Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan

Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Native name
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
FormerlyRCA Columbia Pictures Video Co., Ltd. (1984–1991)
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedFebruary 10, 1984 (1984-02-10)
Headquarters〒105-8415
No. 28, 4-chome, Toranomon, Minato
Tokyo
Toranomon Towers Office
Japan
Key people
Naomi Nakazawa
(Representative Director)
Soichi Sagawa
(Statutory Auditor)
ProductsMotion pictures
Television programs
Anime
OwnerSony Pictures Entertainment (66.7%)
Sony Group Corporation (33.3%)
Number of employees
71 (as of July 1, 2025)
SubsidiariesMusic On! TV (with SMEJ)
Madhouse, Inc. (5%, with Nippon Television)
Websitesonypictures.jp

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 RCA Columbia Pictures Video Inc. (アール・シー・エー・コロンビア・ピクチャーズ・ビデオ株式会社, Āru Shī Ē Koronbia Pikuchāzu Bideo Kabushiki-gaisha), the Japanese division of RCA Columbia Pictures International Video, the company took on its current name in 1991 after Columbia Tri-Star Films (Japan) Ltd. (コロムビア トライ・スター映画会社, Koromubia Torai-Sutā Eiga Kaisha), the Japanese division of Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International, and Japan International Enterprises Inc. (日本国際エンタープライズ株式会社, Nihon Kokusai Entāpuraizu Kabushiki-gaisha), a Japanese Screen Gems subsidiary formed in 1960,[3] were merged into it.[4] SPEJ became a Sony Music Entertainment Japan subsidiary in March 1994, then SMEJ sold 50% of its shares to Sony Corporation on January 10, 1997[5] and then SPEJ was split between the American Sony Pictures Entertainment (70%) and Sony Corporation (30%) in April 1998.[6]

They have also distributed most of Sony Pictures films for Japan, as well as producing some anime and anime films as well.[7]

In 2019, Sony Japan merged its music subsidiary Aniplex with its television subsidiary Funimation.[8] In 2020, through Funimation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan bought Crunchyroll from AT&T.[9][10] 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.[11]

Anime production

Further information: Aniplex

References

  1. ^ About Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan
  2. ^ Company Overview of Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
  3. ^ "放送局などへ多彩な作品を提供するSPEJ". Sony Family. Vol. 36, no. 185. Sony. 2012. p. 36.
  4. ^ "ソニー新会社設立". Kinema Junpo. No. 1065. Kinema Junposha. September 1991. p. 149.
  5. ^ "日本国内の映画配給等の事業を行う（株）ソニー・ピクチャーズエンタテインメントの資本異動のお知らせ". Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). 1996-12-24.
  6. ^ "業務内容". Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan).
  7. ^ "Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Archives". Animation Magazine.
  8. ^ Spangler, Todd (2019-09-24). "Sony Merges Anime Streaming Businesses Under Funimation-Led Joint Venture (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  9. ^ "Sony Pictures Closes $1.175 Billion Deal to Buy Crunchyroll Anime Service". Culver City Observer. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  10. ^ "AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation Global Group". Business Wire. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  11. ^ "Disney Japan Outsources Home Video Production Business to Happinet". Anime News Network. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
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