Japanese market TIFFCOM has released the first wave of conference sessions for this year’s three-day event in Tokyo (28-30 Oct), led by domestic commercial powerhouses Nippon TV and TBS Holdings, as well as industry agency, the Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan (BEAJ).  

Organisers say visitor registrations so far for this year’s 23rd edition are running about 20% ahead of last year. 

Nippon TV puts its global journey front and centre of its presence on the conference stage, with global strategy president Kazuo Takaya, Gyokuro Studio head Ken Akiyama and content business EVP Shinji Enari talking about global initiatives. The session will also include a case study of “Merry Berry Love”, a Nippon TV co-pro with Korea’s CJ ENM Japan. 

The second session announced so far has TBS talking about its investment and partnership with Hollywood’s Legendary Entertainment and inside its StudioMonowa JV with Korea’s CJ ENM and Japan’s U-Next. Speakers include Katsuaki Setoguchi, who is president/CEO of TBS’ The Seven among other roles; and Shinya Watanabe, TBS global division president.

The BEAJ session looks at Japan’s IP frontier to business beyond broadcasting, featuring Fuji Television, San-in Chuo Television and Hokkaido Television Broadcasting, among others. 

The full conference programme covers AI, IP strategies, international co-production and the overseas expansion of Japanese content. 

The market runs alongside the annual Tokyo International Film Festival.