Japanese Content, the Japanese Way: Sony Music Japan President Atsuhiro Iwakami on Bringing Domestic Entertainment to a Global Audience
The exec shares his thoughts on what it will take for Japanese content to score hits abroad.
Atsuhiro Iwakami, President and Representative Director of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), has dedicated his career to anime and game production. He has collaborated with numerous artists on titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Sword Art Online. In April, Iwakami transitioned from Aniplex president to Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) president, aiming to strengthen the synergy between anime and music.
Aniplex, which began in 1997, emphasized the connection between anime and music from the start. Iwakami's experience with successful projects like Rurouni Kenshin and its theme song "Sobakasu" by JUDY AND MARY has informed his approach. As the head of a group managing various domestic entertainment sectors, Iwakami envisions a holistic approach to connecting these domains under Sony Music Entertainment (Japan).
He sees the group's potential in leveraging public-private cooperation and industry collaboration to accelerate global expansion, including the production of music hits, fan engagement, and content dissemination. Iwakami believes the industry must bridge the gap between creating appealing content and effectively distributing it internationally, while also adapting to evolving distribution channels.
He aims to continue exploring novel ways to showcase Japan's culture and history through distinctively Japanese content.
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