Despite renewed concerns over tariffs under Donald Trump’s trade agenda, Japan’s game and anime sectors are showing resilience with strong global growth potential.
Global X Japan, a joint ETF venture backed by Mirae Asset and Daiwa Securities, said Japanese content companies remain well-positioned internationally and are unlikely to face major tariff risks. In an interview with Japanese business outlet excite on March 25, the firm emphasized that digital content-like games and anime-is largely exempt from trade duties due to current World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
Since 1998, the WTO has upheld a moratorium on tariffs for digital transmissions, a policy recently extended through March 2026. This exemption is helping Japan’s content industry expand its global footprint.
Japan ‘s content market is now valued at about $903 billion, surpassing sectors like semiconductors and petrochemicals. Export revenue from Japanese content totals around $3.13 billion, rivaling the country’s steel and chip exports.
Popular franchises such as Pokémon and Hello Kitty continue to rank among the world’s top media brands, driving international demand for Japanese IP. According to Global X Japan, the global animation market has grown for 11 straight years, with gaming-closely tied to animation IP-showing even faster growth.
In 2024, the global video game market was valued at $472.9 billion and is projected to hit $688.2 billion by 2029, growing at an annual rate of 18.5%.
To tap into this trend, Global X Japan offers the “Global X Games & Animation – Japan Equity ETF,” which invests in 20 leading Japanese companies. Key holdings include Bandai Namco, known for Gundam and Dragon Ball, and Capcom, creator of the Monster Hunter series.
Global X Japan, founded in 2019, is the country’s only ETF-focused asset manager. It launched its first fund on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2020.
