Sony raises outlook as ‘Demon Slayer’ drives strong earnings

TOKYO, Japan: A blockbuster anime, booming music streams, and growing chip sales helped Sony notch a stronger-than-expected quarter, and it's now betting the rest of the year will be even better.

The Japanese electronics and entertainment giant reported a seven percent rise in profit for the July to September quarter, earning 311 billion yen (US$2 billion), up from 291.8 billion yen a year earlier.

Quarterly sales also rose five percent to 3.1 trillion yen ($20 billion), driven by its diversified portfolio, including PlayStation consoles, mobile phone sensors, and streaming content.

On November 11, Sony raised its full-year profit forecast to 1.05 trillion yen ($6.8 billion) through March, up from its earlier estimate of 970 billion yen ($6.3 billion). It earned 1.07 trillion yen in the previous fiscal year.

A significant contributor to the upward revision? Demon Slayer, the anime film based on the hit manga series, has proven to be a global cultural force and a financial juggernaut.

Sony, which owns Aniplex, the distributor behind Demon Slayer, cited the film's international success as a key reason for its earnings boost. It also expects further gains from its music publishing unit and continued streaming growth.

The company's semiconductor division, especially its image sensors for smartphones, was another bright spot, as demand for mobile photography and video continues to rise.

Despite the solid results, Sony noted ongoing pressure from U.S. trade tensions. The company said it had lost around 30 billion yen ($195 million) in operating income this fiscal year due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, but expected other gains to outweigh the impact.

More The Japan News

Access More

Sign up for The Japan News

a daily newsletter full of things to discuss over drinks.and the great thing is that it's on the house!