What Eirin does

Eirin (映画倫理機構 / Eiga Rinri Kikou) is Japan's sole independent, non-governmental film classification and rating organization, originally established in 1949 and reorganized into a self-financing body in 1956. Structured as a general incorporated foundation (一般財団法人) under Japanese law and headquartered in Tsukiji, Tokyo, Eirin reviews theatrical films, trailers, and promotional materials and assigns one of four age-based ratings — G, PG12, R15+, or R18+ (the current scheme implemented May 1, 1998) — based on evaluation of eight classifiable content elements. The organization serves film production companies (Toei, Shochiku, Nikkatsu, Toho, KADOKAWA, Walt Disney Japan, and many smaller producers), film distributors, and the National Association of Theatre Owners, whose member theaters are contractually required to exhibit only Eirin-certified films and to enforce R-18+ age restrictions.

The technology footprint is intentionally narrow and traditional: a public film search database on eirin.jp (filterable by title, content, examination date, rating category, and Japanese/foreign origin), a web-based examination application system (fully rolled out July 2026), and a digital projector installed in the in-house preview room (2015). There is no disclosed use of AI/ML in classification; eight human examiners conduct reviews. The business model is purely fee-for-service: 2,740 yen per minute of film runtime plus consumption tax, with discounts available for re-edited versions, reissued films, festival-only films, and a small-scale release tier introduced April 2024 for films planned for 30 screens or fewer. First-time applicants prepay fees (effective September 2023); trailer and promotional compilation reviews are free. Additional non-revenue activities include the Film Recommendation Committee for the Next Generation, which curates age-appropriate films for youth and operates as a public-good function rather than a paid service. Eirin has no subsidiaries, no parent, no venture investment, and no public listing.

Name

Eirin

Legal name

一般財団法人 映画倫理機構

Website

https://eirin.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Eirin (映画倫理機構) is Japan's sole independent, non-governmental film classification and rating organization, reviewing theatrical films, trailers, and promotional materials and assigning G, PG12, R15+, or R18+ ratings for production companies, distributors, and theater owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Film Examination Fees: Income derives from examination fees calculated by the running time of films submitted for classification. Fee is 2,740 yen per one minute plus consumption tax. Discounts apply for re-edited versions, reissued films, and films solely intended for festivals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Eirin is Japan's general incorporated foundation that examines and classifies films, trailers, and promotional materials for theatrical release, assigning age-based ratings (G, PG12, R15+, R18+) recognized under the Film Industry Act. It operates as the industry self-regulatory rating body funded by examination fees charged to film producers and distributors.

Product overview

Eirin (映画倫理機構/Eiga Rinri Kiko) is Japan's independent, non-governmental film classification and rating organization established in 1949 and reorganized in 1956. It provides a unified film classification service with four age-based categories (G, PG12, R15+, R18+), reviewing films, trailers, and promotional materials to protect freedom of expression while safeguarding youth from potentially harmful content. The organization also operates the 'Film Recommendation Committee for the Next Generation' which recommends age-appropriate films for children. Its services include the core film classification system, promotional material review, and a WEB-based application system for film submissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• In 1980 Nikkatsu Roman Porno Trial, court evaluated Eirin as 'a sincere self-regulatory organization that has maintained ethical standards for films and achieved significant results'

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 全国興行生活衛生同業組合連合会 (National Association of Theatre Owners of Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partnership. The association's code specifies that member theaters shall not exhibit films without Eirin certificates and shall not admit persons under 18 to R-18+ rated films.
• 日本映画製作者連盟 (Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan / Eiren)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association providing film industry statistics data that Eirin references for annual reporting and comparative analysis.
• 映画産業団体連合会 (Japan Federation of Film Industries)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated film industry organization.
• 外国映画輸入配給協会 (Theatrical Film Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation representing foreign film importers and distributors in Japan.
• 日本映像ソフト協会 (Japan Video Software Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated industry organization for video software.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• MPAA (Motion Picture Association): US trade association that historically administered the film rating system (via the Classification and Rating Administration / CARA). Comparable to Eirin in industry self-regulatory role, but operates as an industry-funded advocacy body rather than a dedicated classification entity.
• MDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore): Singapore's converged infocomm and media regulator, which administers film and content classification. Comparable in regulatory role for film classification within a single national market, though broader in mandate across telecommunications and digital media.
• CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée): France's national film regulatory and funding body, which administers film ratings (with a -12, -16, -18 framework) and broader industry oversight. Comparable in regulatory function but operates as a government agency with broader mandate than Eirin.

Direct peers

• IFCO (Irish Film Classification Office): Ireland's film classification office, providing age ratings for cinema releases and home entertainment. Comparable to Eirin in providing statutory-backed age classification within a single national market, though smaller in scale and operationally distinct.
• Australian Classification Board: Australia's statutory classification body for films, games, and publications, operating a tiered age-rating system. Directly comparable in core classification function, though operates as a government agency rather than a self-regulatory body.
• Medierådet (The Danish Film Institute / Media Council for Children and Youth): Denmark's media council for children and youth, providing age recommendations for films and other media. Comparable in function as a national classification/recommendation body focused on youth protection, though operating on an advisory rather than mandatory basis.
• BBFC (British Board of Film Classification): The UK's film and video classification body, established in 1912. Directly comparable to Eirin as a self-regulatory (now statutory) classification body operating a tiered age-rating system (U, PG, 12A, 15, 18) for theatrical and home video content in a single national market.
• FSK (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft): Germany's voluntary self-regulation body for film classification, operating a tiered age-rating system (FSK 0/6/12/16/18). Directly comparable to Eirin as a non-governmental, self-regulatory classification organization serving a single national film market.
• Korea Media Rating Board (영상물등급위원회): South Korea's media content classification board, rating films, videos, and games with age-based categories. Comparable in function to Eirin as an Asian-market classification body operating a tiered rating framework, though structured as a government-affiliated entity.

Regional players

• CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization): Japan's video game rating organization, operating age-based ratings (A/B/C/D/Z). Same country as Eirin and structurally similar as a self-regulatory non-profit classification body, but focused on interactive entertainment rather than theatrical film.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EIRIN_JP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Eirin