Part 8/11:
Japan remains highly protective of its cultural assets. The reluctance of Japanese creators to fully sell their intellectual property reflects a desire to retain creative control and safeguard their cultural integrity. Meanwhile, Tencent and other Chinese corporations prefer strategies like licensing, joint ventures, and minority stakes to incrementally influence content development.
This tug-of-war highlights the high stakes involved: control over the narrative direction of globally beloved anime and manga. Should Chinese influence become dominant, there is a genuine concern that content may become sanitized or altered to appease Chinese market restrictions, possibly at the expense of creative authenticity.