Japan’s entertainment industry is making a renaissance in film production according to a study by Norwich-based University of East Anglea. The study revealed that there have been 554 films produced in 2012. Compared to the number of films made from 1950s until the end of the 1990s, when there were only about 250 films produced in a year, 2012 broke the record of more than 500 films released in cinemas in Japan in a year since 1961.
The change in results has been credited to the popularity of manga, anime, and movies in Japan, which are the subject of research of the Manga Movies Project. The purpose of the project is to assess and explore the industries in order to deliver better ideas for the promotion of Japan’s entertainment industry, locally and abroad. With Japan’s market focus remaining at home, the popularity of manga, anime, and Japanese movies may not enjoy the same result on a global scale. There may have been a few released internationally, but the way Japan handles and markets its entertainment industry remain limited.
Rayna Denison from UEA – School of Film, Television and Media Studies credited manga as the common origin of Japanese movies. It is not unknown that a number of TV dramas were adapted from manga, like the famous Hana Yori Dango and Hana Kimi. Both dramas were also adapted into TV series by neighbouring countries like Taiwan and South Korea. A TV movie called SP, or ‘Special’, was also created for both dramas because of their reception.
The UEA study has also taken into consideration the effect of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which resulted to the destruction of more than 100 movie theatres. Even by the end of that year, there were 30 other cinema houses unable to show movies. But after the great earthquake, changes in Japanese movie theatres have been implemented. “The expansion in screen numbers has created greater space for Japanese cinema within its own market and multiplexes have created a space where all kinds of Japanese cinema are being release alongside American and other overseas releases,” said Dr. Denison.
Production and marketing of Japanese films have been noticed to recently target women, especially those in their 20s and 30s. But when Japanese films are marketed outside the country, it has been noted that older films are easily noticed followed by horror movies. The study also revealed that language barrier is playing a significant role in keeping the Japanese entertainment industry from its full potential.
“If language remains a major boundary for Japanese media, then it is likely the country’s media markets will remain limited,” Denison noted. However, the increasing awareness of Japanese producers with how language can help or hinder a product, the “Japanese media producers are themselves becoming more ready for the global media landscape.” The use other languages, like English and Chinese, is now being practiced. “This has the benefit of making these industries more open to international exchanges and trade,” said Denison.
[via Phys Org]
