The Japan Creator Support Fund, a government-backed national initiative now in its third year, is producing measurable international successes, with supported projects achieving awards, nominations, and collaborations across 23 countries and regions, according to a progress report presented on June 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Tokyo.
The fund, administered by the Japan Arts Council with support from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, aims to nurture emerging creators and strengthen cultural institutions while promoting international exchange. The progress report meeting featured remarks from Vice Minister Shigeki Kobayashi, who emphasized that "creators and artists themselves are the source of compelling content," underscoring the government's commitment to sustained investment in creative talent.
Key FY2025 results include 544 creators supported under the Creator & Artist Development Support Program, with 165 overseas performances and exhibitions reaching a total attendance of 873,761. Under the Support Program for Cultural Facilities Function Enhancement, 133 creators were supported, with 92 domestic and 5 overseas events drawing 1,900,597 attendees. The Creator Support Program advanced training initiatives, including study visits to approximately 15 countries, including African nations.
Notable international achievements include the National Ballet of Japan being named Outstanding Company at the UK's National Dance Awards 2025 by the Critics' Circle Dance Section for its performances of Giselle at London's Royal Opera House, which played to near-capacity audiences. The film Hanarokushō ga Akeru Hi ni, supported under the "Film Frontier" program, was selected for the Competition section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, competing for the Golden Bear. Another supported film, Housenka, was selected for the Feature Film Competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025. The short film Eri, directed by Honami Yano, was selected for Directors' Fortnight at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
In the performing arts, the SOIL Fellowship Program enabled participants to pitch at events in London and Edinburgh, while Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre's TMT Gear project involved on-the-job training during overseas performances and 8K recording initiatives. The Global Anime Challenge (GAC) by KINEMA CIRTUS provided internships at overseas animation studios, and Jikei Gakuen School Corporation's Immersive Media Lab++ program, in collaboration with XR company STYLY, conducted overseas research visits to the United States.
Looking ahead to FY2026, several organizations plan full-scale overseas activities. ROHM Theatre Kyoto will present Kichijitsu Saikai at the Beitou Art Festival in Taiwan in August 2026. Aichi Prefectural Art Theater will perform WITH LiMBO in Slovakia in September 2026. Syuto Kanazawa's exhibition Ethnography of the Body and Material will run in Venice from May to November 2026.
The fund's impact extends across 23 countries and regions, including Ireland, the United States, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, China, Germany, France, Vietnam, Malta, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. The progress report highlights that these results are building a foundation for sustained global expansion of Japanese creative industries.
For further information, visit the official Japan Creator Support Fund website at https://creator.ntj.jac.go.jp.
