TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM

What TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM does

Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (株式会社 東北新社, ticker 2329) is a Tokyo-headquartered diversified creative production company founded in 1961 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market (since 2002) and Nagoya Stock Exchange Main Market (since March 2025). The group operates across five reporting segments: Advertising Production (the largest, ¥31.719B in FY2026), Content Production (¥10.552B), Satellite Broadcasting and Streaming, Licensing Business, and Product Sales. Core offerings span TV commercial planning and production, promotional event production, creative agency services, film and TV drama production, anime audio production, dubbing and subtitling localization, digital post-production and VFX, satellite broadcasting via three CS channels (Family Gekijo, Igo & Shogi Channel, Super! Drama TV), character IP licensing (GARO, Space Battleship Yamato, plus licensed Thunderbirds and Teletubbies rights in Japan), and ancillary product businesses including interior fabric imports (National Interior as JAB Germany agent) and sake brewing (Kimura Brewery, Fukukomachi brand, Akita). The company is structured as a holding-style group with 15 wholly-owned subsidiaries and 7 affiliates, including creative units OND° and superSymmetry, 54-person creative agency ENJIN TOKYO, VFX/digital production house Omnibus Japan, and (since 2026) merchandise company graniph.

Technically, the company's stack combines six decades of audio-visual production know-how with proprietary systems including: an integrated dubbing and subtitling production system covering translation, direction, recording, and post-production (an industry-leading capacity with in-house staff across the full workflow); full virtual production technology using all-greenscreen sets with real-time compositing and CG backgrounds (recognized with a Japan Record for the most consecutive episodes of a terrestrial drama produced entirely with virtual sets — 8 episodes of GARO Higashi no Kairo); an app-less AR® solution requiring no dedicated app download; and Omniline®, an online CM submission service for broadcast content delivery. The Advanced Technology Lab (先端技術研究室) is currently researching generative AI applications for image creation within virtual production environments.

The business model is primarily project-based professional services plus licensing royalties, with six go-to-market motions: enterprise field sales to large Japanese corporations for CM production; channel partnerships with broadcasters, streaming platforms, anime and game publishers, and international film studios; direct-to-consumer streaming for owned IP (GARO YouTube membership at ¥790/month); event-driven experiential marketing (Shiro Expo 2025, Fuji-Q Highland promotions, projection mapping); professional services for documentary branding videos (priced ¥500K-¥8M+ per project); and product sales. The group employs 1,163 people consolidated (705 standalone) as of March 31, 2026, down from 1,561 in March 2024 reflecting the ongoing medium-term management plan (2025-2029) structural reforms. FY2026 (year ended March 2026) revenue was ¥47.691B and net profit attributable to parent was ¥6.965B, with an equity ratio of 85.0%.

Name

TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM

Legal name

株式会社 東北新社

Website

https://tfc.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Tohokushinsha Film Corporation is a Tokyo-headquartered diversified creative production group founded in 1961, offering advertising CM production, dubbing/subtitling, film and drama production, satellite broadcasting, and IP licensing to Japanese enterprises, broadcasters, and global film studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Production and Media Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anime Production (MPADACAF), Localization for Animated Content (Dubbing, Subtitling, Versioning) (MPADACAN), Territory & Language Rights (International, Dubbing/Subtitling) (MPADALAH)

