---
title: "Nissan is Now Investing in Manga"
description: "The Japanese auto giant is going all-in on homegrown Japanese television."
date: "2018-02-03"
modified: "2018-02-03"
authors:
  - name: "Hayley Lind"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/hayley-lind.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/18202/nissan-is-now-investing-in-manga"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
tags:
  - "anime"
  - "Japan"
  - "Nissan"
  - "sponsorship"
  - "Sponsorships"
  - "Toshiba"
---

# Nissan is Now Investing in Manga

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/02/anime-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Nissan just created self-parking [slippers](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17976/nissan-brings-the-world-self-parking-slippers-cushions-and-tables.md>), so it should be no surprise that its latest business venture has nothing to do with cars. Next, the company will [sponsor](<https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/01/national/nissan-become-main-sponsor-sazae-san-anime-toshiba-drops/#.WnPPZ5M-fow>) the popular Japanese anime, *Sazae-san*, a show that revolves around a 24-year-old woman, Sazae, and her family that takes place in Japanese suburbs.

Sazae-san was originally a manga series created by Machiko Hasegawa in 1946 and it first aired on Japanese TV in 1969. It is run by Fuji TV, a network that houses other anime programs like *Dragonball Super* and the *Monster Hunter s*eries.

As the main sponsor, [Nissan](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18159/nissan-teases-370zki-project-for-chicago-auto-show.md>) will replace Toshiba, which announced it would end its 18-year-partnership with the show in November amidst financial woes. Toshiba [reportedly](<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/toshiba-management-nuclear-reactors-chips/>) lost $8.4 billion in 2017 and owes billions to different Japanese banks after years of false bookkeeping. Ten other companies—including Amazon Japan, Nishimatsuya Chain Co., and Daiwa House Industry—will join [Nissan](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18127/i-dont-know-what-a-qashqui-is-but-nissan-has-built-3000000-of-them.md>) as sponsors for the show.

Toshiba will officially end its sponsorship in March, and the other companies will begin their partnership with the show in April.

The show, which airs on Sunday nights, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2019. It continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the longest-running animated TV series.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/HaylToTheLind>)

## More

- [Forget the R34: The Nissan Silvia S15 Is Now Legal to Import Stateside](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/forget-the-r34-the-nissan-silvia-s15-is-now-legal-to-import-stateside.md>)
- [Ex-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn Detained Without Bail Over New Financial Allegations](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27304/ex-nissan-ceo-carlos-ghosn-detained-without-bail-over-new-financial-allegations.md>)
- [Animal Rescue Rigs Debuts Customized Nissan Titan XD Concept at SEMA](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24541/animal-rescue-rigs-debuts-customized-nissan-titan-xd-concept-at-sema.md>)
- [Car for Five: Nissan Now Accepting Reservations for 2019 Altima](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21549/car-for-five-nissan-now-accepting-reservations-for-2019-altima.md>)
- [The Drive Interview: Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan/Infiniti’s Senior Vice President for Global Design](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29515/the-drive-interview-alfonso-albaisa-nissan-infinitis-senior-vice-president-for-global-design.md>)
- [It’s Time To #LegalizeIt: Get The Drive’s New R34 Nissan Skyline T-Shirt](<https://www.thedrive.com/deals/38808/its-time-to-legalizeit-get-the-drives-new-r34-nissan-skyline-t-shirt.md>)
- [Fear and Autonomy in a Self-driving Nissan Leaf](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/650/fear-and-autonomy-in-a-self-driving-nissan-leaf.md>)
- [Tom Cruise’s Excellent 1984 Nissan Z Race Car Was Once Forgotten. Now You Can Buy It](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/tom-cruises-excellent-1984-nissan-z-race-car-was-once-forgotten-now-you-can-buy-it.md>)