Key Facts
• July 22, 2025: Fuji Media CEO Kenji Shimizu joined a special lecture in Tokyo.
• Shimizu revealed a direct project for generative AI after his June appointment.
• The lecture, led by Professor Hiroto Ebata, focused on digital business planning.
• Over 100 students attended in-class, with additional viewers via cafeteria monitors.
• Shimizu emphasized media evolution from one-way to interactive communication.
• Takafumi Horie shared his use of generative AI in video and music production.
• Horie compared AI’s rise to the early days of the internet.
• Discussions covered Japanese content like manga, anime, and 1980s music.
• Shimizu highlighted challenges in adapting to new production models.
• Horie noted manga’s profitability, stating, “It’s all about the money.”
Summary
Fuji Media Holdings CEO Kenji Shimizu and entrepreneur Takafumi Horie engaged in a special lecture at a Tokyo university on July 22, 2025. Shimizu disclosed the launch of a generative AI-focused project following his June appointment. The event, attended by over 100 students and additional viewers via live broadcast, explored the evolution of media, Japanese cultural content, and the potential of generative AI. Shimizu emphasized the shift from one-way media to interactive communication, while Horie shared his experiences using AI in creative production. Both highlighted the need for innovation in content creation, with Shimizu advocating for simpler, cost-effective methods and Horie stressing the financial potential of manga. The discussion underscored the transformative role of AI in Japan’s media and entertainment industries.
