Toho International
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Toho International (国際東宝株式会社 Kokusai Tōhō Kabushiki Gaisha) was the name historically shared by two separate import/export subsidiaries of Toho Company, Limited.
"Toho International, Inc." is the American arm of Toho, founded on July 23, 1953, in Los Angeles, California,[2] where it continues to be headquartered.[3] Described in 2001 by then–General Manager Masaharu Ina as existing "to represent and implement Toho's interests in North America," its duties have included the licensing of distribution and merchandising rights to Toho's properties, the managing of Toho trademarks and copyrights,[2] and the operation of official social media accounts for the Godzilla brand. A New York City branch was established on February 27, 1960,[2] and also continues to operate.[8] As of January 1970, the company was parent to two subsidiaries: the São Paulo, Brazil–based Toho Filmes America do Sul Ltda. and the Hong Kong-based Toho Film Co., (Hong Kong) Ltd.[9]
"Toho International Co., Ltd." was headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and additionally operated offices in Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Naha, Okinawa;[9] and London, England.[10][6] Established in 1969, its operations as of 1991 were described as "market[ing] Toho-distributed movies abroad," "handl[ing] animated cartoons for both [TV] and video distribution," and "co-ordinat[ing] the import of foreign films and musicals into Japan".[6] It is unknown whether this company is still extant, though its last confirmed activity was around 2005.[11] There is evidence to suggest that it may have served as Toho International, Inc.'s parent company at one point, as the Los Angeles and New York offices known to be operated by that company were sometimes attributed to Toho International Co., Ltd.[10][6]
On July 20, 2023, Toho established TOHO Global Inc. (TOHO Global 株式会社 Tōhō Gurōbaru Kabushiki Gaisha) to consolidate its operations outside of Japan.[12] As part of this, Toho International, Inc.'s ownership was transferred from Toho itself to TOHO Global that October 1.[5] On October 15, 2024, Toho announced that it had reached an agreement with American animation distribution company GKIDS, Inc. to acquire a 100% equity share, and would convert it into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toho International, Inc.[13]
Past locations
Toho International, Inc. and Co., Ltd. have previously been associated with offices at the following locations:
Toho International, Inc.
- 369 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, USA 90012[4]
- 834 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA 90036[14]
- 1501 Broadway, New York, New York, USA 10036[14]
Toho International Co., Ltd.
- 2-6-4 Ginza, Chuoku, Tokyo, Japan 104-0061[15]
- 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0006[10]
- 41 Av. Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75008 Paris, France[15]
- Via Reno 4, 00198 Rome, Rome, Italy[15]
- 2 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa[15]
Selected film exports
The following is a selection of films known to have been exported abroad by or through one of the Toho International companies. Note that the years listed are of the films' domestic release.
GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO
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GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO is the official North American YouTube channel for the Godzilla franchise, operated by Toho International, Inc. Its first upload was the North American trailer for Godzilla vs. Kong on January 27, 2021. It has since posted the Japanese trailers for all 30 of the main Godzilla films, subtitled episodes of various Godzilla TV and web series which were previously available only in Japanese, the original web series Godzilla CHOMP hosted by the company's then-creative manager Chris Mowry, and miscellaneous content like collaboration announcements and product reviews.
Releases
The GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO channel has made the following series available:
- I'm Home! Chibi Godzilla (web 2020–2021) - Both seasons, subtitled, from February 15 to August 2, 2021 [playlist]
- Godzilla Tales (web 2020) - Reposted from Nerdist channel in a rearranged order, from April 9 to August 13, 2021 [playlist]
- Godzilla (TV 1978–1979) - Both seasons, episodes split into three videos each, from August 9, 2021, to February 27, 2023 [playlist]
- Godziban (web 2019–2025) - First three seasons, subtitled, from August 20, 2021, to October 7, 2022 [playlist]
- Godzilla CHOMP (web 2021–2022) - Original series, from November 10, 2021, to February 16, 2022 [playlist]
- Godzilla Island (TV 1997–1998) - Both seasons, subtitled, from March 7, 2023, onward [playlist]
- Chibi Godzilla Raids Again (TV 2023–) - Both seasons, subtitled, from April 11, 2023, onward; six episodes from the second season were omitted [playlist]
Gallery
English Toho emblem
English Tohoscope logo (2.35:1, ca. 1961)
English Toho logo (2.35:1, ca. 1965)
English Toho logo (1.37:1, ca. 1965)
English Toho logo (1.85:1, ca. 1984)
English Toho logo (1.85:1, ca. 1998)
English Toho logo (2.35:1, ca. 2000)
English TOHO Global logo (2.39:1, ca. 2024)
References
This is a list of references for Toho International. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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Bibliography
- Lees, J.D. (March–April 2001). "Keeper of the Radioactive Flame". G-FAN. No. 50. Daikaiju Enterprises.
- Sakamoto, Osamu; Yamaki, Hisako, eds. (October 1967). "Business Directory". UniJapan Film Quarterly. Vol. 10 no. 4. Association for the Diffusion of Japanese Films Abroad.
- Kuroda, Toyoji, ed. (January 1970). "Business Directory". UniJapan Film Quarterly. Vol. 13 no. 1. Association for the Diffusion of Japanese Films Abroad.
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