The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) is a partnership with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to launch Beyond Japan, a program aimed at connecting Japanese filmmakers with Hollywood opportunities. The initiative, backed by the Japanese government, gets underway this month before moving to in-person sessions in Los Angeles.

The inaugural cohort includes six Japanese filmmakers: Fujimura Akiyo, whose Amazon Prime and Apple TV streaming feature “Eriko, Pretended” won the SKIP City Award and who contributed to the Kore-eda Hirokazu-produced anthology “Ten Years Japan”; Warner Bros. alum Yoshida Mayumi Discovery Access and associate producer on A24/Apple TV+’s “Sunny” with Rashida Jones; Tsukikawa Sho, director of Japan’s Academy Award-winning “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” and the Netflix manga adaptation “Yu Yu Hakusho,” with the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy “Romantics Anonymous” starring Oguri Shun and Han Hyo-joo; Tokyo-based international production veteran Ü Inose; Shibuya Yu, a graduate of the Venice Film Festival (“Jitensha”) whose directorial debut “Umbrellas for Miharu” will be released in January 2025; and Fukada Yuske, known for “Tokyo Override” and “Perfect World.”

Members of the selection committee included Palme d’Or winner Kore-eda, actor-producer Oka Masi and “Tokyo Vice” executive producer Washio Kayo. The program secured industry heavyweights as mentors and speakers, including UTA’s Pete Franciosa and Erlan Nyssanov, Orion Pictures president Alana Mayo and “Minari” producer Christine Oh.

The program appears as Japanese-Hollywood collaborations such as “Shogun”, “Tokyo Vice” and “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” are gaining traction in the global market. “We’re seeing this shift in our cultural consulting work with studios,” says CAPE Executive Director Michelle K. Sugihara.

JETRO Los Angeles Executive Director Tsuwaki Yoshiko notes that the Japanese government has prioritized entertainment as a key economic driver: “We are pleased to partner with CAPE, who have a proven track record of developing Asians in the entertainment industry.”

The initiative will conclude with J-SCREEN, a two-day event with screenings at the Academy Museum and a networking session at Neuehouse Hollywood, highlighting US-Japan co-productions.

Program partners include AGBO, United Talent Agency, Japan House Los Angeles, Plug and Play, Nothing New and Synepic Entertainment.