Anime Industry Wages Discussed In Japanese Cabinet Meeting

Low wages for workers in the animation industry in Japan are an internationally recognized problem. The issue was raised at a cabinet meeting in Japan on Friday when MP Hiroyuki Moriyama asked the following question: “I’ve heard that wages for animators in China are an order of magnitude higher compared to Japan. Are you aware of this situation? ?”

In response, the cabinet spokesman brought up the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) 2019 report, which indicates that average annual earnings have increased across the industry, but also indicates that younger people in their 20s are underpaid as a group .

To counteract this, he explained that the cultural office is investing in in-service experimental training programs for young talents. In response, Assembly man Moriyama stressed that while wages appear to be increasing overall, starting wages for people in their early 20s are only 1.1 million yen (about US$9,500). He urged Cool Japan to seriously address this issue.

REALTED: Anime Industry Working Conditions

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan posted a clip of the exchange on its Twitter account:

森山浩行議員
アニメーターの給料、日本に対して中国倍以上という話がある。現状は把握をしてますか

内閣府
平均年収は2015年に比べ増加。20～30歳代の前半は、なお給与平均を下回る

森山議員
20代前半の年収は110万。そこの部分を厚く、クールジャパンの担当大臣としては、ぜひ取り組んで頂きたい pic.twitter.com/mXWYGqB1Cr

— 立憲民主党 国会情報+災害対策 (@cdp_kokkai) February 4, 2022

Representative Hiroyuki Moriyama
There is talk that the salary of animators is more than double that of Japan. Do you know the current situation?

Cabinet Office
Average annual income increased compared to 2015. Early 20s and 30s are still below average salary

Representative Moriyama
The annual income in the early 20s is 1.1 million. As the minister in charge of Cool Japan, I would like you to work on that part.

Google Translation of the tweet

Understanding the issue

“As many of you reading this already knows that the anime industry is very very labor-intensive and animators have to devote a significant portion of their time and effort daily. But their wages don’t even justify their efforts. You can watch the dedicated video by Asia Boss on this topic “Underpaid and Overworked: Being an Animator in Japan”.”

This video mainly talks about the conditions of animators in the animation industry. I will suggest you watch this video fully and understand how massive is this problem.

Comments by Experts

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood director Yasuhiro Irie, who is a representative of JAniCA, commented on the exchange, noting that the “average annual wage” used in this context also includes amounts earned by directors and producers. JAniCA’s focus is on the intermediate animators and key animators who earn around 1 million yen per year. Still, he sees value in comparing average wages across industries and hopes to continue working on the surveys to provide more accurate and nuanced data in the future.

“Because of the dangers felt by creators and production companies, as well as the shift in attitudes among animators, reforms have begun, but there is still work to be done,” he noted.

The Japanese government agency for cultural affairs launched its “Young Animator Training Project” in 2010 with the aim of promoting the growth of domestic animation studios and addressing concerns that more of Japan’s animation process is being outsourced overseas. The project has spawned works like Little Witch Academia, Death Billiards (which inspired the television anime Death Parade), and Ongaku Shōjo.

The anime shorts train young animators as part of the Agency of Cultural Affairs’ Young Animator Training Project. The project was previously known as Anime Mirai.

Source – ANN