One of anime’s most legendary studios just turned a new page. As of today, June 22, 2026, Kenichi Yoda has officially stepped in as the new President and Representative Director of Studio Ghibli, with the studio’s shareholders’ meeting confirming the transition from outgoing president Hiroyuki Fukuda.
Who Is Kenichi Yoda, Studio Ghibli’s New Head?
Yoda’s name is familiar to those watching Nippon Television’s growing role in Ghibli. A General Specialist at NTV’s Content Strategy Headquarters, he has served as the network’s primary liaison to the studio since the 2023 acquisition. His most prominent production credit is the acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro, which broke box office records at London’s Barbican Centre — a reminder that his experience lies in expanding Ghibli’s world well beyond the cinema screen. He brings a clear events-and-exhibition eye to the studio, which fits the direction NTV has been steering Ghibli: more live experiences, more global brand-building.
Hiroyuki Fukuda Steps Back — But Doesn’t Leave
The outgoing president Hiroyuki Fukuda (64) took the helm in 2023, the same year Nippon Television acquired Studio Ghibli as a subsidiary. He concurrently held the role of President and Representative Director at NTV Holdings, making his appointment a natural bridge between the two companies during the acquisition period. Fukuda will continue serving as a board director at Studio Ghibli, keeping the NTV–Ghibli connection intact even as he passes the executive baton.
The Creative Pillars That Aren’t Moving
For the fans most likely to panic at any Studio Ghibli headline — breathe. The studio clarified that no other changes to its upper leadership structure are planned:
- Hayao Miyazaki continues as Honorary Chairman of the Board.
- Toshio Suzuki, the legendary producer behind decades of Ghibli films, remains Representative Director and Chairman of the Board.
- Goro Miyazaki stays on as Managing Director.
The studio’s creative backbone — Miyazaki and Suzuki at the top — remains exactly as it was. Yoda’s appointment is a strategic and executive move, not a creative one.
NTV, Ghibli, and What Comes Next
When NTV acquired Studio Ghibli in 2023, it sparked plenty of debate about what corporate ownership could mean for such a fiercely independent studio. Three years in, the answer has been a gradual, carefully managed integration — with stage productions, international exhibitions, and global licensing expanding alongside the films. As Studio Ghibli stated at the time of the announcement, as reported by Anime News Network: “By combining the resources of both companies, we aim to create new innovations.” Yoda, coming from exactly that events-and-content side of NTV, looks built for this mandate.
Last Words
For Singapore Ghibli fans, the studio’s beloved films remain as accessible as ever — streaming across major platforms, with merchandise at specialty retailers islandwide. What Yoda’s presidency means for future productions is still an open question, but the continued presence of Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki at the top suggests that the studio’s creative soul is in safe hands. This feels less like the end of an era and more like a carefully managed handoff — Studio Ghibli remains Studio Ghibli, just with a fresh name steering the ship. Stay tuned to our anime and Japan culture coverage for any updates from the studio.
