Hong Ying of Alifish kicked off the inaugural licensing trade show with a packed keynote presentation.

UBM’s Global Licensing Group, organizers of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, kicked off the inaugural Licensing Expo Japan yesterday with an overflowing keynote presentation.

Hong Ying, general manager, Alifish, delivered the opening keynote presentation, which featured the latest e-commerce market trends in China as well as tactics related to online licensing challenges.

Sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, the first-ever Licensing Expo Japan will take place, April 26-28, at the Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center. The show is also co-located with the fashion exhibition IFF MAGIC.

The inaugural show also opened with a raft of new exhibitors, including Acty Agent, Amuse, Caterpillar, DesignBusan, NECA and Rokurin Agent, among others. The show is also highlighting brands such as: Astro Boy, B. Duck, Capsubeans, Corvette, Maui and Sons, Panda no Tapu Tapu, Oppy Cat, “Sesame Street” and many others.

Additionally, LIMA is hosting a three-day educational conference during the trade show. The educational sessions will feature a range of licensing-focused keynotes, business forums, seminars and presentations.

Furthermore, Don Anderson, head of family and learning partnerships, YouTube APAC will deliver the show’s second keynote presentation today, which will highlight how independent content creators around the world are influencing and driving change for the licensing and merchandising industry. He also utilized case studies from popular YouTube Family and Learning creators.

Check out images from the first day of Licensing Expo Japan below: