‘Tokyo Vice’ Producer Alex Boden and Netflix’s Deb Richards Call for Japan Production Incentive Reform at MPA Seminar

At the Motion Picture Association’s annual seminar during the Tokyo International Film Festival, ‘Tokyo Vice’ producer Alex Boden and Netflix production policy director Deb Richards pushed for changes to Japan’s international production incentive. Their call comes as the Japanese government readies a new unified body to consolidate its fragmented content-industry support. Boden, a London-based producer who spent years on the ground for the HBO Max series, highlighted how Japan’s current incentive system—capped and requiring local spend—can deter large-scale international shoots. Richards echoed the need for a more competitive, transparent scheme to attract global streaming and film projects. Why it matters: Japan’s ¥1 billion incentive per project lags behind regional rivals like South Korea and Australia, limiting its ability to capture high-budget productions that bring jobs, tourism, and soft power. The government’s planned content body, set to merge functions across ministries, could streamline funding and make Japan a more attractive filming destination. The industry is watching whether these reforms will turn Japan from a niche location into a major player in the global production race.