Toppan Holdings, Japan’s leading printing company, has officially expanded its portfolio by acquiring Cross Media, the operator behind London’s premier Japanese culture event, “HYPER JAPAN.” The acquisition was finalized with a stock transfer agreement on January 31, 2024, making Toppan the largest shareholder and consolidating Cross Media as a subsidiary by February 29, 2024. The details of the acquisition cost remain undisclosed.
This strategic move is set to bolster Toppan’s public relations functions for Japanese culture and content within the UK, focusing on event management and product sales. Cross Media, now a central pillar of Toppan Group’s Japanese content-related business in the UK, marks a significant step in the company’s diversification efforts beyond its traditional printing business. Toppan is diversifying into digital technologies, logistics, data services, and cultural businesses, leveraging its foundational strengths in printing.
“HYPER JAPAN,” initiated in 2010, stands as a pivotal event celebrating Japanese anime, manga, food, and pop culture, mirroring the scale and enthusiasm of the Anime Expo in the US and Japan Expo in France. With this acquisition, Toppan aims to amplify the presence of Japanese companies and local governments at “HYPER JAPAN,” enhancing the event’s stature and reach. The company plans to deploy its technological capabilities and event management expertise to elevate the event experience, intending to deepen the UK’s engagement with Japanese culture through this iconic event. This ambitious endeavor reflects Toppan’s commitment to spreading Japanese culture globally, with “HYPER JAPAN” as a cornerstone of this vision.
