Sony Music Entertainment Japan in the context of "Epic Records"

Sony Group Corporation, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including electronics (Sony Corporation), imaging and sensing (Sony Semiconductor Solutions), film (Sony Pictures Entertainment), music (Sony Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment Japan), video games (Sony Interactive Entertainment), and others.

Sony was founded in 1946 as initially Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. In 1958, the company adopted the name Sony Corporation. Initially an electronics firm, it gained early recognition for products such as the TR-55 transistor radio and the CV-2000 home video tape recorder, contributing significantly to Japan's post-war economic recovery. After Ibuka's retirement in the 1970s, Morita served as chairman until 1994, overseeing Sony's rise as a global brand recognized for innovation in consumer electronics. Landmark products included the Trinitron color television, the Walkman portable audio player, and the co-development of the compact disc.

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (SIE) is an American video game and digital entertainment company of Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It primarily operates the PlayStation brand of video game consoles and products. It is also the world's largest company in the video game industry based on its equity investments and revenue.

In 1993, Sony and Sony Music Entertainment Japan jointly established Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) in Tokyo, which released the video game console PlayStation in Japan the following year and subsequently in the United States and Europe the year after. In 2010, Sony underwent a corporate split and established Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI) in California, which provided gaming-related services through the PlayStation Network as well as other media through Sony Entertainment Network, including the sale of game titles and content on the PlayStation Store, as well as offering PlayStation Plus and Media Go. In 2016, SCE and SNEI jointly established Sony Interactive Entertainment and it was announced the new entity would be headquartered in the United States.

Aniplex, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社アニプレックス, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Anipurekkusu) is a Japanese entertainment company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Founded in September 1995, the company is responsible for the plan, production, and distribution of anime series, which includes original works and those based on licensed intellectual properties (IPs). It also engages in related multimedia initiatives.

Aniplex's operations encompass the development and distribution of theatrical films, video games, and merchandise associated with its media franchises. It also releases home media, produces original soundtracks, and organizes events such as musicals, stage performances, and promotional concerts. The company manages copyrights and licensing agreements, and operates an e-commerce platform, Aniplex Online, through which it sells products directly to consumers.

Tofu Records (東風レコード, Tofu Rekodo) was a US record label of Sony Music Entertainment Japan that was launched in 2003 to distribute Japanese Sony artists in the United States until its closure in 2007. Their first signed artist was T.M.Revolution, and they used the anime fandom community to spread the word. T.M.Revolution's U.S. concert debut at Otakon 2003 was successful, drawing an audience of over 5,000.

Tofu Records' second signing was with L'Arc-en-Ciel. The label kicked off publicity for the group with a concert at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland during Otakon 2004. L'Arc-en-Ciel made 1st Mariner Arena history by being the first music group from Japan to headline there. The concert drew an estimated 12,000. In 2006, Tofu Records also published the Splurge album by pop rock duo PUFFY. They also represented Nami Tamaki, High and Mighty Color, ZONE, Miss Monday, Rhymester, Soulhead and Polysics.