Tokyo TIFFCOM Market Chief on Riding the Japanese IP Wave as Entertainment Landscape Shifts with AI

Japan’s appeal boosts TIFFCOM

As the Tokyo International Film Festival has raised its profile, its content market, TIFFCOM, has developed a stronger presence, supported by demand for Japanese intellectual property. The market has added exhibitors and visitors and expanded its seminar program.

Ikeda says interest in Japan is also benefiting the event. Anime, manga, gameshow formats and productions such as Shōgun have helped draw attention, alongside nearly 43 million visitors to Japan last year.

“Japan is enjoying a boom,” Ikeda told The Hollywood Reporter, describing Tokyo as one of the world’s most fascinating cities. She said that interest supports TIFFCOM’s work with culture.

Broadening the IP market

Last year, TIFFCOM relaunched Tokyo Story Market as Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, moving from a focus on book adaptations to a wider range of rights and formats. This year’s participants include remake-rights holders Toei, Shochiku and Takara Tomy.

The market also took Tokyo IP Market to Cannes, where Japan was Country of Honour at the Marché du Film. The initiative introduced Japanese IP for potential adaptations into films, games and other forms, with backing from the Japanese government and industry.

Ikeda called the Cannes venture successful, saying it connected international producers with Japanese rights holders. She hopes future editions can include smaller publishers with less experience in global markets.

Seminars address industry shifts

A session titled “Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP” will include producer Shinzo Matsuhashi, Steven Maeda of Netflix’s One Piece, and Buddy Marini, head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan. TIFFCOM is also adding an AI keynote, “Technology and Storytelling,” with AGBO executives Chris Brearton and Dominic Hughes. The Association of Japanese Animations will release its annual industry data at another session, while television stations will present case studies on overseas format sales.

Market growth and project links

TIFFCOM recorded about 4,600 visitors and 300 exhibitors in 2025, a strong increase from previous editions. The market is on track to match or exceed those figures this year.

The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, now in its seventh year, connects partially funded projects with production partners. Two completed productions from last year will screen in the festival’s Crosscut Asia+ section. Ikeda said The Violinist, an animation that found an Italian partner through the 2023 market, won the top award at Annecy this year.