Japan anime industry reaches record $28.5 billion in sales

The Japanese anime industry generated a record $28.5 billion (4.5 trillion yen) in sales in 2025, representing a 15.8% increase in yen terms from the previous year. According to the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), overseas revenue reached approximately $16 billion, surpassing the domestic market, which brought in about $12 billion.

Growth was significantly driven by the success of the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which earned roughly $800 million worldwide. The film became the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time, contributing approximately $250 million in Japan.

Revenue at anime production studios also rose by 8.4% to $3.2 billion. Kazuko Ishikawa, president of the AJA, emphasized the importance of building a sustainable ecosystem for creators. The Japanese government aims to reach $130 billion in overseas sales of Japanese content by 2033 through its IP360 strategy, with anime expected to contribute 6 trillion yen toward that target.