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This year, Tokyo Docs celebrates its fifth edition. It seems like it was just the other day in 2011, the year of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when we hurriedly set up Tokyo Docs. Our desire was to speak to the world from Japan through internationally co-produced documentaries. We literally stumbled through questions such as: How do you define international co-production? What projects are suitable for co-production? How should pitching be carried out? How should negotiations with co-production partners be conducted?
Thankfully, Tokyo Docs continues to grow smoothly, and has resulted in many excellent international co-productions. The concept of developing projects through pitching was new to Japan but it has been embraced by and is spreading through the documentary production community in Japan. We’re pleased to see the increase in so many young producers who are ready to take on new challenges. In addition, the results of our efforts have been widely recognized by those involved with documentary production outside of Japan. The visibility of Tokyo Docs has increased rapidly.
This year, responding to our call, 93 documentary projects were submitted from Japan and abroad. Among these submissions, 30 projects were from Asia. This year, the opinions of two non-Japanese producers were also incorporated by the Executive Committee in project selection. In the end, 25 projects were selected to be presented in pitching sessions. In addition to documentaries addressing problems confronting Japan, reflections on Japanese culture, and analyses of world issues as seen from a Japanese perspective, the projects also include explorations into the many challenges faced by people of Asia with fresh, new angles.
Since last year, we have worked proactively on the exchange of production-related personnel between Japan and other Asian countries. As a result, four documentaries under the single theme of Colors of Asia were produced. The documentaries will be widely broadcast throughout Japan and the other countries that participated in the co-productions. We will continue to build on this approach with new projects being considered this year as well.
Finally, according to the medium-term plan set last year, we will press on with our plan of becoming the center of international co-production in Asia by 2020, comparable to the main documentary festivals of Europe and North America. We express our deep gratitude to all who have made Tokyo Docs successful and sincerely ask for their continued support.
Chairperson, Tokyo TV Forum (NPO)
Yukihiko Amagi spent more than 30 years at NHK as a documentary producer, where he produced many quality documentaries that received international recognition. In his later years, he was the director of the department that produces NHK Specials, the public broadcaster’s flagship documentary slot. He then went on to become a documentary distributor, and since 2011, he has been responsible for the management of Tokyo Docs.
President, TEMJIN Co., Ltd.
Yoshiaki Yajima founded production company, TEMJIN in 1987. He has produced numerous documentary programs with most of his works concentrating on social issues in China and the contemporary history of China and Japan. Yoshiaki has received many domestic and overseas awards including the Golden Nymph award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. Recently, he’s been focusing his energies on co-productions with production companies in Asia.
Company Executive, DOCUMENTARY JAPAN INC.
Tetsuo Maki co-founded the production company Documentary Japan in 1981 and led the firm as president from 2001 until last year. He has produced many documentaries and received an ATP (Association of All Japan TV Production Companies) Grand Prix Award in 1991. As a board member of ATP, he is committed to international distribution and co-production.
Director of International Acquisition & Producer, TV MAN UNION, INC.
Rumi Ono joined production company TV MAN UNION, INC. in 1996 after majoring in media education at graduate school in the University of Wisconsin. Along with acquisition and programming of international films for Japanese TV networks, Rumi is an active documentary producer. She also runs the theatrical and digital distribution division at her company.
Professor, Department of Journalism, Sophia University
After working for the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan, Prof. Oto joined Tokyo’s Sophia University in 1994, where he currently teaches journalism and literature. He was also a visiting researcher at Columbia University and a researcher at the General Affairs Research Bureau of the House of Representatives.
President, IMPLEO Inc.
Seiko Kato started her career in the management department of NHK in 1987. She later gained experience working as an international conference coordinator and a bilingual assistant for a joint Japan-U.S.-Australia movie project. In 2001, she established IMPLEO Inc., a company that specializes in interpretation and translation, multilingual narration services, website and catalog production, and temporary staffing and management.
Producer, AMAZONLATERNA CO., LTD
Ken Shimonuruyu’s background in television production is diverse. He’s been involved in investigative reporting, subculture programs, docudramas, and live interactive broadcasts with overseas countries. His vision is to see documentaries acquire the same level of recognition on the Internet as they do in broadcast and movie theaters.
President, Express Sports Co., Ltd.
Torao Shirota previously worked in documentary production and sports rights and contracts negotiations for NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. He currently runs a company, which specializes in live sports coverage and sports documentaries in addition to providing services to broadcasters from overseas during international sporting events in Japan.
President, TOKYO VIDEO CENTER INC.
Atsushi Tajima joined production company TOKYO VIDEO CENTER in 1982. Following a stint as a program director, he’s been producing mainly documentary programs for over 20 years. Atsushi is a recipient of an ATP Grand Prix Award, International Emmy Award, and a Grand Prix Japan Prize.
President & Sr. Executive Producer, CREATIVE NEXUS INC.
Sachimi Nakagawa joined Creative Nexus in 1989 where she produces documentaries and informational programs. She is currently the executive producer of a hit NHK series called “Cool Japan,” in which foreign people discuss Japanese culture and offer their unique perspectives on things Japanese. Sachimi also produces a show hosted by a well-known comedian that introduces whizz kids and people with exceptional talents. She has won various awards including the ATP Award and the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Award.
Director of Rights Development Dept., KYODO TELEVISION, LTD.
After joining KYODO TELEVISION in 1986, Shunji Matsumura produced a vast array of television dramas. He later became involved in contracts, copyright management, and program sales for the company.
Executive Producer, Visual Folklore Inc.
Since she co-established Visual Folklore in 1981, Yoko has produced dozens of historical and cultural entertainment programs, and mountain travelogues as well as anthropological documentaries in Japan and other Asian countries. Her productions include films about unique mountain religions in North Eastern Japan and the sea people of the Black Current in Taiwan. She is in charge of one-on-one meetings at Tokyo Docs.
President, PAO NETWORK INC.
Kotaro Yamane has 28 years of experience as a news and informational program director but since 2010 he has switched his focus to producing documentaries. His main fields of interest are society, politics, and economics.
Executive Producer, International Co-Production, NHK Enterprises
Kenichi Imamura joined NHK in 1983 and has produced numerous news programs and documentaries. From 2005 to 2009, he was a marketing director for MICO, NHK’s distribution arm. He then became the commissioning editor of a popular NHK slot called World Documentary. In 2012, he joined NHK enterprises where he actively attends documentary festivals around the world to seek new projects. He has been an advisor for Tokyo Docs since it was established in 2011.
