# Core Contributors Oshi brings together a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and operators in the anime & digital space who have spent years building & nurturing relationships with esteemed industry figures such as [Masao Takiyama](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0847692/) (President of [Animax](https://www.animax-asia.com/), Ex-President of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan), [Yasushi Uchida](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2939992/) (Ex-COO of Gonzo, Advisor to [Genco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genco)), and [Masao Maruyama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masao_Maruyama_\(film_producer\)) (Founder of [MADHOUSE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhouse,_Inc.), [MAPPA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAPPA), and [M2 Studios](https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/1529/Studio_M2)). Supported by these visionaries and a partnership with [Kasagi Labo](https://www.kasagilabo.com/), Oshi has gained an unprecedented foothold in Japan’s anime ecosystem—unlocking opportunities for innovation and global collaboration that foreign companies have traditionally been unable to realize. ### Kendrick Wong, Co-Founder & CEO Kendrick is a repeat founder with a track record of founding and scaling multiple successful ventures across tech, e-commerce, and emerging industries including two successful exits. He has spent the last several years forging critical relationships within the anime ecosystem, building trust with top production companies and IP holders. Alongside his decorated entrepreneurial career, Kendrick brings deep experience in emerging digital platforms and community-driven business models, which he applies to his passion for anime. His vision drives Oshi’s mission to empower creators, fans, and brands through a transparent, participation-driven ecosystem. ### Tony Izumi, Co-Founder & Chief Animation Officer Tony is a decorated veteran of the anime industry, bringing nearly three decades of experience in anime production and licensing. He has held senior roles at leading companies—including Hakuhodo and [MADHOUSE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhouse,_Inc.) Studio —culminating in his leadership as CEO of [MADHOUSE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhouse,_Inc.) Beijing. Over the course of his career, Tony produced iconic titles such as Trigun, Devil May Cry, and Claymore, solidifying his reputation for balancing creative vision with commercial viability. He is also responsible for reintroducing Pokémon IP back into the Chinese market after a decade-long absence. Under his guidance, the world’s largest anime IP successfully reignited fan enthusiasm in one of the biggest foreign anime markets. Recognizing the opportunity to elevate traditional models to create more equitable pathways for creators and fans, Tony joined forces with Kendrick to shape Oshi into a transformative platform for the global anime ecosystem. ### Michael Liu, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer Michael has spent much of his career working closely with early-stage founders to realize their vision, first as an M\&A advisor at [Qatalyst Partners](https://www.qatalyst.com/) and later in senior finance and strategy roles at various high-growth startups in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. As a lifelong anime fan and collector, Michael has spent years immersed in anime collecting, spanning trading card games, original animation cels, production materials, and more. This firsthand understanding of what collectors value informs how Oshi approaches building unique experiences in a fan-centric world. Eager to deepen his involvement with Japanese anime, Michael partnered with Kendrick & Tony to drive meaningful change for fans and creators worldwide. As a lifelong anime fanatic and collector, Michael aligns fandom and finance at Oshi so that all participants—fans, creators, and brands—benefit from transparent, community-centric solutions. ### Kasagi Labo [Kasagi Labo](https://www.kasagilabo.com/) is Oshi’s first partner company, owning top tier Japanese anime IP rights (often as the sole or majority holder) from leading studios within the industry. Advised by luminaries such as [Masao Maruyama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masao_Maruyama_\(film_producer\)) and [Masao Takiyama](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0847692/), Kasagi Labo is building a next-generation global fan engagement platform called [AnimeOshi](https://www.animeoshi.com/) aimed at uniting a billion anime fans worldwide. In addition to driving innovation in anime licensing and distribution, Kasagi Labo also produces its own line of merchandise, collaborating with worldwide hits like [*Chainsaw Man*](https://kissui.xyz/collections/chainsaw-man) and [*Kaiju No. 8*](https://kissui.xyz/collections/kaiju-8). Kasagi Labo is backed by [Burda Principal Investments](https://www.burdaprincipalinvestments.com/investments/), a division of [Hubert Burda Media](https://www.burda.com/en/) as well as other notable investors including [CMT Digital](https://cmt.digital/), [SuperScrypt](https://www.superscrypt.xyz/), [Sfermion](https://www.sfermion.io/), and [Gold House Foundation](https://goldhouse.org/). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.oshi.co/vision/oshi-docs/core-contributors.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.