Japan Press Weekly

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2012 June 13 - 19 TOP3 [LABOR]

Workers under harsh working conditions create ‘Japanimation’

Akahata Sunday edition

Japan’s animated films have gained popularity in the world. Workers in the industry, however, are forced to work under harsh working conditions, and some 80% of them are leaving their jobs within a few years.

According to a survey conducted by the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA), the average annual income of workers drawing animation pictures was about 1 million yen in 2009. The average working hours of all workers in the industry was 10.3 hours a day. The workers covered by welfare pension insurance accounted for 12.8% of all workers in the industry, and those covered by unemployment insurance totaled only 10.6%.

Takahashi Kunio, a vice chair of the Federation of Cinema and Theatrical Workers Union of Japan, said, “Almost all workers in the animation industry are contract workers. They are designated as independent contractors. They are working on a piece work basis.” He went on to say, “Changing the structure of the industry is required to improve their working environment.”

What is the problem concerning the “structure”? It is a multilayered subcontracting structure controlled by TV companies. A worker who has a studio in Tokyo’s Nerima City said, “An animation subcontractor is forced to make complete a project at the price offered by a TV station. On top of the low unit price, animation workers are under pressure from TV companies to draw more detailed pictures owing to high-definition TV broadcasting.”

Moreover, some 80% to 90% of work to draw pictures for animated films is farmed out to other Asian nations where labor costs are even lower than that of Japanese workers which leads to worsening working conditions, hollowing out the industry, and a decrease in animation artists in Japan.

The Studio Ghibli, known for its blockbusters such as “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, made all its staff members regular workers 20 years ago. Suzuki Toshio, executive producer of the company, said, “It is impossible to train staff by employing workers on a temporary basis and dismissing them each time a film is produced.”