Sotsu
![]() Logo used since 2007  | |
![]() Headquarters in Suginami, Tokyo  | |
Native name  | 株式会社創通 | 
|---|---|
Romanized name  | Kabushiki gaisha Sōtsū | 
| Formerly | Toyo Agency Co., Ltd. (1965-1977) Sotsu Agency Co., Ltd. (1977-2007)  | 
| Company type | Subsidiary | 
| Industry | Advertising | 
| Founded | October 1, 1965 | 
| Headquarters | Ogikubo, ,  Japan  | 
Key people  | Hideyuki Nanba (president) Yūji Nasu (representative chairman) Akihiro Yuasa (representative president)  | 
| Revenue | ¥414.750 million (2019) | 
Number of employees  | 29 (2019) | 
| Parent | Bandai Namco Filmworks (2020–present) | 
| Subsidiaries | 
  | 
| Website | www.sotsu.co.jp | 
Sotsu Co., Ltd.[a] is a Japanese advertising agency and, since March 2020, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings, having substantial relations with it before the acquisition, especially with its now-corporate sibling, Bandai Namco Filmworks.
History
It was founded in 1965 as Toyo Agency (東洋エージェンシー, Tōyō Ējenshī),[1] with it being designated by baseball team Yomiuri Giants as its primary agency for the planning and distribution of the team's merchandising interests.[1] In 1977, it changed its name to Sotsu Agency (創通エージェンシー, Sōtsū Ējenshī). The agency was first listed in the JASDAQ stock exchange in 2003.[1] On April 1, 2007, the company changed its name to Sotsu (創通, Sōtsū).[1]
It has been involved in the production and licensing of numerous television programs, beginning in 1972 with Thunder Mask.[1] The first anime series it produced was Sunrise's Invincible Super Man Zambot 3, after which the company produced numerous others. In 1979, it produced Mobile Suit Gundam.[1]
In October 2019, Bandai Namco Holdings announced plans to acquire Sotsu, a move which would grant the company rights to the entire Gundam franchise.[2] The next month, however, Chicago, Illinois-based investment firm RMB Capital forced Bandai Namco to raise the tender offer price for Sotsu in a follow-on tender offer targeted at the general shareholders of Sotsu.[3] On March 1, 2020, Sotsu finally became a fully owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco.[4]
Productions
Sunrise productions
- Aura Battler Dunbine
 - Combat Mecha Xabungle
 - Gundam series
 - Haou Taikei Ryū Knight
 - Heavy Metal L-Gaim
 - Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
 - Invincible Super Man Zambot 3
 - Wild Knights Gulkeeva
 - Metal Armor Dragonar
 - Outlaw Star
 - Saikyō Robo Daiōja
 - Shippu! Iron Leaguer
 - Trider G7
 
Nippon TV programs
TV Asahi/ABC programs
TV Tokyo programs
- Battle Hawk (as Toyo Agency)
 - Cardfight!! Vanguard (formerly aired on TV Aichi for the first season)
 - Capeta
 - Dai-Guard
 - E's Otherwise
 - Earth Girl Arjuna
 - Eat-Man (1997 anime)
 - Eden's Bowy
 - Elemental Gelade
 - Glass no Kamen
 - Grander Musashi RV
 - Hare+Guu
 - Hyper Police
 - Kinkyū Hasshin Saver Kids
 - Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
 - Doki Doki Densetsu Mahōjin Guru Guru
 - Master of Mosquiton ('99)
 - Papuwa
 - Saber Marionette J
 - Kyatto Ninden Teyandee
 - School Rumble
 - Shadow Skill
 - Shiawa Sesō no Okojo-san
 - Shura no Toki
 - Silent Mobius
 - Simoun
 - Sorcerer Hunters
 - Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
 - Tekkaman Blade
 - Shin Tenchi Muyo!
 - Those Who Hunt Elves
 - Virus Buster Serge
 - YuruYuri[5]
 
UHF programs
- Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni
 - Play Ball
 - Shōnen Onmyōji
 
Source:[6]
Notes
- ^ Japanese: 株式会社創通, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Sōtsū
 
References
- ^ a b c d e f "History". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
 - ^ Mateo, Alex (11 October 2019). "Bandai Namco Makes Takeover Bid for Gundam Sponsor Sotsu". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
 - ^ "RMB Presses Bandai Namco to Raise the Tender Offer Price for Sotsu's Minority Shareholders". Business Wire. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
 - ^ "株式の併合等に係る承認決議に関するお知らせ" [Notice Regarding Approval of Resolution Concerning Share Consolidation] (PDF). Sotsu website. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
 - ^ "ゆるゆり" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
 - ^ 作品一覧 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-05-03.
 