Keywords

• Commercial film production
• Dubbing and subtitling services
• Creative content production
• Advertising production services
• Broadcasting and streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Production: TVCM, web video, music videos, SNS ads, digital signage, and brandingムービ制作. Includes commercial planning, creative direction, production, and post-production services. Group companies include OND°, TFC Plus, and the Advanced Technology Research Laboratory. Primary revenue driver with segment sales of ¥31.719 billion (FY2026).
2. Content Production: Film and drama production, TV program production, anime production, and documentary content. Includes co-production investments, theatrical distribution, and content acquisition/sales. Segmented as Contents Production with ¥10.552 billion in FY2026 revenue.
3. Satellite Broadcasting and Streaming: Operation of three CS channels: Family Gekijo (Family Theater), Igo & Shogi Channel, and Super! Drama TV. Also includes streaming service delivery, channel distribution agreements, and viewer subscription management. Revenue declining from ¥11.041B (FY2024) to ¥3.646B (FY2026) due to business restructuring.
4. Licensing Business: Character licensing for properties including 牙狼, 宇宙戦艦ヤマト, テレタビーチズ, サンダーバード, and other IPs. Includes merchandise licensing, promotional tie-ups, and theatrical distribution support. Also manages film content acquisition and theatrical distribution.
5. Dubbing and Subtitling: Japanese dubbed version production for foreign films/TV, anime audio production, game audio production, multilingual translation, and accessibility subtitle/voice production. Industry-leading market share with approximately 60 years of operating heritage. Includes service examples such as House of the Dragon, Minecraft movie, Final Fantasy XVI, and numerous anime titles.
6. Product Sales and Other: Diverse operations including National Interior's import fabric sales (JAB agent), Video Graph's broadcasting media sales, National Sake Brewery (木村酒店的 sake manufacturing), and merchandise sales. Segment revenue of ¥2.090 billion (FY2026).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tohokushinsha Film is a comprehensive creative production company that produces TV commercials, promotional videos, branded content, films, TV dramas, anime, and digital content for Japanese corporate clients, broadcasters, and international studios. The company also operates three satellite broadcasting channels, licenses its owned and represented character IP (GARO, Teletubbies, Thunderbirds, Space Battleship Yamato), and produces Japanese dubbed and subtitled versions of foreign films and TV series through its 60+ year heritage audio/subtitling division.

Product overview

Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (東北新社) operates as a comprehensive creative production company offering integrated services across advertising, content production, media, and licensing. The portfolio centers on five core business segments: (1) Advertising Production covering CM planning/production (via OND°, 二番工房, ソーダコミュニケーションズ), promotion planning/production, and creative agency services (ENJIN TOKYO); (2) Content Production including audio/subtitle services (tfc-dubsub.com), film/TV production, documentary branding videos, and digital production (オムニバス・ジャパン with VFX/CG, app-less AR®, superSymmetry); (3) Media operations via three CS channels (ファミリー劇場, 囲碁・将棋チャンネル, スーパー！ドラマTV); (4) Property/Licensing management of IP portfolios including GARO series, Space Battleship Yamato, and international licenses (Teletubbies, Thunderbirds); and (5) Other businesses including National Interior (fabric imports), Video Graph (media products), and Kimura Brewery (sake). The Advanced Technology Lab (先端技術研究室) supports technology innovation including virtual production and generative AI exploration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OND°: Creative unit with directors, planners, editors, cameramen, art directors, designers
• TFC Plus
• 先端技術研究室
• ENJIN TOKYO
• TFC Honeycomb
• TFC CHARACTERS NET
• ファミリー劇場
• 囲碁将棋チャンネル
• スーパー！ドラマTV
• オムニバス・ジャパン
• ナショナルインテリア
• 木村重工

