Japan’s Cool Japan Fund Review Finds Anime, Manga, and Video Game Investments Profitable While Live-Action Projects Lose Money

Japan’s ambitious Cool Japan initiative is facing its final chapter after years of financial difficulties. A new government review has revealed that investments in video games, anime, manga, and music generated positive returns, while the fund’s live-action investments suffered substantial losses. The findings were published by METI on November 9, 2026, as part of an assessment of the Cool Japan Fund, a public-private initiative established in 2013 to promote Japanese businesses and cultural products overseas. The fund is expected to…