Commemorative screening “I P Movie Night 25025” for World IP Day was held April.17.2025

As an event to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Japan and International Motion Picture Copyright Association (JIMCA) held a commemorative screening of the film “Mickey 17”(released in Japan on Friday, March 28, 2025) with the sponsorship of the U.S. Embassy in Japan and the cooperation of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Japan Office and Warner Bros. Japan.
We invited those involved in the intellectual property field, students studying intellectual
property, International students from eight different countries studying at postgraduate schools in Japan, and embassy staff and their families from eight countries, including the U.S. Embassy.
At an event before the film screening, speeches were delivered by Ms. Urmila Venugopalan, the President and Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific region, Mr. Evan Felsing, Minister Counselor for Economic and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Japan, and Mr. Tomoki Sawai, Director of the WIPO Japan Office. The importance of property rights was conveyed to the audience through the speakers.
Finally, Mr. Hiroshi Kojima, Sales Department, Warner Bros. Japan, distributor of the film ‘Mickey 17’, told us about the s background of the film.

Welcome address,
Urmila Venugopalan,
The President and Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific region

Hello everyone,
First, a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful partners—the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and Warner Bros. Discovery —for making this special screening of Mickey 17 possible.
On behalf of the Motion Picture Association and JIMCA, it’s an honor to welcome you to this event.
Tonight, we’re here not just to enjoy a great film, but to celebrate the power of innovation and imagination in shaping our future. And Japan is the perfect place to do that—a country where tradition meets cutting-edge creativity.
Recent hits like The First Slam Dunk and Godzilla Minus One are more than box office triumphs—they show how strong IP rights help turn ideas into global cultural moments.
That protection is essential. It’s what allows creators to thrive—and what brings their stories to audiences worldwide.
The MPA and its content protection arm — the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) are proud to work with Japanese partners like Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) to support those efforts, fight piracy, and strengthen the creative economy.
And the film we’re screening tonight is a symbol of that global creative collaboration. Let’s celebrate World IP Day by honoring the ideas—and the rights—that make stories like this possible.
Thank you and enjoy the movie!

Opening address,
Evan Felsing,
Economic Minister Counselor U.S. Embassy, Tokyo

My name is Evan Felsing, and I am the Economic Minister Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. I’m delighted to join you once again for this annual celebration hosted by our friends at the Motion Picture Association and JIMCA.
This event reminds us just how much creativity—and the protection of that creativity—shapes our everyday lives. From the films we watch, to the music we stream, to the apps we use, intellectual property is everywhere. It fuels innovation, empowers creators, and drives economic growth.
Movies like the one we’re about to see don’t just entertain us—they represent the work of thousands of artists, designers, writers, engineers, and dreamers. When we protect their work, we help ensure that important stories keep getting told.
These days, it’s all too easy to make a cheap copy of someone else’s work —and Mickey 17 takes that idea to the extreme, imagining a future where even humans can be copied and cloned.
But in all seriousness, respecting intellectual property is essential to building a future where creativity can thrive.
So, a big thank you to MPA and JIMCA for continuing to spotlight the importance of copyright and IP—and thank you all for being part of this community that values and supports the creative industries.
Enjoy the film!

Opening address,
Tomoki SAWAI,
Director, The World Intellectual Property Organization, Japan Office

Thank you very much for the invitation to today’s screening to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day.
I would like to thank the MPA and JIMCA for hosting this event, and the US Embassy in Tokyo for their support.
The World Intellectual Property Day was established to spread awareness of how the intellectual property system supports creativity and innovation and contributes significantly to the development of our society, culture and economy.
In particular, the global market for content, including films and music, is now bigger than the petrochemical and semiconductor industries. The intellectual property system has played a significant role in this development, protecting the passion and efforts of creators.
The WIPO Japan Office will also host a commemorative event next week, on 23rd. From the content field, there will be live performances by Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Shunichi Tokura, who has created many hit songs, Pokémon creator Masakazu Kubo, as well as Narashino High School and jazz pianist Sachiko Nakajima, who are famous for their beautiful bombastic sound.
I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my hope that today’s series of events, together with this wonderful screening, will provide an opportunity to reflect on the role of the intellectual property system.