~Big goal is to win a Grammy and an Academy Award~
Pony Canyon, which has set “CROSS THE BORDER” as its management plan, has positioned 2024 as the “first year of globalization” and will restart PONYCANYON ENTERTAINMENT TAIWAN, INC., its Asian base, in July, as a major key to successful future global expansion. Pony Canyon was well-known in the core anime and music scenes, with SiM, who worked on the opening theme for the TV anime “Attack on Titan The Final Season Part 2” in 2022, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hard Rock Chart in the same year. Pony Canyon was a big hit in the anime and music scene, with people from the music and anime industry in the US and abroad, as well as Japanese and American media representatives, flocking to the event to pay attention to the full-scale restart of its North American base and the announcement of its strategy, and the event was so successful that there were standing room only.
In his opening remarks, President Yoshimura passionately stated, “My dream and Pony Canyon’s big goal is to win a Grammy Award. And to win an Academy Award. I’d like to be nominated at the very least. Please help me achieve that dream and goal.” Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, Sone Taketaka, was inspired by President Yoshimura’s bold message and said, “I really liked President Yoshimura’s dream because Japanese people tend to be reserved, even though there should be no borders in anime and entertainment. If you don’t dream big, you can’t achieve your big goals. Continue to work hard and never give up. Together with JAPAN HOUSE, we will continue to support your future and adventures.” In her opening remarks, JAPAN HOUSE Director Yuko Kaifu also said, “I hope that everyone here will continue to cooperate with us for a long time to come.” She also said, “In order to widely disseminate Japanese content, more institutions and companies need to provide more energetic mutual support.”
After being introduced by President Yoshimura, Tomomi Yokoo, CEO of PONYCANYON USA INC., spoke about the company’s history and future prospects as a global entertainment company. Gabriel Block, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, then took to the stage to announce two new joint ventures based on collaboration: “W KAWAII” and “New Global Rock Artist.”
For “W KAWAII”, Asobisystem Co., Ltd. (CEO Yusuke Nakagawa), which has been challenging overseas for over 10 years with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and others, will be scouting talent and producing and managing the real side, Activ8 Co., Ltd. (CEO Takeshi Osaka), which has strengths in virtual IP such as Kizuna AI, will be producing, planning and producing the virtual side, Pony Canyon will be in charge of music production and promotion, and PONYCANYON USA INC. will be involved as an overseas strategy liaison office, creating a global idol group with a multifaceted and powerful system. In addition, for “New Global Rock Artist”, GRIP, which has a large presence in the Japanese loud rock scene to which SiM belongs, will partner with Hopeless Records, a US-based label that has produced many world-famous rock bands, to produce new bands and artists. We aim to achieve global success beyond the barriers of countries and cultures.
