I'm looking forward to seeing how Inside Out will do in Japan. Brave aside, Pixar's track record in Japan is fairly solid, and with the excellent reviews and (I believe) goodwill from recent import animated films like Frozen and Big Hero 6 I expect good things for it.

I'm surprised that DBZ went up another ¥20 million. Can it leg it out to ¥3.7 billion?

I think it will get to ¥3.7 billion when the final total is reported in a few months.

Inside Out will be an interesting one to watch. What I'm about to write will sound like I'm already declaring it a disappointment waiting to happen, which I'm not, I think it'll do just fine (normal Pixar numbers are around ¥4 billion), but the film looks to have some big problems that could keep it from breaking out:

Early signs look questionable from what I'm seeing. It'll end up reaching the normal 330-360 theaters that most major releases receive, but it's still only listed for 238 locations. All the other July releases (and now early August releases) are already listed for their estimated final counts. It also doesn't look very strong on any of the movie sites. Now if it's skewing really young then this is completely a non-issue, but Pixar has a lot of older fans, too, so it's a possible concern.

And then comes the issue of competing for seats, screens, and showtimes when it opens on July 18th. Opening against it:

-Hero 2 is likely to occupy the biggest screens that weekend unless The Boy and the Beast is huge in its debut the prior weekend, which in that case the latter will continue to play on them (or at least share them).

-Pokemon probably isn't an issue since it usually gets bumped to small screens in the evening when business dies for it, but Pokemon films regularly have the largest screens during the day. However, the last couple films have been dropping off heavily, too, so theaters may not feel inclined to give it the bigger screens this year (especially if The Boy and the Beast is the monster it has the potential to become).

-And three years ago, Brave became Pixar's only disappointment/bomb in Japan by a considerable margin, even failing to gross ¥1 billion by the end of its run. It was arguably the biggest bomb of 2012. It was pretty baffling, and interestingly enough it opened against Wolf Children, which was Mamoru Hosoda's last film, director of this year's The Boy and the Beast... this could be the biggest obstacle of all for Inside Out.

Japanese News and Discussion [Week 3]

Japan marks 70th anniversary of Battle of Okinawa
-Japan marked the 70th anniversary Tuesday of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest episode in the Pacific War, which killed a quarter of the island’s population.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a ceremony in Itoman, at the southern tip of the island, near to the spot where terrified locals jumped or were pushed to their deaths on the orders of Imperial soldiers taught never to surrender.

More than 100,000 Okinawans and 80,000 Japanese troops died in the 82-day battle for the strategically placed island chain. Over 12,000 American soldiers also perished in what many feared was a foretaste of the fight they would have to wage for the Japanese mainland.

That invasion never came, partly because of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; a cowed Japan surrendered in August 1945. Okinawa was the only part of Japan in which battles were fought.

Entire families were wiped out, and almost everyone on the subtropical island lost at least one relative.

Many committed suicide by plunging off cliffs rather than surrender to the Americans, who found thousands more locals dead in the caves where they had been hiding to escape the furious US bombardment, which came by air, land and sea.

The anniversary comes with feelings running high on Okinawa—a one-time independent kingdom annexed by Japan in the 19th century and now the reluctant host to more than half of the 47,000 U.S. troops still stationed in the country.


40% of unattached singles in their 20s, 30s don't want relationship: survey
-Forty percent of unattached Japanese men and women in their 20s and 30s are not interested in having a relationship, according to the results of a survey published in a Cabinet Office white paper on Monday.

The survey asked 7,000 men and women aged 20 to 39 nationwide about their views on relationships and marriage and 2,643 responded, Sankei reported.

Of the respondents, 40%—evenly spread between men and women—said they were not interested in starting a relationship. Of that group, the most common reason listed—by 46.2%—was that relationships are too much of a bother, followed by 45.1% who said they preferred to concentrate on their hobbies or interests.

Other reasons cited by respondents were they did not know how to start a relationship or where to find a possible partner. Another reason cited by some was that they felt they lacked appeal.

The survey was included in the white paper on the nation’s declining birthrate. The white paper called on the government to consider a strategy to help young people get married, but did not offer specifics.


Fuji TV first domestic broadcaster to provide content for Netflix
-Broadcaster Fuji Television Network Inc. said it will create original programs for distribution by Netflix Inc. as the U.S. video-streaming service provider makes its first foray into the Japanese market this fall.

The move, announced Wednesday, will allow the unit of Fuji Media Holdings Inc. to distribute its content internationally using the streaming outlet, which boasts some 62 million subscribers in around 50 countries.

