Discover and Follow Japan's Leading Movie Producers and Their Current Productions on Our Site
Top Japanese Entertainment Producers Embrace Integrated Gaming, Streaming, and Transmedia Storytelling
The Japanese entertainment industry is a powerhouse, with leading companies focusing on integrating gaming, streaming, and transmedia storytelling across platforms. Here's a closer look at some of the top producers shaping the industry.
Sony Group Corporation leads the pack, especially in gaming, holding the number one spot by average yearly income in 2025. Sony has recently formed a strategic partnership with Bandai Namco Holdings to strengthen their entertainment offerings.
Bandai Namco Holdings, ranked second, is a major player in games and multimedia, collaborating with Sony and other industry giants. They continue to innovate within popular franchises and entertainment sectors.
Nintendo, ranked third by income, remains a key player in gaming, sustaining strong global franchises. Although specific current projects weren't detailed, the company's influence in the gaming world is undeniable.
Sega Sammy Holdings and other game-focused companies like Akatsuki and Capcom also rank highly, emphasizing Japan's dominant role in gaming production.
In the streaming sector, U-NEXT is a leading platform in Japan, holding the second-largest streaming market share. Under CEO Uno, U-NEXT has diversified from video-on-demand into e-books, manga, and live events. In 2025, it partnered with Rakuten Mobile to offer unlimited streaming content bundled with mobile data, aiming to drive subscriber growth and innovate in mobile entertainment.
The Japanese entertainment market is also seeing strong growth in short drama apps, with emotionally engaging narratives that appeal to women aged 25-44. These apps are highly monetized and expanding rapidly. Meanwhile, the OTT streaming market in Japan is valued at about $9.78 billion in 2025 and expected to grow to $20.18 billion by 2032.
Major media franchises like Pokémon, Hello Kitty, and Demon Slayer continue to dominate in cross-media storytelling, spanning anime, games, films, merchandise, and theme parks. Demon Slayer notably grossed over $350 million at the box office.
For businesses looking to connect with these top producers, a platform designed for vendors and service providers in the entertainment industry offers real-time updates and verified contact details. The website covers over 100 countries and includes information on over 80,000 production houses and 72,000+ industry leaders. It tracks global Film & TV projects, partners, and deals to find vendors, financiers, commissioners, licensors, and licensees. The platform helps businesses connect with producers by providing real-time project updates and insights, enabling targeted outreach when services align with active projects and production workflows.
In addition to top producers like Sony, Bandai Namco, Nintendo, Sega Sammy, and U-NEXT, the platform provides real-time tracking of industry leaders like Tomoyuki Tanaka, Koji Yamamura, and Masaichi Nagata, offering valuable insights for businesses looking to collaborate with these influential figures. The platform also offers industry briefings and events, such as Micro-Dramas & Mobile-First Storytelling and Watch Time Wars: YouTube’s Expansion and Strategic Implications for SVOD.
Movies-and-tv and entertainment are integral parts of Japan's thriving entertainment industry, with companies like Sony Group Corporation, Bandai Namco Holdings, Nintendo, Sega Sammy Holdings, and U-NEXT leading the way in gaming, streaming, and transmedia storytelling across various platforms. These companies also diversify into other aspects of entertainment such as live events, manga, e-books, and short drama apps.
