation of movie theaters, as well as the production and sale of video software. Theater segment is engaged in the production and performance of theatrical plays. Real Estate segment is engaged in the leasing, maintenance and management of real estate properties, as well as the management, cleaning and repair of roads. Co. is also engaged in the operation of entertainment and sport facilities, concession stands at Co.'s theaters and restaurants and the provision of accounting consulting services.

Provider
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

PSA produces both company and sector reports. The focus of PSA’s research is to identify winners and losers as new technologies impact the top and bottom lines of corporations. Critical to our research is the clear explanation of how these new technologies work and how they impact companies and industries. 

The founding partners have worked closely together for twenty years and the team has more than doubled in size since 2012. 

Analysts
Pelham Smithers

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