SPO Entertainment Inc.

SPO Entertainment Inc. (株式会社エスピーオー) is a Japanese independent entertainment company founded in March 1987 in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, as a video software sales company. Its name derives from "Sales company of Pierrot and Oriental Cine Service", reflecting its origins as a joint venture between the animation studio Studio Pierrot and Oriental Cine Service, with Yoshiharu Katsuki, then vice-president of Oriental Cine Service, installed as president. Over more than three decades SPO has grown into one of Japan's leading independent distributors and producers of Asian film and television drama, with a particular focus on Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese content. The company entered theatrical film distribution in 1992 with Virtual Wars and began self-distribution through its subsidiary K2 Entertainment in the 1990s. In 2002 it took over K2 Entertainment's film distribution business, and in 2005 it absorbed SPO Distribution. From 2003 it began full-scale acquisition and distribution of Korean films, riding the "Korean Wave" (hanryu) boom in Japan. In 2006 it opened three dedicated Asian-film cinemas under the Cinemart banner — Cinemart Roppongi, Cinemart Shinsaibashi and Cinemart Shinjuku — establishing a physical exhibition presence alongside its distribution business. Beyond distribution, SPO produces and co-produces television dramas and films, including the live-action manga-adaptation "MANGA drama" slate launched in 2013 with Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO, and productions in Taiwan and South Korea. It also operates digital services: the Asian-film streaming service Ouchi de Cinem@rt (launched 2021) and the Asian content channel Entertainment Asia on Amazon Prime Video (launched 2021). The company has overseas subsidiaries and affiliates including SPO Entertainment Korea Inc. (Seoul, established 2013) and the Taiwanese joint venture SPO Entertainment Taiwan Inc. (大方影像製作股份有限公司, established 2012, 49% owned). SPO is headquartered in Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, having relocated there in September 2025. It received capital participation from Fields Corporation (now Tsuburaya Fields Holdings Inc.) in 2008, which currently holds 31.81% of its shares. In December 2023 SPO listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's TOKYO PRO Market. The company's stated corporate philosophy is to pursue "a peaceful society overflowing with smiles", and its current goal is to spread that "smile" across Asia by further activating the circulation of Asian content.

SPO Entertainment Inc. was established in March 1987 in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, as a video software sales company. It was founded as a joint venture between the animation studio Studio Pierrot and Oriental Cine Service, with Yoshiharu Katsuki, then vice-president of Oriental Cine Service, appointed as president. The company name "SPO" is an abbreviation of "Sales company of Pierrot and Oriental Cine Service". In November 1989, the company relocated its head office to Agebacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, to accommodate business expansion. In June 1992, it entered the theatrical film distribution business with the film Virtual Wars. In August 1993, it moved its head office to Ginza 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and in July 1996 to Ginza 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, again for expansion. In February 2001, SPO acquired K2 Entertainment Inc., a film distribution company, as a subsidiary through a third-party allotment. In July 2002, it began DVD production and sales, and in October 2002 it received the transfer of the film distribution business from K2 Entertainment Inc. In July 2003, it began full-scale acquisition and distribution of Korean films. In December 2003, K2 Entertainment Inc. changed its trade name to SPO Distribution Inc. In November 2004, SPO made SPO Distribution Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary. In April 2005, it rolled out the "Korean Cinema Festival 2005" nationwide, and in June 2005 it absorbed and merged SPO Distribution Inc. as part of business reorganisation. In 2006, SPO opened three dedicated Asian-film cinemas: Cinemart Roppongi in Tokyo (March 2006), Cinemart Shinsaibashi in Osaka (April 2006), and Cinemart Shinjuku in Tokyo (December 2006). In December 2007, it moved its head office to Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. In March 2008, it received capital participation from Fields Corporation (now Tsuburaya Fields Holdings Inc.). In December 2010, it opened a Seoul office in South Korea (now SPO Entertainment Korea Inc.). In September 2012, it established a joint venture in Taiwan, SPO Entertainment Taiwan Inc. (大方影像製作股份有限公司). In March 2013, it began full-scale entry into live-action manga-adaptation "MANGA drama" production with Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO, and in May 2013 it began drama production in Taiwan with Fabulous★Boys. In July 2013, it established SPO Entertainment Korea Inc. as a subsidiary in South Korea. In October 2014, it began drama production in South Korea with Nodame Cantabile: Nail Cantabile. In June 2015, it moved its head office to Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, and closed Cinemart Roppongi. In March 2021, it opened Ouchi de Cinem@rt, a video streaming service specialising in Asian films. In December 2021, it launched Entertainment Asia, an Asian content specialist channel, on Amazon Prime Video Channels. In December 2023, it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's TOKYO PRO Market. In September 2025, it relocated its head office to Ginza 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (current address). Throughout its history, SPO has been led by its founding president Yoshiharu Katsuki and, as of the company's message page, by Representative Director and President Norihiro Nakada. The company's corporate philosophy is to pursue "a peaceful society overflowing with smiles", and its current goal is to spread that "smile" across Asia by further activating the circulation of Asian content.

• Established in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo as a video software sales company

• Head office relocated to Agebacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

• Entered film distribution business with 'Virtual Wars'

• Head office relocated to Ginza 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

• Head office relocated to Ginza 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

• Acquired K2 Entertainment Inc. as subsidiary

• Started DVD production and sales

• Received transfer of film distribution business from K2 Entertainment

• Began full-scale Korean film acquisition and distribution

• K2 Entertainment renamed SPO Distribution Inc.

• SPO Distribution Inc. made wholly owned subsidiary

• Rolled out 'Korean Cinema Festival 2005' nationwide

• Absorbed and merged SPO Distribution Inc.

• Opened Cinemart Roppongi in Tokyo

• Opened Cinemart Shinsaibashi in Osaka

• Opened Cinemart Shinjuku in Tokyo

• Head office relocated to Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

• Received capital participation from Fields Corporation

• Opened Seoul office in South Korea

• Established joint venture SPO Entertainment Taiwan Inc. in Taiwan

• Entered full-scale 'MANGA drama' production with 'Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO'

• Began drama production in Taiwan with 'Fabulous★Boys'

• Established SPO Entertainment Korea Inc. as subsidiary

• Began drama production in South Korea with 'Nodame Cantabile: Nail Cantabile'

Independent Japanese distributor and producer specialising in high-quality Asian film and drama content, bridging Japan and the rest of Asia.

• Cinemart Shinjuku

• Cinemart Roppongi

• Cinemart Shinsaibashi

• Ouchi de Cinem@rt

• Entertainment Asia

• Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO

• Fabulous★Boys

• Nodame Cantabile: Nail Cantabile

• Galaxy Railways

• Kimi wa Petto

1. 1株式会社エスピーオー｜SPO Entertainment Inc.spoinc.jp
2. 2沿革｜株式会社エスピーオー｜SPO Entertainment Inc.spoinc.jp
3. 3企業情報｜株式会社エスピーオー｜SPO Entertainment Inc.spoinc.jp
4. 4ご挨拶｜株式会社エスピーオー｜SPO Entertainment Inc.spoinc.jp
5. 5SPO - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6エスピーオー - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org