Studio Ghibli Names Kenichi Yoda as New President as Hiroyuki Fukuda Steps Down

Studio Ghibli has announced a significant leadership change, appointing board director Kenichi Yoda as its new president and representative director, effective June 22, 2026. Current president Hiroyuki Fukuda will step down at the end of the studio’s shareholders’ meeting but will remain on the board of directors.

The Announcement

The transition, announced on May 14, marks the latest chapter in Ghibli’s evolving corporate structure since Nippon Television (NTV) acquired a controlling stake in the studio in 2023. Fukuda, who also serves as president and COO of NTV Holdings, will hand over day-to-day leadership of Ghibli to Yoda while continuing to serve as a board director.

Yoda is not a new face to Ghibli’s operations. He was appointed as one of the studio’s board directors in October 2023 and has served as NTV’s primary point person for Ghibli-related matters. His background includes event management for concerts, exhibitions, and stage productions — experience that aligns closely with Ghibli’s expanding ventures beyond filmmaking, including the Ghibli Park theme park and various museum exhibitions.

The New Board Structure

As of June 22, Ghibli’s board of directors will be:

• Toshio Suzuki — Chair (Ghibli co-founder and legendary producer)
• Kenichi Yoda — President
• Kiyofumi Nakajima — Vice-President (also Ghibli Park vice-president)
• Hayao Miyazaki — Chair Emeritus (co-founder and acclaimed anime director)
• Goro Miyazaki — Board Director (anime director and Ghibli Park director)
• Yoshikuni Sugiyama — Board Director (Nippon Television Holdings chair)
• Hiroyuki Fukuda — Board Director (outgoing president)
• Takuo Murase — Board Director (lawyer)
• Yūsuke Yoshie — Board Director (NTV associate managing director)

Notably, this structure keeps both Miyazakis — father Hayao and son Goro — on the board, ensuring creative continuity while Yoda handles the corporate side. Suzuki’s elevation to chair formalizes a role he has effectively held for years as the studio’s driving business force.

Who Is Kenichi Yoda?

Born August 14, 1974, Yoda brings a unique blend of journalism and entertainment industry experience to the role. He began his career at The Yomiuri Shimbun in April 1999, one of Japan’s largest newspapers, before transitioning to Nippon Television Network Corporation in December 2014. At NTV, he rose to become a general specialist in the content strategy division by June 2024, and his work as Ghibli’s point person has already given him deep familiarity with the studio’s operations and culture.

J-Hub’s Take

This leadership change is best understood as part of Ghibli’s long-term transition from a founder-led creative studio to a professionally managed entertainment company under NTV’s umbrella. When NTV acquired Ghibli as a subsidiary in 2023, it was clear that the studio’s founding generation — Miyazaki (now 85) and Suzuki (77) — would eventually need to step back from day-to-day management.

Fukuda’s tenure as president was relatively brief, having taken the role when NTV’s influence grew. His return to a board-only position while remaining president of NTV Holdings suggests that NTV is satisfied with Ghibli’s trajectory but wants a more dedicated leader focused solely on the studio.

Yoda’s appointment is a strategic choice. His background in event management and content strategy positions him well for Ghibli’s future, which increasingly includes:

• Ghibli Park — the expansive theme park in Aichi Prefecture that opened its second phase in 2024, with more areas planned
• International expansion — including the Ghibli Museum exhibitions traveling worldwide and partnerships with streaming platforms
• New film production — with Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron (2023) winning the Academy Award and younger directors like Goro Miyazaki continuing to develop projects

For fans, this change is unlikely to affect the studio’s creative output in the near term. Miyazaki remains chair emeritus and continues to be involved, while Suzuki’s promotion to chair keeps him embedded in decision-making. What Yoda’s presidency signals is that Ghibli is preparing for a future beyond its founding generation — a future where the Ghibli brand, park, and museum may be just as important as the films themselves.

What’s Next

The shareholders’ meeting on June 22 will formally approve the transition. Ghibli has stated there are no other planned changes to its hierarchy, suggesting a smooth handover. The studio’s next theatrical release and Ghibli Park expansion plans remain to be announced, but with the new leadership in place, expect more details on Ghibli’s long-term strategy to emerge in the second half of 2026.