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NEWS: Toei President, CEO Osamu Tezuka Passes Away at 62

Just on instinct, I had to do a double take when I read the title. Crazy that both of them have the same name (kanji included), passed away in their 60's (OG Tezuka at 60), and both passed away in February (OG Tezuka passed away on the 9th and Toei Tezuka had to have passed at a minimum of a few days ago for Toei to announce his replacement so it is close).

I hope his family and friends can get through this unfortunate time.

RIP

Admittedly had to do a bit of a double take with the name.

RIP Tezuka-san.

Toei also issued a new document setting out its ten-year strategic plan to 2033. And it noted that its current financial year, which runs to the end of March 2023, has already broken the company record for its highest grossing box office year. That is thanks to the success of titles including “The First Slam Dunk,” “The Legend of Butterfly” and “One Piece Film Red.”

The strategy document says that the company recognizes that the world has become a globalized content market, acknowledges the power poof the streamers and says that audiences are becoming more diverse. Toei’s response is to focus on original content that has global appeal, a longer life-cycle and which can be used in multiple formats and derivatives.

Over the coming ten years, Toei aims to grow international revenue as a share of its total from a present-day 30% to 50% by 2033.

To achieve this, the document charts an investment phase from the present to 2028 and a payback phase running 2029-2033, with implementation overlapping the two.

Specific steps include the expansion of production into offshore centers, including the U.S., and The Philippines, and the Japanese release of more international content. Recent examples include its “Voltes V Legacy” with The Philippines GMA, “The Journey” with a Saudi Arabian partner, and “Spicy Candy,” produced through its Shanghai subsidiary with a Chinese partner.

In-house it aims to produce two live-action films per year (on in Tokyo, one in Kyoto) and one major animation film each capable of grossing JPY3 billion ($23 million).