Fuji Television, the first Japanese broadcaster to enter such a deal, said it hopes to “enhance its corporate value” by expanding its global viewership.

According to the company, a new series of its popular reality TV show “Terrace House” and a new drama series, “Atelier,” will be the first batch of programs to be distributed through Netflix and later aired on TV.

Netflix, a popular California-based streaming outlet established in 1997, allows subscribers to watch movies and TV shows at a flat rate. It announced plans for a Japanese service in February.

Competitor Hulu launched its service in Japan in 2011 but sold off the Japanese business to Nippon Television Network Corp. last year.

Netflix has yet to set its service charges in Japan.

Sources: Japan Times / Japan Today

Interesting piece of news. Relationships are a bother. It's true. Japanese men do seem like the type to just want to play video games or read anime (pretty much just waste their life).

I wouldn't say it's just that, most are workaholics and focus on their companies and careers (same is true for High School and University Students).

A lot of Japanese men work up to 80 hours a week, and are often required to attend mandatory after-work gatherings (at bars and such) with co-workers and clients after they end the day, six days a week. Most in the workforce operate on less than 30/35 hours of sleep a week.

There's very little time to attempt a relationship and/or start a family, and as a result, women aren't interested in them either.

Fully updated 2015 release schedule heading into the second-half the year:

2015 Key Release Schedule (Notable/Major Releases)

Release Date - [Current Theater Count] - Film Title (Distributor)

[July/August]
07/03 - [18] - Haikyu!! The Movie: Ending and Beginning (Toho Video Division)
07/04 - [258] - Avengers: Age of Ultron (Disney)
07/04 - [163] - Anpanman: Mija and the Magic Lamp (Tokyo Theaters, Co.)
07/10 - [339] - Terminator: Genisys (Paramount)
07/11 - [356] - The Boy and the Beast (Toho)
07/11 - [100] - Tag (Shochiku/Asmik Ace)
Summer Vacation (07/18 - 08/30)
07/18 - [355] - Pokemon XY: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Toho)
07/18 - [340] - Hero 2 (Toho)
07/18 - [238] - Inside Out (Disney)
Marine Day (07/20)
07/31 - [328] - Minions (Toho-Towa)
08/01 - [328] - Attack on Titan (Toho)
08/05 - [351] - Jurassic World (Toho-Towa)
08/07 - [267] - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Paramount)
08/07 - [267] - Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Toho)
08/08 - [294] - Kamen Rider Drive The Movie: Surprise Drive (Toei)
08/08 - [199] - Japan's Longest Day (Shochiku)
Obon Festival (08/08-16)
08/28 - [N/A] - Ted 2 (Toho-Towa)
08/29 - [228] - S: The Last Policeman - Recovery of Our Future (Toho)

[September/October]
09/04 - [N/A] - The Virgin Psychics (Gaga)
09/05 - [N/A] - Unfair: The End (Toho)
09/05 - [N/A] - Piece of Cake (Showgate)
09/11 - [N/A] - Kingsman: The Secret Service (Kadokawa)
09/12 - [N/A] - The Big Bee (Shochiku)
09/12 - [N/A] - Pixels (Sony)
09/19 - [142] - The Anthem of the Heart (Aniplex)
09/19 - [N/A] - Attack on Titan: End of the World (Toho)
09/19 - [N/A] - Ant-Man (Disney)
09/19 - [N/A] - No Longer Heroine (Warner Bros.)
Respect for the Aged Day (09/21)
Autumnal Equinox Day (09/23)
09/26 - [N/A] - Gonin Saga (Kadokawa)
10/03 - [N/A] - Bakuman (Toho)
10/09 - [N/A] - Fantastic Four (Fox)
10/10 - [N/A] - Library Wars: The Last Mission (Toho)
10/10 - [N/A] - Gamba and Friends (Toei)
Health and Sports Day (10/12)
10/16 - [N/A] - The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Kadokawa)
10/24 - [N/A] - Galaxy Highway (Toho)
10/31 - [N/A] - Pan (Warner Bros.)

