Nichiei Co., Ltd.

Credits

Compiled by
Logoarto

Video captures courtesy of
shimomov

Background

In 1957, Masashi Soga, who was the executive of Daiei Film, along with Kunizo Matsuo, then president of Sentochi Kogyo, and Shiro Sannomiya, then president of Keio Teito Electric Railway, were planning to create a new film production and distribution company called Nichiei Co., Ltd. Nichiei Co., Ltd. (日映株式会社, unrelated to Nippon Eigasha, Nippon Eiga Shinsha, nor the current film theater company Nichiei Co., Ltd.) Soga had previously attempted to split off Daiei and create a "seventh major" film studio. Matsuo agreed with Soga's proposal to develop the movie industry related to movie theater management and was backed by Takejiro Ohtani, the chairman of Shochiku. Keio Teito Electric Railway, which had separated from Tokyu after the war, decided to have a movie studio to develop the area along the railway by having a studio in Seijo Sakuragaoka, following the example of Toei, a sister company of Tokyu, for corporate development. With this, they began to move toward the establishment of the new company.

In March, the establishment of Nichiei was announced, and half of Daiei's executives participated. However, Keita Goto, the chairman of Tokyu, tried to persuade Sannomiya, the president of Keio, to abandon the plan, fearing it would lead to a management crisis for the company. Sannomiya eventually gave in and promised Goto that Keio would withdraw from Nichiei. Nichiei was funded equally by Sentochi and Keio, and Keio was also supposed to provide operating funds. However, Keio did not make the payment, and Sannomiya left the venture, causing the establishment of the company to collapse. Matsuo formed Nichiei Co., Ltd. as an independent production company to take care of the former members of Daiei who had left the company, but the company only released two films before dissolving. The films were distributed by Daiei.

Logo (February 19, 1958)

Visuals: Over a glimmering curtain backdrop, a solid circle is seen surrounded by a ring, with "映" placed within the ring above the circle. "日映株式会社" is seen below. The logo starts out silhouetted, then gets lit up from top to bottom.

Technique: Live-action and practical animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: So far, seen on 悪徳.