Location Incentive Program for International Large-scale Audiovisual Productions (Support for overseas production companies to promote Japanese locations) | VIPO

Location Incentive Program
for International Large-scale Audiovisual Productions
(Support for overseas production companies
to promote Japanese locations)

Location Incentive Program
for International Large-scale Audiovisual Productions
(Support for overseas production companies
to promote Japanese locations)

JLOXplus_LogoThis program is a part of JLOX+(Japan content LOcalization and business transformation (X) Plus)

Sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

METI

This webpage provides a partial English translation of the JLOX+R6 “Support for overseas production companies to promote Japanese locations” subsidy application guidelines to assist overseas film/video production companies in understanding the gist of the program.

The Japanese version provides the official application guidelines, so please refer to the Japanese version for details. In the unlikely event of any difference in interpretation or understanding between the Japanese application guidelines and the English translation, the Japanese will take precedence.

We kindly thank you for your understanding.

Key Points of this Incentive Program

  • Cash rebate of 50% of the eligible expenses
  • Only Japanese companies can apply.
  • One-year project (March 27, 2025 to January 31, 2026)
  • Even for long-term projects, the subsidy can be granted for the costs incurred during the stipulated period.
  • The final subsidy amount will be determined after inspection of the final report, in accordance with the subsidy regulations, and will not exceed the amount approved for subsidy.
    NB: Insufficient documentation may result in a reduction in the subsidy amount.

Summary of Application Guidelines

 

1.Application Period and Results Notification Date

1st Round: Application Period: March 27 – April 10, 2025
Results notification day: April 25, 2025

2nd Round: Application Period: May 19 – June 6, 2025
Results notification day: June 27, 2025

3rd Round: Application Period: July 28 – August 22, 2025
Results notification day: September 12, 2025

4th Round: Application Period: September 29 – October 17, 2025
Results notification day: November 7, 2025

NB: The program will end when the total subsidy amount (which is not disclosed) is expended, which may occur before all 4 rounds have been completed.

2.Requirements for Applicants

  • Applicants should be a Japanese production company founded under Japanese law. Applications from foreign companies are not accepted.
  • Applicants should have produced a TV show or film in cooperation with an overseas production company or through an entrustment contract with an overseas production company.
  • Applicants can apply for multiple projects.

3.Criteria for Project Eligibility

Projects must be overseas TV and films to be shot (or being shot) on location in Japan (feature films, streaming dramas, animation, etc.) with crew from overseas.
The projects must fall under (1) and (2) below. In addition, the projects must also meet all conditions of (3), (4) and (5).

 

(1) Projects must fall under (a) or (b) or (c).

(a) Production costs in Japan are 500 million yen (approx. 3.3M USD) or more

(b) Total production costs are one billion yen (approx. 6.6M USD) or more and the production costs in Japan also exceed 200 million yen (approx. 1.3M USD) or more.

(c) Projects are scheduled to be released, screened, broadcast, or distributed in ten countries/territories or more, and the production costs in Japan are 200 million yen (approx. 1.3M USD) or more.

(2) Projects will benefit the Japan domestic content industry (human resources development through local employment, utilization of Japanese studios, etc.)

(3) Projects definitely have scenes shot in Japan.

(4) Overseas filmmakers will cooperate in the promotion of the regions where films were shot, including granting permission for the regions to use short clips from the films for promotional use when the films are released in Japan and internationally.

(5) Projects should creatively promote the appeal of Japan globally through scenes shot in Japan.

 

  • The total production costs and production costs in Japan as stated in (1) are the costs for the entire project, including costs within the scope of this subsidy.
  • An independent external review committee will make the subsidy selections.
  • When projects do not meet the requirements of (1), they may be subject to consideration if the projects* are of great benefit to the Japanese economy and the domestic film industry as per (2) to (5).

4.Project Completion Deadline

  • The project completion deadline must be set no later than 90 days after the work has been finished or by January 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM, whichever date is earlier.
  • The project completion date is the deadline for submitting the results report. Please note that if the report is not submitted by the project completion date, it will result in the withdrawal of the grant decision.
  • There is no requirement to finish shooting or complete the work (including production and post-production) during the subsidy project period.

5.Eligible Expenses

The stipulated expenses related to film production in Japan, which are paid to Japanese companies, residents with legal status in Japan, local governments, public organizations in Japan, etc., are eligible for the subsidy. However, only expenses that are incurred on or after the eligibility date, and paid before the project completion date, will be considered eligible for the subsidy.
The final subsidy amount will be determined after inspection of the final report, in accordance with the subsidy regulations, and will not exceed the amount approved for subsidy.
NB: Insufficient documentation may result in a reduction in the subsidy amount.

6.Maximum Subsidy Amount

The maximum amount of the subsidy is 50% of eligible expenses.
The upper limit of the subsidy is one billion yen (approx. 6.6M USD).

7.Operating Team

Program Owner: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Program Operator: Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO)
Program Coordinator: Japan Film Commission (JFC)

8.Contact Information

Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO)
E-mail: question@jloxplusr6.jp

For general information on shooting in Japan:
(locations, permits, and local incentives)
Japan Film Commission (JFC)
Phone: +81-3-6264-2042
E-mail: jfc@japanfc.org
https://www.japanfc.org/en/

Selection history

 

・2023

Title Applicant organization Country of production Category Scheduled release year
Ek Din MAM FILM Co., Ltd. India Theatrical
release
2025

 

©️MAM FILM Co., Ltd.
©️MAM FILM Co., Ltd.

・2024

Title Applicant organization Country of production Category Scheduled release year
Rental Family KNOCKONWOOD Inc. US Theatrical
release
After 2025
What Comes After Love KNOCKONWOOD Inc. South Korea Streaming drama Fall 2024 and after
YOROI TOHO Tombo Pictures, Inc. France Theatrical
release
2025 (tentative)
(Streaming drama) MAM FILM Co., Ltd. France Streaming drama 2025
THE SMASHING MACHINE TOHO Tombo Pictures, Inc. US Theatrical
release
2025 (tentative)
Neuromancer WOWOW Inc. US Streaming drama To be decided
(Untitled Documentary Project) GENERATION11 Inc. US Streaming documentary To be decided
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 TOHO Tombo Pictures, Inc. US Streaming drama To be decided
Ha-chan Shake Your Booty THEFOOL INC. US Theatrical
release
To be decided