Japanese film market : Opportunities and barriers for European and/or Finnish films in Japan
Madduma Patabendige, Chrishan Chanaka Silva (2020)
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024060722071
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024060722071
Tiivistelmä
The aim of the thesis is to analyze the opportunities and barriers for European (EU) and/or Finnish films in the Japanese film market. By examining an overview of the market from the historical and structural perspective, the behavior and trend of the Japanese audience can be understood. It helps the foreign film production and film distributor companies to have an insight into the Japanese film market. Opportunities and Barriers are analyzed from the review and the latest updated statistics available of the market. The empirical part of thesis was conducted in a qualitative manner, in the form of a questionnaire with open-ended questions to get various opinions of Japanese film audience toward factors that affect them in choosing a movie.
Japan market is attractive to foreign film production companies as it generates high revenues due to increasing expenditure for entertainment and their willingness to try EU/Finnish movies. EU/Finnish film producers must face a high competition in Japan, from Hollywood movies which are generally dominant form of entertainment in most countries and Japanese local films which are outstanding and trendy to the locals. Japanese audience enjoy watching Fantasy, Animation and Action genres with emotional, tragic or a unique story concept. One challenge EU/Finnish film producers need to be aware of is that the difference in cultural background and Japanese audiences’ unfamiliarity with European films.
The EU/Finnish films situation is discussed to review the current trend and the potential in Japanese film market. SWOT analysis is used to analyze the Rapid River Oy Company – to understand current state of the company in which this thesis is written to help in exporting their films to Japan. Japan is a competitive market; it is easier to attract film distributors and film audience when the film is big budgeted such as Hollywood films. Co-production is a solution for EU/Finnish films to get access to Japanese market. In return, it would help to finance the film much easier. Additionally, Co-production with Japanese film companies would allow foreign films production companies to shorten the cultural gap.
Japan market is attractive to foreign film production companies as it generates high revenues due to increasing expenditure for entertainment and their willingness to try EU/Finnish movies. EU/Finnish film producers must face a high competition in Japan, from Hollywood movies which are generally dominant form of entertainment in most countries and Japanese local films which are outstanding and trendy to the locals. Japanese audience enjoy watching Fantasy, Animation and Action genres with emotional, tragic or a unique story concept. One challenge EU/Finnish film producers need to be aware of is that the difference in cultural background and Japanese audiences’ unfamiliarity with European films.
The EU/Finnish films situation is discussed to review the current trend and the potential in Japanese film market. SWOT analysis is used to analyze the Rapid River Oy Company – to understand current state of the company in which this thesis is written to help in exporting their films to Japan. Japan is a competitive market; it is easier to attract film distributors and film audience when the film is big budgeted such as Hollywood films. Co-production is a solution for EU/Finnish films to get access to Japanese market. In return, it would help to finance the film much easier. Additionally, Co-production with Japanese film companies would allow foreign films production companies to shorten the cultural gap.