The Show Must Go On…

In keeping with the indomitable spirit that is a distinctive characteristic of the Japanese people, their delegation that is in Mumbai for the 1st Japan-India Creative Contents Industry Forum to be held on 12th and 13th of March, has decided to go ahead with the event this weekend. And this, despite the devastation and tragedy back home. Even as event co-organisers TASI (The Animation Society of India) extended full cooperation, going so far as to say that should the delegation choose to cancel the event and return, they would have all the support needed, the delegation led by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) chose otherwise.

So the programme will go on as per schedule.

Here is some more information on the event, organisers and participants as mentioned in their Press Release:

This unique, first of its kind initiative aims to bring together the Indian and Japanese contents industry professionals and students and is part of METI’s international strategy to promote the popular Japanese contents internationally and India being one of the key target markets.

METI aims to reach out to creative professionals and open up discussions for collaborating Japanese and Indian industry leaders in Mumbai which is the capital of the creative contents business in India. The 3 day event will be organized by METI in cooperation with Japan External Trade Relation Organization (JETRO), The Animation Society of India (TASI), National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

India has the second largest population in the world and has consistently shown GDP growth of 8% plus since 2004. As a huge potential market, countless International companies have been looking at India as a market. Moreover Mumbai is known as the home of Bollywood and many contents and media companies have their head offices in Mumbai besides it being the commercial capital of the country.

In March 2010 METI organized the “Feel Japan in India exhibition” here in Mumbai during which a Japanese creative contents researcher started the dialogue with Indian creative professionals. Their visit confirmed the potential of India and they decided to do something substantial to get the Japanese and Indian industry to work closer.

METI is also encouraging young groups like the Mumbai Anime Club to be involved with the event.

“It is a huge honor to be involved in an event of such a large scale. I never expected something like this to happen so soon in India. And arigato gozaimasu to METI. May this be the beginning of a lot more of such events – accessibility of Japanese animation to as many people in India, as possible” said Rachita Saha, President of the Mumbai Anime Club (MAC)

EVENT DETAILS:

Day 1 – 12th March:
Keynote presentations by Japan and India
Special presentations by Indian and Japanese professionals
Panel discussions
Presentation by Japanese companies about creative contents
Gala Reception

Day 2 – 13th March:
Airing of Japanese animation contents
Group discussions

Day 3 – 14th March:
Japanese delegation to visit Indian creative contents companies, retail stores and general market visit.

LIST OF SPEAKERS CONFIRMED FOR THE EVENT:

Japan Side:

• Mr. Naohiro Shichijo, Associate Professor, Waseda University/University of Tokyo
• Mr. Shuhei Ueda, President, Gamepot Inc.
• Mr. Hiroshi Takahashi, President, Toei Animation Co. Ltd.
• Mr. Yuji Nunokawa, President, Pierrot Co. Ltd and The Association of Japanese Animators
• Ms. Akira Takayama, President, Fanworks Inc.
• Mr. Jin Suzuki, Chief Producer, Tokyo International Anime Fair Executive Committee
• Mr. Nobukazu Numata, School Producer Chief, Vantan Inc.
• Mr. Shinichi Suzuki, Director, Suginami Animation Museum

India Side:

• Mr. A K Madhavan, CEO, Crest Animation Studios
• Mr. Rajiv Chilaka, Founder & Managing Director, Green Gold Animation
• Mr. Kireet Khurana, 2nZ/ Climb Media (India) Pvt. Ltd
• Ms. Meghna Ghai Puri, President, Whistling Woods International [UPDATE: As Meghna Ghai Puri will be unable to attend the event, another panelist will replace her – name TBA]
• Mr. Jai Natarajan, CEO Xentrix, Committee Member The Animation Society of India