Japanese production companies are increasingly looking for ways to retain intellectual property rights instead of working solely as contractors, according to Shinzo Matsuhashi, CEO of Credeus and producer of the Kingdom film franchise. Speaking at TIFFCOM on October 28, 2026, Matsuhashi described his company’s efforts to gain a greater ownership stake in projects and build a business structure similar to Hollywood’s.
During the panel Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP, organized by the Motion Picture Association and UniJapan, Matsuhashi explained the frustration producers can experience when they develop and deliver a project but retain no rights to the resulting property.
“Usually, production companies are seen as contractors who create, deliver and are left with nothing at the end,”
Matsuhashi said, as reported by Deadline. He added that Credeus was frustrated with this arrangement and hoped to establish a model that would allow production companies to retain rights to their work.
The issue also has a financial dimension. Matsuhashi noted that production costs can be substantial and difficult for production companies to cover independently. To increase its investment capacity, Credeus established a fund business, helping the company take a larger financial role in its projects.
Blue Lock Offers an Example of Credeus’ Ownership Strategy
Credeus has already taken steps toward this approach through its work on the live-action Blue Lock film. The production company established CK Works, a rights-holding joint venture with Kodansha, the manga’s publisher. The arrangement illustrates how producers and rights holders can work together to maintain a stake in a property’s commercial future.
Matsuhashi acknowledged that production companies holding intellectual property rights remains relatively uncommon, although he believes the practice is becoming more established internationally. His goal is to create a structure in which producers can benefit from the properties they help bring to audiences, rather than simply receiving payment for production services.
The official CREDEUS website lists Blue Lock and the Kingdom franchise among Matsuhashi’s production credits.
Japanese IP Draws Greater International Interest
Matsuhashi’s comments came during a wider discussion about bringing Japanese intellectual property to international audiences. The TIFFCOM panel also featured Steven Maeda, executive producer of Netflix’s live-action One Piece, and Buddy Marini, head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan.
Marini announced that Amazon MGM Studios was doubling its investment in original Japanese content, including live-action films and series, with the aim of reaching audiences worldwide. The studio is working with Japanese and international partners while expanding its original productions.
The discussion highlighted two connected industry challenges: attracting global audiences and ensuring Japanese creators and production companies can benefit financially from the intellectual property they develop.
For Matsuhashi, retaining rights is one way to address the second challenge. His comments suggest that changing how production companies participate in ownership could give them a stronger position in an industry where creating a successful adaptation does not necessarily mean owning the resulting property.
