Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan
 | |
 Headquarters in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo | |
Native name | 株式会社ソニー・ピクチャーズ エンタテインメント |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Sonī Pikuchāzu Entateinmento |
| Formerly | RCA Columbia Pictures Video Co., Ltd. (1984–1991) |
| Company type | Joint venture |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | February 10, 1984 |
| Headquarters | 〒105-8415 No. 28, 4-chome, Toranomon, Minato Tokyo Toranomon Towers Office Japan |
Key people | Naomi Nakazawa (Representative Director) Soichi Sagawa (Statutory Auditor) |
| Products | Motion pictures Television programs Anime |
| Owner | Sony Pictures Entertainment (66.7%) Sony Group Corporation (33.3%) |
Number of employees | 71 (as of July 1, 2025) |
| Subsidiaries | Music On! TV (with SMEJ) Madhouse, Inc. (5%, with Nippon Television) |
| Website | sonypictures |
Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (株式会社ソニー・ピクチャーズ エンタテインメント, Kabushiki gaisha Sonī Pikuchāzu Entateinmento), abbreviated SPE or SPEJ, is a Japanese film studio, based in Minato-ku, Tokyo. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, with the majority of SPEJ's shares held by Sony Pictures Entertainment.[1][2]
Originally founded in 1984 as the Japanese division of RCA Columbia Pictures International Video, the company took on its current name in 1991, after Sony Pictures, formed after Sony's purchase of Columbia Pictures, acquired General Electric (formerly RCA)'s stake in the venture.
They have also distributed most of Sony Pictures films for Japan, as well as producing some anime and anime films as well.[3]
In 2019, Sony Japan merged its music subsidiary Aniplex with its television subsidiary Funimation.[4] In 2020, through Funimation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan bought Crunchyroll from AT&T.[5][6] On March 22, 2024, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan made an agreement to outsource its home media distribution operations to Happinet through its Media Marketing unit.[7]
Anime production
- Astro Boy (2003–2004)
- Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
- Paprika (2006)
- Ultraviolet: Code 044 (2008)
- Kurozuka (2008)
- Viper's Creed (2009)
- Marvel Anime (2010–2011)
- Iron Man: Rise of Technovore (2013)
- Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (2014)
- The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)
- Goblin Slayer (2018–2023)
- The Violence Action (2022)
- Whisper of the Heart (2022)
- Scarlet (2025) (co-distributed by Toho)
References
- ^ About Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan
- ^ Company Overview of Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- ^ "Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Archives". Animation Magazine.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (2019-09-24). "Sony Merges Anime Streaming Businesses Under Funimation-Led Joint Venture (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
- ^ "Sony Pictures Closes $1.175 Billion Deal to Buy Crunchyroll Anime Service". Culver City Observer. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
- ^ "AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation Global Group". Business Wire. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
- ^ "Disney Japan Outsources Home Video Production Business to Happinet". Anime News Network. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
External links
- Official website
- Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan at Anime News Network's encyclopedia