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Kuwahara hits the high note as new CEO of Nippon TV Music
MUMBAI: From Death Note to chart notes Nippon TV Music has a new maestro at the helm. In a strategic move that harmonises anime excellence with music publishing prowess, Nippon Television Music Corporation has appointed Kako Kuwahara as its new president and CEO. She takes the baton from Akihiro Shimizu, who now heads Tipness Co. Ltd., another Nippon Television Holdings subsidiary.
Kuwahara’s appointment signals a dynamic new chapter for the Tokyo-based music publisher, which plays a vital role in exporting Japan’s most iconic soundtracks and character IPs across the globe. With a portfolio boasting anime heavyweights like Hunter×Hunter, Death Note, The Apothecary Diaries, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Nippon TV Music is a key player in delivering Japan’s pop culture to the world, one theme song at a time.
Having led international and anime business strategies at Nippon TV, Kuwahara was instrumental in globalising recent anime hits. Under her leadership, the company aims to further amplify its presence through collaborations with sub-publishers and creators worldwide. She will report to Nippon TV Holdings senior operating officer Keiichi Sawa.
“While Nippon TV is already a global powerhouse in Japanese entertainment, we at Nippon TV Music aim to further elevate our presence through the music we produce,” Kuwahara said. “With anime, films, dramas and variety shows, and Japan’s incredible music creators, we want to craft characters and songs that speak to the world.”
Founded in 1969, Nippon TV Music operates in two main verticals: music and character business. It manages theme music and scores for major shows, supervises copyright and master recordings, and nurtures rising artists. On the character front, it handles international merchandising and game adaptations for titles like Anpanman and Lupin the Third.
With Kuwahara now composing the next act, Nippon TV Music’s mission is clear keep the beats rolling and the fandom growing across continents.
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