We are an industry group that aims to develop
and foster a “license business”
that utilizes IP such as character brands.
We are an industry group that aims to develop
and foster a “license business”
that utilizes IP such as character brands.
CBLA (Character Brand Licensing Association) was established in January, 2014, an association whose members are involved in the business of licensing copyrights, trademarks, and designs and other intellectual property for products and services.
While benefiting individual brand licensing businesses through
its educational, research, and support activities, it also pursues the larger aim of growing the licensing business as a whole.
In pursuit of these objectives, CBLA engages in the following types of activities.
CBLA is divided into four divisions, whose primary responsibilities are supporting creators, sharing global business information, strengthening
marketing skills, and business-matching aimed at expanding networks for industry firms. CBLA organizes workshops, seminars and symposia in response to member requests.
In addition, working groups set up within each of the four divisions engage in activities whose aim is to grow member companies’ business.
Themed division activity
Creative: Supporting creator’s licensing skill and bring them into business field
Global: Extend licensing opportunity inbound/outbound
Marketing: Sharing valuable and fresh market information
Digital: Collect and share digital trend marketing information
The Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA) is a licensing industry organization for businesses that use characters, brands, and other intellectual property, including copyrights, trademarks, and registered concepts, in their products and services.
CBLA was founded in 2014 with the aim of providing research and other forms of support for the licensing business that would, while protecting profits, stimulate business and contribute to the development of Japan’s contents industry.
The licensing business has long been one of the key elements in the contents industry.
Today, while awareness of the value of intellectual property has increased, the diversification and globalization of the business environment for characters and brands have accelerated. We are searching for new formats for the licensing business unconstrained by existing models.
In the 21st century, the numerous strengths of characters and brands have achieved high value, not only in business but in culture as well. There is no longer any need to translate “kawaii,” a word that has come to symbolize Japanese character culture as well as the globally popular characters created in Japan.
As the leading association in our industry in Japan, a global leader in characters, CBLA gathers information about characters and brands produced by the companies that comprise our industry and implements all sorts of programs to support the development of the licensing business in Japan.
CLBA has a proven track record in promoting the global spread of Japan’s outstanding licensing business through both inbound and outbound activities and has played an active role in promoting “Cool Japan” and related intellectual assets worldwide.
We continue to cooperate with other industries and groups to conduct research, provide networking opportunities, and train tomorrow’s creators, producers and agents. We have also established permanent subcommittees in each area to provide solutions to industry issues and are continuously active in those areas.
CBLA will, while paying close attention to member views, promote the further development of the licensing industry in Japan, an industry of which Japan can be proud. We cannot, however, achieve this aim without the approval and support of the broadest possible range of companies and individuals associated with this industry. As companies, groups, schools, individuals, we must come together to support and promote CBLA ideals. In this endeavor I ask for your support.
| Group Name | Character Brand Licensing Association |
| Founding Date | January 2014 |
| Location | 2-10 Kandaogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Keizai Advertising Co., Ltd. |
| Phone | 03-5282-8105 |
| Fax | 03-5282-8459 |
| Url | http://cbla.jp/ |
| info@cbla.jp | |
| Activity |
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For the purpose of expanding Japan IP globally, CBLA organizes “Japan Pavilion” with qualified Japanese contents through major International Licensing Shows, such as:
annual participation since 2014
annual participation since 2017
annual participation since 2018 ※exhibitors=associate creator members
| Chairman | Aiichiro Furukawa LoveOne Communications Co., Ltd. ／ President |
| Managing Director | Andy Y.Toyama Sanrio Far East Company Limited ／ President＆CEO |
| Managing Director | Kazuo Rikukawa CHARACTER DATABANK Co. ／ President |
| Executive Director | Jun Kikyo S Crear Corporation／ President |
| Executive Director | Akira Takayama Fanworks Inc. ／ President |
| Executive Director | Nobuhiro Niwa NIHON KEIZAI ADVERTISING CO.,LTD. ／ President |
| Executive Director | Ryuichi Masuda Blooming Rights Co., Ltd.／ President |
| Executive Director | Kaoru Mayoi KIDDY LAND Co.,Ltd. ／ President |
| Executive Director | Daiki Aizawa LEMONA DESIGN ／ President |
| Executive Director | Tom Kanayama Taito Corporation ／ SPACE INVADERS BRAND MANAGER |
| Executive Director | Kensuke Kondo MindWorks Entertainment Inc. ／ President |
| Executive Director | Takehiro Suzuki Matsuya Co., Ltd. ／ General Manager, Head Office Co-Creation Business |
| Executive Director | Yuki Hatano SEKIGUCHI co.,LTD ／ Senior Manager |
| Executive Director | Hitomi Hiratsuka Nippon Animation Co.,Ltd. ／ Director |
| Executive Director | Masamichi Momma Joshibi University of Art and Design. ／director, Career Support Center |
| Executive Director | Teruo Koibuchi Kamio Japan Corporation／Executive Officer |
| Executive Director | Toshihiko Omuro StylingLife Holdings Inc. PLAZASTYLE COMPANY ／ Head of Licensing Sales |
| Executive Director | Keisuke Watanabe Sony Creative Products Inc.／Executive Officer |
| Executive Director | Go Watanabe TV TOKYO Communications Corporation／director |
| Advisor | Wataru Kubo |
| Auditor | Shigeo Kakuta ATENDA Patent Firm ／Representative Employee Patent Attorney |
| Secretary general | Takeshi Oonagi NIHON KEIZAI ADVERTISING CO.,LTD. ／ Content Division Manager |
