Nippon TV Launches Anime Department

Nippon TV has launched an anime department within its business development division, with TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- unveiled as the segment’s first global title.

Kako Kuwahara, previously managing director of IBD (international business development), has been promoted to executive VP of business development and will lead the new anime business.

Based on the award-winning novel TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- is a 12×30-minute series produced by C2C Studios, with Nippon TV serving as distributor with all international rights.

“For many years, anime has been a forte of Nippon TV and we have been producing hit anime series such as Lupin the 3rd, Death Note, HUNTER X HUNTER, and many more,” said Keiichi Sawa, operating officer and president of business development for Nippon TV, to whom Kuwahara will report. “But now the time is ideal for us to create a department solely focused on anime as this genre is loved by so many around the world. We will be producing and distributing coveted anime series domestically, as well as internationally, and Kako Kuwahara is the ideal executive to head up this department.”

“I am honored to be the first executive VP of the first anime department in Nippon TV’s history,” Kuwahara said. “I am also proud to introduce TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- as our first international anime distribution. In addition to securing the international distribution rights to this award-winning series, we were also able to cast Japan’s top voice actors with credits including Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and My Hero Academia. We see young international generations looking up to anime heroes and the voice actors, with anime being a big part of their lives. It is my wish, along with Nippon TV’s dedication, to further strengthen our anime production, create new worldwide hits, enhance our global distribution of these series, and, ultimately, reach as many anime fans as possible for generations.”