The group has an expressed interest in expanding its operations into film, animation, publishing, music and the arts. Following the acquisition, Kinoshita has restructured Copyright Asia’s board of directors. Naoya Kinoshita will serve as the company’s new representative director and executive chairman; David R. Buckley will serve as representative director and president; and Akio Shimizu will serve as director.

“The entry of Copyrights Asia into Kinoshita Group provides us access to a family of companies with whom we can create synergies and build mutual support,” says Buckley. “At the same time, this association will provide numerous new opportunities for our more than 200 licensees and the various property owners we represent.”