Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Television Music Corporation, a pivotal subsidiary of the Japanese entertainment giant Nippon TV, has announced the appointment of Kako Kuwahara as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. The strategic leadership change, effective immediately, positions Kuwahara at the helm of the company’s efforts to accelerate the global expansion of its music and character intellectual properties (IPs). She succeeds Akihiro Shimizu, who has transitioned to the role of President at Tipness Co. Ltd., another subsidiary within the Nippon Television Holdings conglomerate, focused on fitness club operations across Japan.
A Strategic Mandate for Global Growth
Kuwahara’s appointment signals a clear intent from Nippon TV Music to bolster its international footprint. In her new role, she will report directly to Keiichi Sawa, Senior Operating Officer at Nippon TV Holdings, underscoring the significance of her mandate within the broader corporate strategy. Her vision for the company is ambitious, aiming to “further elevate our presence through music produced by us on Nippon TV’s hit shows,” and to “create music and characters that resonate with audiences worldwide” in collaboration with Japan’s talented music creators. This aligns with Nippon TV Holdings’ overarching medium-term management plan (2025-2027) to transform into a global content company, emphasizing IP development in drama, film, music, and character businesses to generate diversified earnings.
Extensive Experience in International and Anime Business
Kako Kuwahara brings a wealth of relevant experience to her new leadership position. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Head of International Business and, notably, as the Head of Anime Business at Nippon TV. Her tenure in these roles was marked by significant achievements, particularly her instrumental contributions to the global success of acclaimed anime titles such as The Apothecary Diaries and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. These successes substantially boosted Nippon TV’s presence in the competitive global anime marketplace, demonstrating her strategic acumen and deep understanding of international content distribution and audience engagement. Indeed, her promotion in 2020 to Executive Vice President and head of the newly created Anime Department within Nippon TV’s Business Development division was a testament to her expertise in this rapidly expanding sector.
Her background is crucial as Nippon TV Music manages a vast portfolio of musical works, including scores, theme songs, and soundtracks, for globally recognized anime titles produced by Nippon TV. This portfolio encompasses highly popular franchises such as Hunter x Hunter, Death Note, The Apothecary Diaries, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The company collaborates with sub-publishers worldwide to extend the reach of these musical works.
The Dual Pillars of Nippon TV Music
Established in 1969 and headquartered in Tokyo, Nippon Television Music Corporation operates across two primary business areas: music and character IPs.
Music Business
In the music sector, the company’s responsibilities are comprehensive. It handles the production of master recordings for various musical works associated with Nippon TV’s programming. This includes the intricate process of copyright management, ensuring the proper licensing and protection of musical assets. Furthermore, Nippon TV Music plays a vital role in the coordination of theme songs and background scores for a wide array of Nippon TV productions, ranging from anime to films, drama series, and variety shows. Beyond managing existing properties, the company is also committed to supporting the development of emerging artists and creators, fostering new talent within the Japanese music landscape.
Character IP Business
Parallel to its music operations, Nippon TV Music is deeply involved in the character IP business. This encompasses managing international merchandising and game adaptations for renowned franchises. Iconic titles such as Hunter x Hunter, the beloved children’s franchise Anpanman, and Lupin the Third fall under its purview, extending the reach of these characters into various commercial ventures globally. The strategic synergy between the music and character IP divisions is paramount, as the popularity of anime and character franchises often drives demand for their associated soundtracks and merchandise.
Future Outlook Under Kuwahara’s Leadership
Under Kako Kuwahara’s leadership, Nippon TV Music is poised to capitalize on the surging global demand for Japanese content, particularly anime. Her proven track record in international business development and her deep understanding of the anime industry’s mechanics will be invaluable. Her stated objective to “further elevate our presence through music produced by us on Nippon TV’s hit shows” underscores a strategy that leverages existing successful properties while seeking new opportunities for growth.
The company’s focus will likely intensify on strategic collaborations and the expansion of its content ecosystem. With Nippon TV Holdings committed to aggressive growth investments and the establishment of new global production hubs, including Gyokuro Studio and an overseas business hub in Los Angeles, the environment is ripe for Nippon TV Music to expand its influence. Kuwahara’s mandate is to drive this international growth, ensuring that the music and character IPs originating from Nippon TV continue to resonate with diverse audiences worldwide, reinforcing Japan’s position as a global entertainment powerhouse.
