Uniting Creative Forces: A New Dawn for East Asian Entertainment

A Synergistic Partnership for Global Content Dominance

A pivotal joint venture, StudioMonowa, has been officially inaugurated through the collaboration of CJ ENM from South Korea and Japan's TBS and U-Next Holdings. The formal signing ceremony, held on April 30 at the CJ ENM Center in Seoul, brought together key executives from all three participating organizations, marking the beginning of a significant cross-border initiative.

Defining Roles: Leveraging Core Competencies for Integrated Production

This strategic alliance meticulously allocates responsibilities among its partners to ensure a seamless and robust content ecosystem. CJ ENM is tasked with spearheading content conceptualization and infusing distinctive creative elements. TBS will concentrate on identifying and developing original Japanese intellectual properties and managing their broadcast distribution. U-Next, recognized as Japan's foremost local streaming service with a subscriber base exceeding 5 million and a vast library of over 440,000 titles, will be responsible for the exclusive distribution of the venture's original productions across its platform.

Visionary Leadership: Crafting Content for a Global Audience

Yoon Sang-hyun, the Chief Executive Officer of CJ ENM, articulated the ambitious goals of StudioMonowa. He emphasized that this partnership, uniting prominent content powerhouses from Korea and Japan, is poised to generate highly successful content designed to captivate not only the Asian market but also audiences worldwide. He highlighted the commitment to evolving into a premier global premium intellectual property studio by fostering an innovative partnership that integrates K-content's systematic planning with international production expertise from the initial stages of IP development.

The Essence of StudioMonowa: Harmonizing Narratives

The nomenclature "StudioMonowa" is derived from a thoughtful blend of Japanese terminology: "mono," signifying "story," and "wa," representing "harmony." This naming convention underscores the studio's foundational philosophy as a hub where Korean and Japanese creative narratives converge, giving rise to novel and enriched forms of entertainment. Each project undertaken by the studio will adhere to a long-term value creation model, ensuring that financial returns accrue across various commercial phases of an intellectual property's lifespan, rather than being confined to its initial release.

Tracing the Genesis: From Exploratory Talks to Formal Alliance

The origins of this collaborative endeavor can be traced back to April 2025, when Lee Jay-hyun, chairman of CJ Group, visited Japan. During his visit, he engaged in discussions with TBS leadership, including Chairman Sasaki Takashi and CEO Abe Ryujiro, to explore potential avenues for collaboration. These preliminary talks progressively evolved, culminating in the formal establishment of the joint venture.

A Proven Track Record: Precedent for Success in Japan

CJ ENM boasts an impressive history of successful ventures within the Japanese market. Notable achievements include the Japanese adaptation of the Amazon original series "Marry My Husband," which clinched the top spot in the drama category of Google Japan's "Year in Search 2025." Additionally, the Korea-Japan co-production "Love is for the Dogs," a collaborative effort with TBS via Studio Dragon, further demonstrates CJ ENM's capability in fostering successful international content partnerships.

A Collective Commitment to Groundbreaking Content

Abe Ryujiro expressed profound enthusiasm for the launch of StudioMonowa, acknowledging the formidable combination of CJ ENM's global hit-making prowess and U-Next Holdings' aggressive pursuit of original content production and international expansion. He championed the "trinity" model, which integrates CJ ENM's world-renowned production DNA, TBS's creative expertise, and U-Next Holdings' powerful platform reach, as a formula for showcasing innovative content that will enthrall global audiences.

TBS's Strategic Global Outlook

TBS, through its production arm The Seven, responsible for acclaimed titles such as "Vivant," "MIU404," and "Alice in Borderland," has made strategic partnerships with international collaborators a key priority under its TBS Group Medium-term Business Plan 2026. The broadcaster also maintains a significant strategic investment in Legendary Entertainment, underscoring its commitment to global content engagement.

U-Next's Vision for International Reach

Tsutsumi Tenshin, CEO of U-Next, conveyed his delight in establishing StudioMonowa alongside CJ ENM, a leader in the Korean entertainment sector, and TBS, a longstanding cornerstone of the Japanese drama industry. He affirmed U-Next's dedication to creating new global hits by consolidating CJ ENM's international planning expertise, TBS's top-tier drama production capabilities, and U-Next's operational acumen as a platform.

A Thriving Content Market: Japan's Expanding IP Landscape

Japan's content intellectual property market, encompassing IP development, video production, streaming, and spin-off businesses, reached an estimated value of KRW67 trillion ($45.3 billion) in 2023. The streaming sector within this market has demonstrated robust growth, expanding at an annual rate of 20.5%, according to data cited from a Roland Berger workshop document. U-Next has consistently reported uninterrupted revenue growth over the past nine years, highlighting the fertile ground for this new venture.