Japan’s largest bank is betting on Hollywood-style financing to revive the country’s struggling film industry. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group launched Japan Creative Works No. 1 Investment LP, committing ¥6.6 billion ($44 million) through MUFG Bank to fund live-action films based on publisher Kodansha’s manga properties.
The partnership with production company CREDEUS, known for the Kingdom film franchise, represents an unusual foray for Japan’s banking sector into entertainment financing. The fund will support a single, large-scale live-action film that could evolve into a franchise, with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking managing the investment vehicle.
Japanese content exports surged 20% to ¥5.8 trillion ($38.7 billion) in 2023, yet domestic productions face intensifying competition from South Korean and Hollywood studios backed by substantial government funding. The fund’s undisclosed total size and reliance on external institutional investors raise questions about scale compared to overseas rivals.
CREDEUS has achieved domestic box office success with films like Kingdom 4, which earned ¥8.03 billion ($53.5 million) last year. However, the production company’s track record remains largely confined to Japan’s domestic market, where audience preferences don’t always translate globally.
The initiative arrives as Japan’s government promotes industry support while film directors advocate for better working conditions and sustainable business models.
