Reed Exhibitions Japan will be holding Japan’s largest B-to-B platform for the content industry − Content Tokyo at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan next month from July 1-3.
6 powerful exhibitions for content business under one roof
Expanding 1.5 folds further from last year’s edition, at this comprehensive 3-day event, 1,330 exhibitors will gather from across Japan and the world to showcase their latest, most creative and innovative products and technologies. Exhibitors will be dispersed across 6 powerful exhibitions all specialising in different functional areas of content business – 5th Licensing Japan ,3rd Production Companies Expo , 3rd Content Solutions Expo , 1st Content Marketing Expo, 1st Advanced Content Technology Expo and 4th Creators’ Expo. From individual content creators, production companies, licensing, the tools, technologies and services to create, manage and distribute content…the 6 exhibitions of Content Tokyo covers all fields of the business.
Latest advanced technologies for content
In order to keep pace with the continually evolving digital content business, Content Tokyo has been molding its shape over the years to fit the industry’s needs by adding or adjusting concepts of the composing exhibitions. This year exhibits for technology will be enriched. At the newly launched Advanced Content Technology Expo − the latest technologies and solutions for interactive, entertainment experiences will be showcased by 70 firms. EPSON for instance will be exhibiting their latest smart glasses “MOVERIO”. German robot maker KUKA will showcase the next generation robot “LBR iiwa”. Business ready 360-degree panoramic viewer, communication app with the latest voice synthesis technology and digital signage are to be on show at Sony Music Communications’ booth. Japan’s leading firm for VR, Solidray will be showcasing their interactive floor image system.
Other exhibits include technologies and equipment required for creating digital art, 3D printers, 3D projection mapping tables, software for drones, latest virtual reality technologies and much more.
“Despite the fact that the level of technology is top class, there was never a link between the technology and competitiveness within the industry. Therefore, I look forward to Advanced Content Technology Expo and the concurrent shows for business of the technicians in the field to expand and creations of new media content through the businesses conducted on-site, ” shared professor Michitaka Hirose of Tokyo University when the launch of the exhibition was revealed to the industry. Hopes are high for the show as a new platform for industry professionals to utilise for business.
A conference will take place in parallel to the exhibition throughout the show period.
The session especially to look out for would be the Contetnt Tokyo Int’l Conference. Daito Manabe, Director of Rhizomatiks who produces the live performance of a Japanese pop girls group “Perfume” and the promotional video for the 2020 Olympic Games will hold a talk on the use of advanced technologies in the future vision of expression. From Tokyo University, Susumu Tachi the Professor Emeritus will discuss how the advancements in robot technology and virtual reality have brought a revolutionary change to the definition of “experience”. Michitaka Hirose, Professor of the graduate school of Information Science and Technology of Tokyo University will speak about the potential of using media content in the real world such as ARG (alternate reality games).
700 creators & 180 production companies
Continuing from the previous show, Content Tokyo will serve as the largest annual B-to-B platform to enjoy discovering interesting content from Japan by meeting and discussing partnership with various content creators and producers.
At Creators’ Expo a total of 700 creators from across the country of all genres namely video and animation creators, game, app creators, illustrators, computer graphic designers, sound creators, musicians, calligraphers, photographers etc. will be showcasing their proud work samples on-site.
Various media content production companies will also be exhibiting at Production Companies Expo. Including major production firms such as Square Enix, Taiyo Kikaku and Dynamo Pictures, 180 powerful and unique firms will be taking part this year. Participation of exhibitors from overseas is also on the rise. From the UK, Audio Network will be showcasing their high quality music. PT. Abadi Business Solutions from Indonesia and Motion Elements, Thailand Film Office, Plannasia from Thailand will also be exhibiting.
During the show period, in addition to booth exhibits, a number of exhibitors will take the opportunity to appeal their original movie, animation, computer graphics, game, music content at a special showcase area. H.A.N.D will be running a short movie with a hint of spook, MAGICALGIRL will be showing an animation and Mirai Kibou Design is to exhibit an action fantasy piece. Participants will be able to enjoy the creative work of such exhibitors as well as negotiating future partnerships.
Expanding brand and licensing business
Licensing Japan held within Content Tokyo is the largest hub in Japan for licensing business. Ranging from minor to major characters and brands from across Japan will be exhibited.
All the major publication and television networks in Japan for instance Toho, Bandai, Shueisha, Kodansha, TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Tv Enterprise, Shogakukan, Shogakukan-Shueisha, Kadokawa etc. will be joining the show.
This year, increasing number of firms are exhibiting at Licensing Expo for the first time including new-comers to licensing business too. Fujiya, Japan Airlines, East Japan Marketing & Communications are some of the first time exhibitors.
License holders from overseas are also rising. License of such overseas exhibitors include Where’s Walley?, Frisk, Lamborghini, Jeep, The Discovery Channel, Line Characters, Sasssy, Laura Ashley, Hershey, World Heritage, Chupa Chups, Madonna, Metallica, Vincent Van Gogh, Christian R Lassen etc. The Taiwan pavilion will be larger and Korea will be holding a national pavilion for the first time. The overall scale of the show will be expanding by 1.5 folds.
Trending Content Marketing
Another highlight of the show would be the other newly launched exhibition – Content Marketing Expo. 90 companies will be joining to reveal their latest technologies and services for the trending content marketing. Content marketing support services will be showcased by Nippon Sp Center, IMJ Corporation. SEO solutions by Plan-B, Dm Solutions. In the area of various content production, distribution and analytic tools Fullspeed, Locus, Ccc Media House, Gmo Creators Network, Bebit, Grooover, User Local, Amana etc. will be ready for on-site consultations. Construction and management services for owned-media will also be exhibited by firms such as Hatena, Startialab and many more.
Where content and business will “hatch”
Keisuke Amano, Show Director of Content Tokyo envisions the show to be more than just a trade show to showcase products and technologies.
“We would like our show to be recognised as the place where new content will hatch. With the addition of the 2 new exhibitions the show now collectively gathers all the players of the content business in one place allowing professionals of various sectors and stages of content creation to meet, network and discuss partnerships. We hope to keep serving as a platform for new content to born into the world.”
Expanding further by 14% from the previous year, 57,000 professional visitors of the content industry are expected attend this year’s show.
