The first-ever Licensing Expo Japan kicked off with huge success, April 26-28, in Tokyo.

UBM's Global Licensing Group, organizers of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, kicked off the inaugural Licensing Expo Japan April 26-28 at Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center in Tokyo, Japan. The event co-located with the first IFF MAGIC Japan fashion event, which took place simultaneously.

The first-ever Licensing Expo Japan brought together 400 international and Japanese brands together for three days of networking and deal-making. Exhibiting companies included IMG, Caterpillar, CAA-GBG, Copyrights Asia, Nissan, Kangol, Neca, Maui & Sons and Gaia; while brands such as Astro Boy, B.Duck, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Capsubeans, Corvette, Dwell Studios, Popeye, Paddington Bear, Hoppechan, Maisy, Panda no Tapu Tapu, Pokopan, Poppy Cat, Cynthia Rowley, "Sesame Street," Sumikko Gurashi and The Dark Tower could be found on the show floor. The show also saw nearly 14,000 attendees across its three days.

"We were thrilled to bring the Licensing Expo brand to Japan, working with our UBM Japan colleagues," says Jessica Blue, senior vice president, licensing, UBM. "Our goal was to deliver a high-quality licensing event, showcasing a diversity of brands, attracting the right mix of licensees and retailers across all product categories. The feedback from exhibitors demonstrates that we did just that, and we are already working on the next edition to make it even bigger and better. The adjacency with MAGIC worked extremely well with a healthy cross-over of attendees between the shows, which is no surprise given that apparel is the largest licensed product category in Japan and globally."

Licensing Expo Japan was sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association and it organized 15 seminars, as well as two keynote addresses, the first delivered by Hong Ying, general manager, Alifish, and the second by Don Anderson, head of family and learning partnerships, YouTube APac.

Other seminars included "Making the Best Use of Characters Based on LINE Stickers: An Introduction to LINE Creators Management Platform for Character Licensing" with panelists from Line Corporation and Character Databank; "Design Vision & Key Looks for the Spring/Summer 2018 Season" with participants from WGSN; "The Cutting Edge of Character Retail: An Insider's Guide to Best-Selling Trendy Character Goods at Popular Retail Chains" with representatives from Kiddy Land, Freak's, Patty's Co. and Tezuka Productions Co. and "Market Trends & Prospects for Brand Licensing" with FSR and Yano Research Institute.

Licensing Expo Japan through a party, which took place the second evening of the event, and was well attended by industry professionals that nurtured new and established relationships.

The next Licensing Expo Japan will take place April 25-27, 2018, again at Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center. For more information on the event, visit LicensingExpoJapan.com.