{"id":13559,"date":"2025-09-10T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/?p=13559"},"modified":"2025-09-10T13:21:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T06:21:49","slug":"kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/","title":{"rendered":"Anime KOBELCO: The Story of Redeeming Kobe Steel's Image"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever imagined a giant industrial company suddenly releasing a new <a href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/tag\/anime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">anime<\/a>? Not just an advertisement, but a touching cinematic work. That's exactly what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobelco.co.jp\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">KOBELCO<\/a>, the brand of the company Kobe Steel, did\u2014and the reasons are far deeper than they appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article is an interesting case study of how pop culture, particularly anime, can be a very powerful medium to restore image and rebuild trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Serious Mode<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Project_Anniversary_KOBELCO\" >KOBELCO Project Anniversary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#KOBELCO_Anime_Ashita_no_Arika\" >KOBELCO: Anime Ashita no Arika<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Konteks_Sebenarnya_Skandal_yang_Mengguncang_Reputasi_KOBELCO\" >The Real Context: The Scandal that Shook KOBELCO's Reputation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Anime_Media_untuk_Membangun_Kembali_Citra\" >Anime: A Medium to Rebuild Image<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Staf_Produksi\" >Production Staff<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Bagian_dari_Tren_%E2%80%9CCorporate_Anime%E2%80%9D_yang_Berkembang\" >Part of the Growing \"Corporate Anime\" Trend<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/kobelco-anime-kobe-steel-redemption\/#Bukan_Sekadar_Iklan_Tapi_Pernyataan_Kuat\" >Not Just an Ad, But a Powerful Statement<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Anniversary_KOBELCO\"><\/span>KOBELCO Project Anniversary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In celebration of Kobe Steel's 120th anniversary, KOBELCO launched several initiatives, and one of the most prominent was the animation project <em>Whereabouts of Tomorrow: Ashita no Arika<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an official statement, the company expressed their hope that the animation can \"share the history of the Kobelco Group with future generations\" and \"inspire them to strive for a better tomorrow.\"<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-10-145220.webp\" alt=\"Kobelco 120th Anniversary\" class=\"wp-image-13560\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visual | \u00a9 KOBE STEEL, LTD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"KOBELCO_Anime_Ashita_no_Arika\"><\/span>KOBELCO: Anime Ashita no Arika<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The story centers on Asumi, a Kobe Steel salesperson in 2021 who feels hopeless amidst the company's problems. Just as she is about to resign, a mystical beam of light appears from the company's history book and transports her to Kobe in 1905.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There, he meets visionaries from the company's founding period, including Torasuke, an enthusiastic Meiji-era youth. Together, they travel through time, witnessing how the people of the company weathered difficult times-including major events such as the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995-and continue to face challenges with hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"KOBELCO120\u5468\u5e74\u8a18\u5ff5\u30a2\u30cb\u30e1\u30fc\u30b7\u30e7\u30f3\u300e\u3042\u3057\u305f\u306e\u3042\u308a\u304b\u300f\u4e88\u544a\u7de8\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qqLReqbfPuE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Konteks_Sebenarnya_Skandal_yang_Mengguncang_Reputasi_KOBELCO\"><\/span>The Real Context: The Scandal that Shook KOBELCO's Reputation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the \"company problem\" that makes Asumi desperate is not fiction. To understand why this anime was made, we have to look back at the crisis that befell Kobe Steel. Based on reports from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/business\/kobe-steel-admits-data-fraud-went-on-nearly-five-decades-ceo-to-quit-idUSKBN1GH2RQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Reuters<\/a>The company admitted that their data falsification scandal has been going on for almost five decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The scandal impacted 605 clients worldwide and was so serious that the then CEO resigned. Steven Bleistein, CEO of consultancy Relansa, described it not as an individual mistake, but rather as a <em>\"a pattern, a culture\"<\/em> that are already entrenched within the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Anime_Media_untuk_Membangun_Kembali_Citra\"><\/span>Anime: A Medium to Rebuild Image<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where <em>Ashita no Arika<\/em> became crucial. Instead of covering up its dark past, KOBELCO took a very bold step. They made the crisis the starting point of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asumi's despair is a direct reflection of the reputation crisis facing Kobe Steel. Asumi's journey into the past becomes a metaphor for the company to return to its roots and rebuild the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Staf_Produksi\"><\/span>Production Staff<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure the quality of this project, KOBELCO partnered with <strong class=\"\">Trash Studio<\/strong>, It is filled with a production team that includes big names in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scriptwriter:<\/strong> Hiroyuki Yatsu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Animation Producer:<\/strong> Yoichiro Kugimiya<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storyboard Artist (co-writer):<\/strong> Akihiko Yamashita<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chief Animation Director and Character Designer:<\/strong> Yoshiharu Sato<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Asumi Kino CV:<\/strong> Nao<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Torasuke CV:<\/strong> Gaku Hamada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Theme song:<\/strong> \"Call Me\" by Novelbright<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The involvement of Studio Ghibli veterans like Akihiko Yamashita and Yoshiharu Sato was key. Their artistic touch was able to transform the corporate story into a humane and sincere tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bagian_dari_Tren_%E2%80%9CCorporate_Anime%E2%80%9D_yang_Berkembang\"><\/span>Part of the Growing \"Corporate Anime\" Trend<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This move by KOBELCO is part of the growing trend of \"Corporate Anime\". Many companies are now realizing the power of anime to connect with audiences emotionally. We've seen an example of this in Indonesia when <a href=\"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/bni-promosikan-aplikasi-mobile-banking-lewat-anime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BNI Promotes Mobile Banking Application Through Anime<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this case takes it to a different level. While many companies use anime for promotion, KOBELCO used it for a much more complex purpose: crisis management and redemption of Kobe Steel's image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bukan_Sekadar_Iklan_Tapi_Pernyataan_Kuat\"><\/span>Not Just an Ad, But a Powerful Statement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end, <em>Ashita no Arika<\/em> is not just a marketing tool. It is a sophisticated act of crisis communication. By using anime, they managed to humanize the corporate entity and show remorse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, <strong>the full anime<\/strong> <em>Ashita no Arika<\/em> is available to watch for free. KOBELCO has released the full version on their official YouTube channel, both in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o0wx52IybE0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">version with English subtitles<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bsmMlMFMqhw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">original version without subtitles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobelco.co.jp\/\/english\/120th\/animation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">KOBELCO<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/business\/kobe-steel-admits-data-fraud-went-on-nearly-five-decades-ceo-to-quit-idUSKBN1GH2RQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Reuters<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pernahkah kamu membayangkan perusahaan industri raksasa tiba-tiba merilis anime? Bukan sekadar iklan, melainkan karya sinematik yang menyentuh. Inilah yang dilakukan oleh KOBELCO, brand dari perusahaan Kobe Steel, dan alasannya jauh lebih dalam dari yang terlihat. Artikel ini adalah studi kasus menarik tentang bagaimana pop culture, khususnya anime, bisa menjadi media yang sangat kuat untuk memulihkan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,162],"tags":[149,232],"class_list":["post-13559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-anime","tag-anime","tag-pop-culture"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/EDIT-HD-HERE.webp","author_info":{"display_name":"Tesla","author_link":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/author\/zheilla\/"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playeatsleep.fun\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}