Inaugural licensing trade show will feature a variety of companies, brands, seminars and more.

UBM, organizers of Licensing Expo Japan, has unveiled an expanded lineup of educational seminars and new exhibitors for the inaugural event.

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.

First, the show as added a raft of new exhibitors, including: Acty Agent, Amuse, Caterpillar, DesignBusan, National Entertainment Collectibles Association and Rokurin Agent, among others. Furthermore, the Expo will also highlight brands such as: Astro Boy, B. Duck, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Capsubeans, Corvette, Dwell Studios, Hoppechan, Maisy, Maui and Sons, Panda no Tapu Tapu, Pokopan, Poppy Cat, Cynthia Rowley, “Sesame Street,” Sumikko Gurashi and The Dark Tower.

Additionally, LIMA will host a three-day educational conference during Licensing Expo Japan that features a range of licensing-focused keynotes, business forums, seminars and presentations. Topics will range from new trends in the market and the fundamentals of licensing to negotiating contracts and related laws. Companies speaking during the educational conference include Kiddy Land, The Licensing Company, Line Corporation and World Global Style Network, among others.

Highlights from the educational seminars include:

Furthermore, two keynote presentations hosted by Don Anderson, head of family and learning partnerships, YouTube APAC, and Hong Ying, general manager, Alifish, will highlight the educational offerings at Licensing Expo Japan. Anderson will discuss how independent content creators around the world and influencing and driving change for licensing and merchandising; meanwhile, Ying will share his insights on the latest e-commerce market trends in China and tactics related to online licensing challenges.

The inaugural Licensing Expo Japan will be held alongside IFF MAGIC Japan, which is organized in collaboration with the Senken Shinbun, a daily newspaper in Japan’s fashion industry. For more information regarding the show, visit LicensingExpoJapan.com/en.