Tokuma President Discusses Company’s Financial Status

The new operating president of Tokuma Shoten, Matsushita Takeyoshi, revealed in an interview with the Nippon Keizai Shimbun published yesterday that Tokuma has a 100 billion yen ($840 million) debt, which includes a 5 billion yen operating deficit for the 1999 fiscal year. Taking steps to pay off the debt over a period of 4-5 years, several divisions of the company will be sold off. Tokuma has already sold its Direct TV assets, as well as cut back its operation in broadcast satellite and cable television. Their movie division, Daiei will also suspend all major production for a while.

On the other hand, Tokuma is launching 3 new magazines geared towards female students and middle-aged people. And most importantly to anime fans, Tokuma will not be selling Studio Ghibli, which is expected to turn a profit with Miyazaki’s latest film, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, which opens this summer.

Source: Anime News Network