Products and services

• OND° (Creative Unit) Creative unit of Tohokushinsha Film comprising directors, planners, editors, cameramen, art directors, and designers producing TV commercials, web videos, music videos, and branded content for major Japanese brands.
• TFC Plus (Equipment Rental & DIT) Equipment rental service providing latest digital cameras, film cameras, and DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) staff for advertising, drama, and film productions.
• ENJIN TOKYO (Creative Agency) Creative agency providing integrated marketing communication, digital experiences, branded content, PR/social initiatives, inbound tourism promotion, new business development, and CI/VI development services. Award-winning at Clio Music, Cannes Lions, D&AD, and Spikes Asia.
• Omnibus Japan (VFX/CG & Digital Post-Production) VFX/CG-focused creative production company providing digital post-production, VR/AR content, dome visuals, app-less AR® web solutions, Omniline® online CM submission services, and technology-driven creative solutions.
• tfc-dubsub.com (Audio & Subtitle Production Platform) Audio and subtitle production service platform handling Japanese dubbed versions of foreign films/TV, anime audio production, game audio production, multilingual translation, and accessibility audio/subtitles with 60+ years of operational heritage.
• GARO Series (Owned IP / Tokusatsu Franchise) Original dark fantasy tokusatsu franchise featuring the Golden Knight GARO, spanning TV series, films, anime, stage productions, theatrical distribution, and extensive merchandise. Distributed via GARO official YouTube channel with paid membership, broadcast partners (TOKYO MX, BS Japan), and licensing.
• TFC CHARACTERS NET (IP Licensing Portal) IP licensing portal for Tohokushinsha Film's character properties including Teletubbies, Thunderbirds, Space Battleship Yamato, and GARO series. Handles merchandise licensing, promotional tie-ups, and theatrical distribution support.
• Family Gekijo (CS Satellite Channel) CS satellite channel offering dramas, variety shows, classic anime, and original programming 24 hours a day.
• Igo & Shogi Channel (CS Satellite Channel) Satellite channel specializing in go and shogi content, broadcasting major tournaments, hosting the Galaxy Tournament, and offering YouTube content through Igoshogi Plus.
• Super! Drama TV (CS Satellite Channel) CS satellite channel delivering international dramas from America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa with Japanese premieres of popular content.
• tfc-honeycomb.com (Promotion Production Services) Promotion production division service platform offering planning, PR events, press conferences, promotion events, exhibition operations, LP/web design, graphic design, and SNS content. Examples include Shiro Expo 2025, Fuji-Q Highland summer promotions, and projection mapping events (TOKYO Night & Light, ANIME TOKYO NIGHT).
• Documentary Branding Videos (ドキュメンタブランディング動画) Corporate branding video service using documentary filmmaking methodology to capture company stories through employee-focused narratives for recruitment and brand promotion. Tiered pricing from ¥500,000 basic to ¥8M+ premium.
• Nikkei Brand Document (日経ブランドドキュメンタリー) Documentary video advertising service developed in partnership with Hakuhodo DY Media Partners and Nikkei, creating branded content featuring companies tackling real-world challenges.
• National Interior (ナショナルインテリア) Interior fabric import and sales business — Japan agent for German JAB fabrics (40+ year exclusive relationship) and other international brands including Stroheim (US). Offers interior coordination and construction services for high-end European fabrics and carpets.
• Kimura Brewery (木村染め) / Fukukomachi Sake Sake brewery established in 1615 located in Yuzawa, Akita, producing premium sake including the Fukukomachi brand using traditional cold-weather brewing methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 consecutive episodes of a Japanese terrestrial drama produced entirely with virtual sets, establishing a Japanese record (GARO Higashi no Kairo)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Square Enix (スクウェア・エニックス) - Dragon Quest 40th AnniversarymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Joint exhibition 'Dragon Quest the DIVE -Beyond the Unseen Adventure Stage-' announced March 2026, to be co-hosted with Square Enix for the Dragon Quest 40th anniversary. Major IP collaboration project.
• Capcom - Biohazard 30th AnniversarymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Joint exhibition 'THE WORLD OF BIOHAZARD 30th Anniversary Exhibition' announced March 2026, world-first large-scale exhibition for the survival horror game franchise Biohazard/Resident Evil.
• TOKYO MX / BS Japan (東京MX / BS日テレ)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 January 2026Broadcast partnership for the GARO Higashi no Kairo (牙狼東ノ界楼) TV drama series. Aired on TOKYO MX (Thursdays 22:00) and BS Japan (Thursdays 24:30) from January 29, 2026. The series also received Japanese record certification for virtual set production.
• Square Enix (スクウェア・エニックス)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Audio production services for Square Enix game titles including Nioh 3 (仁王3) Japanese dialogue recording and various anime adaptations. Ongoing creative production partnership.