[November/December]
Culture Day (11/03)
11/07 - [N/A] - Mozu (Toho)
11/07 - [N/A] - Grasshopper (Shochiku/Kadokawa)
11/07 - [N/A] - Terminal (Toei)
11/20 - [N/A] - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (Kadokawa)
11/21 - [N/A] - World of Delight (Showgate)
11/21 - [N/A] - Theatre Spirit (Shochiku)
Labour Day (11/23)
12/04 - [N/A] - 007: Spectre (Sony)
12/04 - [N/A] - The Peanuts Movie (Fox)
12/05 - [N/A] - Persona Non Grata (Toho)
12/05 - [N/A] - Free! Starting Days (Shochiku)
12/12 - [N/A] - Living With My Mother (Shochiku)
12/18 - [N/A] - Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Disney)
12/19 - [N/A] - Yo-Kai Watch 2: Great King Enma and the 5 Stories, Nyan! (Toho)
The Emperor's Birthday (12/23)
Winter Break/New Year (12/28-01/04)

Similarities with China.

Cinderella is the highest grossing movie in the Top 12 and it only has $46m. Is the summer not a huge time for Japan in terms of box office?

The Summer box-office season doesn't begin until mid-July in Japan. June is one of the weakest months of the year (along with October and February).

Mid-July through late-August are the strongest 6 weeks of the year at the box-office, and when studios release most of their biggest films.

But you're not really going to see many impressive USD totals this Summer (or year). The yen has been at a 13-year low versus the dollar (even approached a 17-year low at one point). As I've mentioned before, if, for example, Frozen had been released this year and performed the same way, it probably would have missed $200 million (against the $250 million it achieved last year).

Thankfully, despite the poor exchange rate and no massive hit like Frozen in its first-half, the year is only 9% behind 2014 at the same point in time in yen (and 8% in admissions). And July-December this year looks much stronger, on paper, than last year, so I'm thinking 2015 will be up over 2014.

Japan is still the last market to get US blockbusters, I assume.

Mostly, yes. I think there are a few films that China or Italy receive last, but most Hollywood blockbusters don't make it to Japan until 2/3 months later, but some can take up to 6 months+ to make it.

Piracy doesn't really exist in Japan, though, so the late releases don't affect the box-office returns. In fact, the late release dates yield positive results most of the time (as long as reviews and box office results were strong overseas beforehand).

And on the other hand, though, there are very, very few US films (and films from other international markets) that don't eventually get a theatrical release in Japan. Japan has more theatrical releases than any country besides I believe India. 1,184 films were released in theaters last year, for example.

Usually, the only films that have a hard time finding a distributor are imported animated films (that aren't Disney), comedies, and horror films. There's basically no audience for these types of films in Japan.

Usual Locations - Weekend Admissions [43% of Market]

06/27-28
#Admissions (% change), [#theaters/#showings] - Film (Week of Release)
98,159 (-06%), [74/707] - Love Live! The School Idol Movie (Week 3)
54,233 (-30%), [146/1,610] - Mad Max: Fury Road (Week 2)
36,323 (-31%), [138/1,259] - Sea Town Diary (Week 3)
29,304 (-26%), [143/910] - Tomorrowland (Week 4)
24,295 (-30%), [138/892] - Prophecy (Week 4)
18,688 (-), [114/1,115] - Strayer's Chronicle (NEW)
16,908 (-), [43/427] - Attack on Titan: Wings of Liberty [Second Compilation Film] (NEW)
16,450 (-25%), [108/810] - The Pearls of the Stone Man (Week 2)
13,824 (-49%), [75/569] - Ghost in the Shell: Evangelion (Week 2)
12,348 (-37%), [134/533] - Shinjuku Swan (Week 5)
11,278 (-36%), [42/336] - Ju-on: The Final (Week 2)
10,668 (-28%), [124/199] - Biri Gal (Week 9)
10,289 (-), [39/358] - Still Alice (NEW)
9,505 (-34%), [126/337] - Cinderella (Week 10)
8,310 (-34%), [133/419] - Initiation Love (Week 6)
6,091 (-), [30/60] - Love Live! The School Idol Movie [Stage Greetings]
5,235 (-), [34/310] - Love & Peace (NEW)
4,268 (-10%), [126/256] - Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack! (Week 11)
3,133 (-), [21/176] - Left Behind (NEW)
2,854 (-18%), [130/259] - Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno (Week 11)
2,737 (-), [24/100] - Chasuke's Journey (NEW)
2,579 (-), [15/27] - Joshiraku Stage Play (Featuring Nogizaka46) [Live Stage Play]
2,492 (-38%), [95/212] - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1) (Week 4)
2,385 (-), [23/70] - Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (NEW)

It's clear that Love Live! The School Idol Movie will return to the top of the box office again this weekend (and claim its third-consecutive week on top in admissions). Pretty incredible third weekend hold.

I'll post the Weekend Estimates soon.

Trackings ended for DBZ now?

Yes, but it's still playing in 47 theaters and should stay in theaters until July 18th.

