Inaugural "Anime Business Conference" from Japan Society, Anime News Network, Anime NYC to Draw Professionals Across Japanese, American Popular Culture

B2B Summit at NYC's Japan Society Launches November 15, Before Anime NYC 2018

New York, N​Y (Oct 1, 2018) - Japan Society, Anime News Network, and Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll today announced a partnership to launch the first “Anime Business Conference” in New York City. This inaugural summit will bring together professionals working in Japanese popular culture and professionals across broader marketing, licensing, publishing, and entertainment to create new dialogues between Japanese and North American business. It will take place in New York's historic Japan Society (333 E 47th St) on November 15, 2018, the day preceding New York City's largest anime convention - Anime NYC.

The Japanese pop culture business - spanning Japanese animation, comics, music, toys, and games - has never been larger in North America with success stories including: smartphone game Fate/Grand Order earning over $300 million in revenue in the last quarter alone, manga publisher Viz Media regularly holding more graphic novel market share than Marvel and DC, and Netflix's $8 billion original programming budget devoting significant funds to new anime series. The global anime market overall is estimated at over $15 billion, driven largely by overseas sales.

Anime Business Conference participants will come from major companies including Aniplex, Crunchyroll, Funimation, GKIDS, HIDIVE, Kodansha, Sentai Filmworks, Vertical, Viz Media, and Yen Press, and the Anime Business Conference will explore subjects relevant to the business and entertainment worlds at large, including:

● The globalization of anime production, marketing, and consumption
● Measuring success in an ever-changing entertainment landscape
● Engaging with emerging and disruptive technologies
● The next big thing in anime and manga

Japan Society, a 100+ year old institution dedicated to deepening mutual understanding between the U.S. and Japan in a global context, will host the event, presenting the Anime Business Conference on the same stage which has previously welcomed masters of traditional Japanese arts, theater, and literature as well as CEOs and thought leaders from Japan's largest corporations. Japan Society and Anime NYC collaborated earlier this year on the U.S. Premiere of Shinsuke Satō's BLEACH.

“A uniquely Japanese phenomenon, anime reaches out to people of all genders and generations, inspiring a love of Japan's language and culture in people around the world,” said Tomomi Sekiya, Deputy Director of the Talks+ Program at Japan Society. “We're very moved to present this forum about the future of Japanese pop culture at an organization which has showcased traditional Japanese culture for over a century.”

The Anime Business Conference is co-curated by Anime News Network and Anime NYC. Anime News Network is the world's largest English-language anime news website; it welcomes over 8 million visitors each month and is one of the most influential voices in Japanese pop culture news. Anime NYC - New York City's largest anime convention - will draw over 30,000 passionate fans, publishers, and guests spanning America and Japan when it returns to the Javits Center on November 16-18.

“Digital availability is bringing Japanese pop culture to more people than ever before, and the business has never been larger; more and more companies outside of anime and manga are starting to take note,” said Christopher Macdonald, Publisher of Anime News Network. “The time is right for the Anime Business Conference - the first event of its kind in North America - which will bring together individuals and companies looking for insight into the future of Japanese popular culture, especially new brands looking to enter this world for the first time.”

“Anime NYC's goal is to be a celebration for fans and a platform for professionals, and we couldn't be more excited to work with our friends at Japan Society and Anime News Network to make a dedicated space for professional conversations,” said Peter Tatara, Anime NYC's Event Director. “There is a unique opportunity here in New York for a professional forum focused on Japanese popular culture and open to all the marketing, licensing, publishing, and entertainment brands that call New York home.”

The Anime Business Conference will run from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Thursday, November 15, with a networking reception to follow. Tickets are $45 ($40 for Japan Society members, seniors, and students), and professionals working in either Japanese or North American marketing, licensing, publishing, and entertainment are encouraged to attend as well as anyone seeking to understand upcoming trends in Japanese pop culture. Tickets to the Anime Business Conference can be purchased at www.japansociety.org/anibiz now. (Anime NYC tickets are not required to attend the Anime Business Conference)

Both public and Professional tickets to Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll are also available now, and those attending will be able to spend three days immersed in the latest in anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture and participate in show-stopping special events including the Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] Special Event and the largest Japanese concert series in the history of New York City - Anisong World Matsuri.

ABOUT JAPAN SOCIETY:
Founded in 1907, Japan Society in New York City presents sophisticated, topical, and accessible experiences of Japanese art and culture, and facilitates the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and innovation between the U.S. and Japan. More than 200 events annually encompass world-class exhibitions, dynamic classical and cutting-edge contemporary performing arts, film premieres and retrospectives, workshops and demonstrations, tastings, family activities, language classes, and a range of high-profile talks and expert panels that present open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. For more, visit japansociety.org.

ABOUT ANIME NEWS NETWORK:
Founded in 1998, Anime News Network is the world's leading destination for news and information about Japanese animation, comics, and pop culture. Millions of consumers, industry insiders, and professionals come to Anime News Network every month for its wide array of up-to-the-minute news reporting, product reviews, columns, discussion forums, and interactive features. The site even enjoys multiple awards and accolades for its excellence and is the most quoted source of anime information on Wikipedia. Anime News Network's mission is to bring the anime industry and its fans together with the latest and best information, news, and views. For more, visit animenewsnetwork.com.

ABOUT ANIME NYC POWERED BY CRUNCHYROLL:
Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll is New York City's anime convention. A showcase of the best of Japanese pop culture in the biggest city in America, Anime NYC brings anime fans and publishers together for three days of unique exhibits, exclusive screenings, extensive panels, and appearances by some of the biggest creators in Japan. This year's event takes place November 16-18 in New York's Javits Center, and we invite you to join over 30,000 fans for a celebration of Japanese animation, manga, cosplay, movies, food, fashion, travel, technology, toys, and games in the heart of NYC. For more, visit animenyc.com.