Amuse Inc.

Amuse Inc. (株式会社アミューズ)[5] is a Japanese entertainment company that provides artist management services. The artists include idols,[6] musicians, and more.

Amuse produces TV and radio programs, commercial films, and movies. Other interests are in publication, music software, and patent agent businesses. The private Amuse Museum, located in Asakusa, Tokyo, was owned by the company. It featured ukiyo-e and textile displays.

History

Amuse Inc. was created in 1978 when it signed with the rock band Southern All Stars. Soon after in 1981, the company created its movie production and distribution subsidiary Amuse Cinema City Inc. and produced Morning Moon Wa Sozatsu Ni (starring Shin Kishida) that same year, followed by Aiko 16 sai (1983). In 1983, Amuse signed with the actress Yasuko Tomita. The next year, the firm opened its subsidiary in the United States.[7]

Amuse Video Inc. was created in 1990 as the video software production and sales subsidiary of the company. In 1995, Amuse established Ayers Inc. through a joint venture with Bandai, and opened its first movie theater. In 2000, Amuse opened its Korean subsidiary, Amuse Korea Inc. On 20 September 2001, Amuse was listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange. Its distributed film The Pianist won the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.[7]

In 2004, Amuse opened its e-commerce site, Ambra. In 2007, it established its music label Taishita in joint venture with Victor Entertainment. In 2008, the group invested in Brussels Co. Ltd., a company that develops Belgian beer bars; and also formed the A-Sketch label in joint venture with KDDI Corporation. In 2009, the group launched its subsidiary Amuse Edutainment Inc. In 2012, Amuse Singapore was created. Amuse intended to give a second life to J-pop by promoting the bands Flumpool and Weaver.[8] In 2013, it produced and distributed the movie The Eternal Zero. In 2015, Amuse France Inc. was created.[7]

In January 2016, Amuse established a partnership with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, a promotion in which Amuse owns shares.[9][10] In the US, Amuse launched J-Creation to further develop ties between the Japanese and American entertainment industries. In October 2018, Amuse USA released the graphic novel Apocrypha: The Legend of Babymetal.[11]

In 2022, Amuse founded Kulture Inc., aiming to create next-generation entertainment with Web3 and metaverse content, such as NFTs.[12]

In February 2025, Amuse sold its 66% majority shares in A-Sketch to Universal Music Group's Japanese subsidiary for an undisclosed amount.[13]

Notable artists

Former artists

Other holdings

See also

• Television in Japan

External links