The Association of Japanese Animations

What The Association of Japanese Animations does

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA; 一般社団法人 日本動画協会) is Japan's primary industry association for animation production companies, established in 2001 and reorganized as a general incorporated association (一般社団法人) under Japanese corporate law in June 2009. Headquartered in Akihabara, Tokyo (Akihabara UDX building, Chiyoda-ku), AJA serves Japanese animation studios and related businesses through a portfolio of industry-support services rather than commercial products: it organizes major events including AnimeJapan (the world's largest anime trade show, launched 2014 as successor to Tokyo International Anime Fair), the Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF, annual since 2014), and the Tokyo International Anime Festival (TIAF) under the Japan Content Showcase; operates exhibition facilities including Anime Tokyo Station and the Suginami Animation Museum; publishes annual industry research including the Anime Industry Report; runs talent development programs such as Digital Production Human Resources Training Seminars; coordinates copyright protection through membership in CODA, CIPP, and JIMCA; and conducts international exchange programs including partnerships with JETRO and the training of approximately 200 Saudi animation aspirants since Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban in 2018. Underlying technology is limited to industry coordination functions, with the most distinctive proprietary asset being the AJA Recommended Layout Paper Standards (AJA推奨レイアウト用紙規格), a registered standards specification governing animation production workflow paper formats. AJA is member-funded through regular (正会員) and associate (準会員) membership categories and does not pursue external investment; pricing for membership dues is not publicly disclosed. Governance is led by a board of directors drawn from major member studios, with Fukawa Ikuji (representative director, Pierrot) serving as Chairman and Ōyama Hidenori (Toei Animation) as Vice Chairman.

Name

The Association of Japanese Animations

Legal name

一般社团法人 日本動画協会

Website

https://aja.gr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) is Japan's primary industry association for animation production companies, providing industry events (AnimeJapan, TAAF), exhibitions, research, talent training, copyright protection, and international exchange programs. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tokyo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Anime Production (MPADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

Keywords

• Animation industry association
• Anime market research
• Copyright protection services
• Industry event management
• Talent development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanda

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) is a general incorporated association (industry trade body) that serves as the central coordinating organization for Japan's animation production companies. Its offerings span industry representation and policy advocacy, copyright protection and anti-piracy initiatives, market research and statistical reporting (Anime Industry Report), talent development and digital production training seminars, and the organization of major industry events (AnimeJapan, Tokyo Anime Award Festival, Tokyo International Anime Festival), as well as operation of public exhibition facilities such as Anime Tokyo Station and the Suginami Animation Museum.

Product overview

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) is a general incorporated association that serves as Japan's primary animation industry organization. Rather than offering a single product, AJA provides a portfolio of industry services including exhibition facilities (Anime Tokyo Station, Suginami Animation Museum), major anime events (Tokyo Anime Award Festival, AnimeJapan, Tokyo International Anime Festival, Anime Business Partners Forum), human resources development programs (digital production training seminars), cultural programs (anime postal stamps, essay contests), charity initiatives (anime charity auctions), and industry research (market surveys and reports). The organization also conducts copyright protection activities and international exchange programs to promote the Japanese anime industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF)
• AnimeJapan
• Tokyo International Anime Festival (TIAF)
• Anime Tokyo Station
• Suginami Animation Museum
• Digital Production Human Resources Training Seminars
• Anime Business Partners Forum (ABPF)
• Anime Industry Report (産業データ)
• Copyright Protection Activities
• Anime Stamp Series
• Anime Charity Auction
• Anime Essay Contest

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained approximately 200 Saudi animation aspirants in Tokyo through international collaboration programs

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of Anime Tokyo Station exhibition center; co-hosting of public anime events and recording sessions; collaborative promotion of anime culture in Tokyo
• Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJA organizes and operates the Tokyo Anime Award Festival, an international animation film festival held annually in March, attracting entries from over 70 countries
• Japan Content Showcase (TIAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual autumn content marketplace where anime sector exhibition is organized under the Japan Content Showcase umbrella alongside film and music industries
• AnimeJapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest anime trade show successor to Tokyo International Anime Fair, organized by AJA
• Japan International Trade Fair for Content (TIFFCOM/TIMM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCross-border anime business matching and international distribution promotion through Japan's comprehensive content marketplace
• Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJA is a member of CODA, working together on anti-piracy measures and overseas rights protection for Japanese anime content
• Internet Piracy Prevention Council (CIPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with net auction operators to prevent copyright infringement and promote legitimate online content distribution
• Japan International Animation Copyright Association (JIMCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on STOP! Illegal Download Campaign at Comiket corporate booth
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint international anime promotion and overseas market expansion support programs for Japanese animation companies

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK film and moving image charity that funds, archives, and promotes film culture, including the BFI London Film Festival. Comparable to AJA as a public-affiliated body supporting film/animation industry events, talent, and policy.
• Motion Picture Association (MPA): US-based trade association representing major film and streaming studios globally, focused on content protection, market access, and policy advocacy. Comparable to AJA as a content industry coordinating body, though at much larger scale and broader content scope.
• Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839): US labor union representing animation artists, writers, and technicians. Comparable to AJA's labor-policy advocacy mandate on behalf of animation creators, though operating as a union rather than an industry association.

Others

• SIGGRAPH: International professional society for computer graphics and interactive techniques, running the SIGGRAPH conference. Relevant adjacent peer given AJA's digital production training and anime workflow digitization initiatives.

Direct peers

• Annecy International Animation Film Festival: One of the world's most prestigious animation film festivals held annually in France. Comparable to TAAF and the anime competition elements AJA organizes, serving as the leading international showcase for animation films.
• JAniCA (Japan Animation Creators Association): Japanese organization representing individual animation creators and performers, including animators and voice actors. Directly comparable to AJA as another industry body serving the Japanese animation value chain, though focused on individual creators rather than production companies.
• Japan International Manga Cultural Association (JIMCA): Japanese industry body for manga and content cultural promotion, collaborating with AJA on the STOP! Illegal Download Campaign at Comiket. Closely comparable as a parallel Japanese content industry association addressing IP protection and creator welfare.
• ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d'Animation): International animation film association with national chapters worldwide, coordinating the global animation industry through events, awards (Annie Awards), and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to AJA as the global counterpart organization for animation professionals and studios.
• Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA): Japanese industry association tackling overseas content piracy and rights protection, with AJA as a member. Overlaps directly with AJA's anti-piracy mandate for Japanese content and serves a similar coordinating function across rights holders.

Emerging players

• CTN Animation eXpo: US-based annual animation industry event focused on networking, recruiting, and business development. Comparable to AnimeJapan as a B2B industry gathering, though serving the Western market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Association of Japanese Animations