The chief executive of a Tokyo financial management company launched in late September hopes her new business saves Japanese films from a long slump.

"Full-fledged and clear production accounting is necessary to boost films in Japan and to invite investors from countries that have such cost management practices," said Natsuko Nezu, CEO of Entertainment Partners Asia.

Since she became involved in a Japan-U.S. filmmaking team as an aide in 1991, Nezu has seen U.S. colleagues frustrated by Japan's perfunctory accounting practices, which the Japanese themselves call "domburi kanjo," a derisive term roughly meaning ballpark figures.