The Japan Creator Support Fund, a government-backed initiative by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, is yielding significant international results as it enters its third year. During the "Japan Creator Support Fund Progress Report Meeting" held on June 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Tokyo, organizations presented outcomes from fiscal year 2025, highlighting achievements such as selections at the Berlin International Film Festival, Cannes Directors' Fortnight, and Annecy International Animation Film Festival, as well as performances at London's Royal Opera House.
Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shigeki Kobayashi opened the meeting, emphasizing that "creators and artists themselves are the source of compelling content" and reaffirming the government's commitment to investing in creative talent and international exchange. The Japan Arts Council reported that supported projects have been implemented across 23 countries and regions, including Ireland, the United States, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, China, Germany, France, Vietnam, and others.
Four organizations presented their progress. The Japan Performing Arts Solidarity Network introduced the SOIL Fellowship Program, which sent participants to pitching events in London and Edinburgh to enhance the global presence of Japanese theatre. Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre reported on TMT Gear, a project that included on-the-job training during overseas performances and 8K recording initiatives. KINEMA CIRTUS detailed the Global Anime Challenge, where participants attended domestic workshops and internships at overseas animation studios. Jikei Gakuen School Corporation presented the Immersive Media Lab++, which conducted overseas research visits and hackathons in the United States, with plans to launch year-round courses in fiscal year 2026.
Key results from the Creator & Artist Development Support Program include 544 creators supported, 165 overseas performances or exhibitions, and total attendance of 873,761 across events. The Support Program for Cultural Facilities Function Enhancement supported 133 creators and hosted 92 domestic events, with 1,900,597 attendees. The Creator Support Program facilitated study visits to approximately 15 countries, including African nations, and training at institutions like Griffith Film School in Australia.
Notable international successes include the National Ballet of Japan's performance of Giselle at the Royal Opera House in July 2025, which led to the company being named Outstanding Company at the UK's National Dance Awards 2025. The production How an Onnagata Is Made by Shochiku toured Europe in April 2026, with performances in Paris, Rome, and Cologne. In film, Hanarokushō ga Akeru Hi ni was selected for the Competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and Housenka was chosen for the Feature Film Competition at Annecy. Eri, directed by Honami Yano, was selected for Directors' Fortnight at Cannes.
In the visual arts, Mori Art Museum's exhibition The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest attracted 236,705 visitors and will tour Asia in 2026. The Aichi Prefectural Art Theater's dance project Giselle: A Summary was invited to festivals in Germany and the Netherlands. Upcoming activities include Kichijitsu Saikai at the Beitou Art Festival in Taiwan in August 2026 and WITH LiMBO in Slovakia in September 2026, as well as Syuto Kanazawa's exhibition in Venice from May to November 2026.
For more information, visit the official Japan Creator Support Fund website at https://creator.ntj.jac.go.jp/en.