Expect its final total too see a small increase from its estimated total. The majority of films see an increase in their total of ~1% when the final number is released.

A few films have been added to the October-December frame, and there's been some updated theater counts, too.

Most notably, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is already listed for 365 theaters (about as wide as any film ever goes).

2015 Key Release Schedule (Notable/Major Releases)

Release Date - [Current Theater Count] - Film Title (Distributor)

[July/August]
07/04 - [19] - Code Geass: Akito the Exiled - Chapter 4 (Showgate)
07/04 - [346] - Avengers: Age of Ultron (Disney)
07/04 - [163] - Anpanman: Mija and the Magic Lamp (Tokyo Theaters, Co.)
07/04 - [145] - Shaun the Sheep Movie (Tohokunonshi)
07/10 - [339] - Terminator: Genisys (Paramount)
07/11 - [356] - The Boy and the Beast (Toho)
07/11 - [100] - Tag (Shochiku/Asmik Ace)
Summer Vacation (07/18 - 08/30)
07/18 - [355] - Pokemon XY: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Toho)
07/18 - [340] - Hero 2 (Toho)
07/18 - [238] - Inside Out (Disney)
Marine Day (07/20)
07/31 - [328] - Minions (Toho-Towa)
08/01 - [328] - Attack on Titan (Toho)
08/05 - [351] - Jurassic World (Toho-Towa)
08/07 - [267] - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Paramount)
08/07 - [267] - Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Toho)
08/08 - [294] - Kamen Rider Drive The Movie: Surprise Drive (Toei)
08/08 - [199] - Japan's Longest Day (Shochiku)
Obon Festival (08/08-16)
08/28 - [343] - Ted 2 (Toho-Towa)
08/29 - [228] - S: The Last Policeman - Recovery of Our Future (Toho)

[September/October]
09/04 - [N/A] - The Virgin Psychics (Gaga)
09/05 - [N/A] - Unfair: The End (Toho)
09/05 - [N/A] - Piece of Cake (Showgate)
09/11 - [N/A] - Kingsman: The Secret Service (Kadokawa)
09/12 - [N/A] - The Big Bee (Shochiku)
09/12 - [N/A] - Pixels (Sony)
09/19 - [142] - The Anthem of the Heart (Aniplex)
09/19 - [N/A] - Attack on Titan: End of the World (Toho)
09/19 - [N/A] - Ant-Man (Disney)
09/19 - [N/A] - No Longer Heroine (Warner Bros.)
Respect for the Aged Day (09/21)
Autumnal Equinox Day (09/23)
09/26 - [N/A] - Gonin Saga (Kadokawa)
10/03 - [N/A] - Bakuman (Toho)
10/09 - [N/A] - Fantastic Four (Fox)
10/10 - [N/A] - Library Wars: The Last Mission (Toho)
10/10 - [N/A] - Gamba and Friends (Toei)
Health and Sports Day (10/12)
10/16 - [N/A] - The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Kadokawa)
10/24 - [N/A] - Galaxy Highway (Toho)
10/31 - [N/A] - Pan (Warner Bros.)
10/31 - [N/A] - My Love Story!! (Toho)
10/31 - [N/A] - Princess Precure the Movie: Go! Go!! Grand 3-Part Movie!!! (Toei)

[November/December]
Culture Day (11/03)
11/06 - [N/A] - Everest (Toho-Towa)
11/07 - [N/A] - Mozu (Toho)
11/07 - [N/A] - Grasshopper (Shochiku/Kadokawa)
11/07 - [N/A] - Terminal (Toei)
11/14 - [N/A] - The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Warner Bros.)
11/20 - [N/A] - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (Kadokawa)
11/21 - [N/A] - The Little Prince (Warner Bros.)
11/21 - [N/A] - World of Delight (Showgate)
11/21 - [N/A] - Theatre Spirit (Shochiku)
Labour Day (11/23)
12/04 - [N/A] - 007: Spectre (Sony)
12/04 - [N/A] - The Peanuts Movie (Fox)
12/05 - [N/A] - Persona Non Grata (Toho)
12/05 - [N/A] - Kainan 1890 (Toei)
12/05 - [N/A] - Free! Starting Days (Shochiku)
12/12 - [N/A] - Living With My Mother (Shochiku)
12/18 - [365] - Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Disney)
12/19 - [N/A] - Yo-Kai Watch 2: Great King Enma and the 5 Stories, Nyan! (Toho)
The Emperor's Birthday (12/23)
Winter Break/New Year (12/28-01/04)