Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission ！.
I recently reviewed a survey conducted by the Japan Film Commission (JFC), which includes FCs from all over Japan, and it gave some interesting insights into the filming landscape in Japan.
(The survey was conducted in 2023, targeting 130 FCs, with an 83% response rate.)
＜Key Findings＞
- Total number of FCs in Japan: 385 (an increase of 13 from 2022)
→ Japan is likely the country with the highest number of FCs in the world. - Prefectures with the high number of FCs:
- Ibaraki: 42
- Saitama: 36
- Ehime: 2
→ Many FCs are established at the prefectural level and in cities and towns.
- Number of FCs affiliated with JFC: 120
→ Approximately 30% of all FCs in Japan are JFC members. - Total domestic inquiries handled by JFC-affiliated FCs in FY2022: 16,248 inquiries (average of 45 per day, a 14% increase from the previous year)
→ The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions likely contributed to this rise. - Total domestic filming projects supported by JFC-affiliated FCs in FY2022: 4,545 projects (28% success rate, averaging 12 per day, a 9% increase from the previous year)
→ A 28% success rate is quite low, possibly due to inquiries being sent to multiple FCs for the same project. - Total international project inquiries in FY2022: 691 inquiries, 318 projects completed (248% increase from the previous year, totaling 546 overnight stays)
→ Inquiries for international productions in Japan are increasing, highlighting the need to further strengthen support systems for overseas projects.
＜Filming Logistics＞
- Most common processing time for road use permits: Within 4 days (57%)
→ Processing times varied from next-day approvals to a full week. Strong coordination with the police is essential for FCs. - FCs that recognize the PR benefits of filming in their region: 52%
→ This number felt low. The discrepancy might be due to differences in the impact between local productions and external productions. - Top challenge faced by FCs: Securing and training personnel (57%)
→ Since many FC staff are government employees who rotate positions periodically, explicit knowledge can be passed down, but tacit knowledge is harder to transfer. This highlights the need for ongoing training programs every year.
＜Expanding Roles of FCs＞
- In addition to theatrical releases, FCs are increasingly supporting streaming projects, commercials, one-off TV specials, and music videos. The scope of supported projects continues to grow.
While expectations and opportunities for FCs are rising, strengthening the overall filming support system and environment remains a crucial challenge.