Wowow Bridge, the Tokyo-based production services firm launched by Japan’s premium pay TV broadcaster Wowow last summer, has locked down its first pair of projects. The company is servicing the Tokyo shoot for the series finale of FBI: International from Universal Television, Wolf Entertainment and CBS Studios. The series finale shoot follows Wowow Bridge’s extensive Japan servicing work on the recently wrapped Neuromancer, Skydance and Anonymous Content’s much anticipated big-budget sci-fi drama series that will premiere globally on Apple TV+.
Wowow planted its flag in the production services business last year in hopes of encouraging and profiting from a recent surge of industry interest in Japan-set live-action content. The Wowow Bridge subsidiary was set up to provide a full suite of services to international film and television projects targeting shoots in Japan. The company’s decision to launch a production services arm grew from its experience as a co-producer of Max’s acclaimed crime series Tokyo Vice. The show’s executive producer, Kayo Washio, who serves as Wowow’s head of U.S. operations and chief producer for international co-productions, acquisitions and distribution, was instrumental in bringing the show to Japan and supplying an array of on-the-ground relationships.
Key to the company’s play is Japan’s newly launched and still modest international production incentive. The incentive offers a cash rebate of up to 50 percent on qualifying expenses, capped at 1 billion yen (about $7 million). Wowow Bridge secured incentive funding for all three of the projects it has worked on to date. Wowow’s Washio was instrumental in lobbying for the creation of the Japan incentive in the months and years leading up to Tokyo Vice‘s first season shoot in 2022.
On the executive front, Wowow Bridge says it recently brought on board veteran producer Mitsutoshi Hamazaki (Tokyo Vice, Earthquake Bird, Snake Eyes), one of the surprisingly few experienced hands in Japan with credits on international productions. Hamazaki will serve as the primary line producer for all of Wowow Bridge’s Japan shoots.
“We hired Mitsutoshi because I saw firsthand how invaluable he was during Tokyo Vice Season 1,” said Washio. “I believe he’s the best line producer in Japan and together we’re building the strongest possible team to support international productions.”