• Warner Bros. Japan (ワーナーブラザース)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Japanese dubbed version and subtitle production for Warner Bros. theatrical and streaming releases including House of the Dragon S1-2, Superman, Dune Part 2, Minecraft movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Joker: Folie à Deux, and others.
• Bandai Namco Filmworks / Asmik Ace (アスミック・エース)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Film production partnership for anime titles including 'Hanaroku' (花緑青が明ける日に, selected for Berlin Competition) produced with Asmik Ace and Studio Outrigger. Ongoing anime and film production collaboration.
• ITV Studios - Thunderbirds (サンダーバード)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2026Licensed as the official Japan representative for Thunderbirds merchandise licensing and promotional usage rights. Thunderbirds is a major classic British sci-fi puppet series (ITC Entertainment, now ITV Studios).
• Nothing New (films 'AnyMart/Chill')coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production partnership with Nothing New for films 'AnyMart/Chill' (convenience store horror-comedy). Nothing New served as planning/producing entity with Tohokushinsha Film as co-producer. The film won FIPRESCI at Berlin and was selected for Forum section.
• Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank (三菱UFJ信託銀行)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Shareholder registry administrator. Handles shareholder services, stock transfer, and dividend payment administration for the company's listed shares on TSE and Nagoya Stock Exchange.
• Pokémon Company / Nintendo / Creatures / Game FreakmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025CM production and event promotion partnerships for Pokémon franchise including Pokémon Card Game CM, TOKYO Night & Light projection mapping events. Ongoing major IP collaboration.
• MUFG Bank / Mizuho Bank / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking / Kiraboshi BankcoreOthers · 1 January 2025Principal banking relationships. Listed as main transaction banks in company overview.
• Hakuhodo / Dentsu (博報堂 / 電通)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Advertising agency partnerships for CM production. Works with major agency groups including Dentsu and Hakuhodo DY Media Partners for client campaign executions and creative production.
• JAB (Germany) / Anstoss Orient / StroheimcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 202440+ year exclusive agency relationship as Japan agent for German premium fabric manufacturer JAB. Also agency relationships for Stroheim (US). Handles import, distribution, and interior design coordination for European luxury fabrics and carpets.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Toho Co., Ltd. Japan's largest film production and distribution company (Godzilla, anime film slate). Most directly comparable as a vertically integrated Japanese film/entertainment producer, although significantly larger and more international.
• Shochiku Co., Ltd. Long-established Japanese film production and distribution company with theater operations. Highly comparable in heritage Japanese film production and theatrical distribution, though more focused on cinema exhibition.
• WOWOW Inc. Japanese pay-TV satellite broadcaster producing original dramas and licensing content. TFC is a key production partner for WOWOW dramas, making it both a customer and a structurally comparable premium-content broadcaster.
• Toei Animation: Major Japanese anime production studio (Dragon Ball, One Piece). Comparable in anime production capabilities and licensing of long-running IP, though focused almost exclusively on anime versus TFC's diversified creative model.
• Pony Canyon: Japanese music/video distribution and anime production subsidiary of Fujisankei. Comparable in anime production, video distribution, and music-related dubbing/subtitling services for Japan market.
• Kadokawa Corporation: Integrated Japanese media conglomerate spanning publishing, anime (via Kadokawa Animation), film, and web services. Closely comparable in vertical scope across content production, IP ownership, and cross-media licensing.
• Avex Group Holdings: Japanese entertainment conglomerate covering music, video, anime, and live events. Comparable in creative production, anime involvement, and IP licensing across multiple entertainment verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu Group: Global advertising agency group that also invests in content and media. While primarily a buyer rather than producer of advertising content, Dentsu is the dominant counterpart in TFC's CM production workflow and a key competitive force.
• Nippon Television Holdings: Major Japanese commercial broadcaster with extensive drama production, anime investment, and IP holdings. Functions as both a TFC customer (broadcast distribution) and a broader incumbent with in-house production capabilities.

Others

• Itochu Corporation: Major Japanese trading company with significant media and entertainment investments (including anime, content distribution, and IP-related businesses). Connected through ecosystem participation and large-scale content commerce rather than direct production competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GAROofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tohokushinsha-film-corp-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM