Sony To Open DMPC Japan

Sony is to open Digital Media Production Center Japan (DMPC Japan) in February 2026 inside the Sony Group headquarters in Minato‑ku, Tokyo.

The site becomes the company's third global base after the United States and the United Kingdom, designed to collaborate with creators on end‑to‑end media workflows spanning virtual production, XR, post‑production and test screenings.

The facility will enable creators and Sony teams to validate entire production pipelines — from hands‑on evaluation of the latest filmmaking equipment and in‑camera VFX to spatial content creation and finishing — while sharing techniques and case studies with sister centres in the US and UK.

Building on Sony's cinema, virtual production and XR expertise, DMPC Japan underpins the company's push into spatial content creation, fusing physical and virtual worlds to broaden creative expression.

DMPC Japan will feature production studios, a virtual production stage and XR solutions alongside the latest cinema cameras and lighting, providing a practical environment for co‑creation, problem‑solving and feedback that informs future product development. It will act as a hub where cinematographers, camera operators and post‑production teams from around the world can meet, learn and collaborate.

The centre will initially serve professional creators, before expanding to nurture the next generation — particularly those working in spatial content — who will shape the future of media production.

Its studios will be equipped with the CineAlta flagship camera VENICE 2, the Cinema Line range and comprehensive lighting, plus a production design set supervised by the Japan Film and Television Art Directors Association to support practical test shoots.

Post‑production facilities include the BVM‑HX3110 reference monitor for precise colour evaluation and grading, and a BRAVIA 9 as a client display to assess how images appear on a large‑screen TV. By housing production and post within the same site, DMPC Japan supports efficient, end‑to‑end testing from shoot to finish.

For virtual production, an in‑camera VFX studio built around a Crystal LED wall, VERONA, combines the OCELLUS camera‑tracking system, the CineAlta VENICE 2 and Sony's Virtual Production Tool Set. The stage also supports multi‑camera live switching for broadcast using the HDC‑F5500 system camera and MLS‑X1 live production switcher.

XR capabilities are anchored by the XYN suite for spatial content creation, including the XYN Spatial capture solution (beta) for 3DCG production, XYN Motion Studio with mocopi Professional mode for motion‑capture workflows, and glasses‑free 3D viewing on Spatial Reality Displays.

Ahead of opening, a January masterclass under the "Cinematic Quantum" programme — organised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Arts Council and the Japan Society of Cinematographers (JSC) — was hosted at the site. Led by Director of Photography Oren Soffer, the session delivered highly practical, advanced training for professionals. DMPC Japan will continue to offer technology demonstrations, learning and networking for the production community.

Under the Japan Creator Support Fund, a new programme was launched this fiscal year to develop training initiatives that include practical experience in international settings, enabling students and working professionals seeking global careers to acquire key skills, according to Junya Tamura, Arts and Culture Research Officer at the Agency for Cultural Affairs. He added that the masterclass at DMPC Japan will help foster future leaders in film production and connect creators in Japan and overseas.

Makoto Watanabe, Japan Society of Cinematographers (JSC), said: "'Cinematic Quantum' is an initiative under the Japan Creator Support Fund, for which the Japan Society of Cinematographers (JSC) serves as the secretariat, working together with the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council to cultivate the skills needed by students and professionals aiming to succeed internationally as creators. The masterclass, held as part of this initiative, brought in a globally active cinematographer as a guest lecturer. With XR and virtual production environments available at DMPC Japan, we look forward to expanding co‑creation and learning opportunities with creators in new areas of visual expression."

Oren Soffer, Director of Photography, added: "The new DMPC opening in Japan is an exciting opportunity to provide an educational community base for cinematographers and filmmakers in the Japanese film industry. The DMPC in Hollywood has served as such a base for the LA filmmaking community for many years, and has hosted wonderful events bringing together the filmmaking community and offering a multitude of educational opportunities and exposure to new cinema technologies. I am very excited for the Japanese film community to now have access to such a facility to foster collaboration and educational opportunities for the current and next generation of filmmakers."

In a recent example of workflow validation, Sony and cinematographer Barry Baz Idoine tested the latest virtual production technologies for the short film "Cut to the Chase" at the DMPC in Hollywood.

www.sony.co.jp/en/