“We were pirated to death,” laughs Yuji Matsumoto, a veteran producer at Studio Bones. “Naruto and Bleach were bigger on YouTube than on Japanese TV. We had to adapt.”
The song reached its crescendo. Aya struck the final pose at the center of the stage, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, as the crowd let out a deafening cheer. “We were pirated to death,” laughs Yuji Matsumoto,
To understand Japanese entertainment, you must understand nemawashi (根回し)—the art of consensus-building before a decision is made. “We were pirated to death