Press Releases
April 24, 2023
DOCOMO and YOSHIMOTO KOGYO to develop entertainment businesses via newly established NTT DOCOMO STUDIO & LIVE, INC.
— Will deliver Japanese content globally and build an ecosystem for creators of video content production, live production and artist development —
TOKYO, JAPAN, April 24, 2023 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. and YOSHIMOTO KOGYO HOLDINGS CO., LTD. announced today that they agreed on April 11 to form a business alliance together with YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD, FANY CO., LTD. and FANY Studio CO., LTD. to develop entertainment businesses in the fields of video content production, live production and artist planning and development.
As part of the agreement, DOCOMO received shares issued by FANY Studio under a third-party allotment, and FANY Studio will start three businesses from May 1 under the name "NTT DOCOMO Studio & Live Inc." These three businesses include video content production, live events including music, and artist development. The company will grow its entertainment business under the FANY Studio brand by leveraging the combined resources of DOCOMO, including 93 million*1 members, the Lemino video platform and offline/online sales channels such as arenas and Tower Records, and the YOSHIMOTO KOGYO group, including video content, production knowhow, production personnel and music artists.
In addition to delivering Japanese content to the world, the new company expects to develop an ecosystem capable of attracting globally-minded creators in order to drive the Japanese entertainment industry with content-development skills and technologies.
Initially, the new company is working towards producing video content for "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SEASON 3", an audition show organized by LAPONE ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd.,*2 and aims to expand its entertainment business into other fields in the future.
In the field of video content production, the company will use the YOSHIMOTO KOGYO group's knowhow to plan, develop and produce content with global marketability, including independent and outsourced productions. The company will also make secondary use of intellectual property to develop content versions for overseas markets. In addition, it will exclusively distribute content to Lemino and other platforms.
With respect to live performances, the company will work with the YOSHIMOTO KOGYO group to organize and produce live performances and events covering a broad range of entertainment, including artists managed by the group. Performances will be held in arenas operated by DOCOMO and will incorporate advanced technologies from DOCOMO to provide new viewing experiences, both on and off site, that offer benefits to artists and fans.
In the area of artist development, artists will be produced, trained and managed through auditions and other activities. Artists managed by the company will be promoted through exclusive content on Lemino and other platforms, and marketing solutions utilizing DOCOMO's membership base will be implemented to engage and grow the fan base. The company will also be involved in fan club operations and sales of CDs, DVDs and merchandise.
Going forward, DOCOMO and YOSHIMOTO KOGYO HOLDINGS expect to build a robust ecosystem through DOCOMO Studio & Live. In addition, consideration will be given to creating a platform linking fans and artist management under a comprehensive service model for developing content and connecting with fans.
- as of February 2023
- Joint venture between YOSHIMOTO KOGYO HOLDINGS and CJ ENM Co., Ltd., which is involved in artist management, etc.
New Company Overview
| Name | NTT DOCOMO Studio & Live Inc. |
|---|---|
| Address | 33 Fl., Sanno Park Tower, 2-11-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Representative directors | Keisuke Yoshizawa, President and Chief Executive Officer Katsuaki Yamaji, Senior Executive Vice President |
| Capital increase & new trade name | May 1, 2023 |
| Business | Video content production, live performances and artist development |
| Ownership | DOCOMO (66.64%) and FANY (33.36%) |
| Homepage |  https://fanystudio.com/ (in Japanese Only) |
About NTT DOCOMO, Inc.
- Address: Sanno Park Tower, 2-11-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Commencement of business: July 1, 1992
- Representative member of the board of directors:
Motoyuki Ii, President and Chief Executive Officer - Capital: 949,679 million yen (March 31, 2022)
- Business: telecommunications business, Smart-life business, and other businesses
About YOSHIMOTO KOGYO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
- Address: 11-6 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Commencement of business: April 1, 1912
- Representative members of the board of directors:
Hiroshi Osaki, Chairman
Akihito Okamoto, President - Capital: 100 million yen (March 31, 2022)
- Business: theatre management, talent management, content production and sales, etc.
