Luring Tourists To Japan Through Anime

Above, an anime tourism
guide published a few years ago.

This isn't anything really new as anime and manga has played a role in luring tourists to Japan over the years.

However, the Japanese tourism industry is going to start "hitting harder" in promoting tourism to anime and manga fans.

According to the Japan Times:

Anime and manga are set to play a bigger role in promoting tourism across Japan under an initiative launched Friday to make better use of the nation’s pop culture. 

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, vice president of Anime Tourism Association and the chairman of publisher Kadokawa Corp., said increasing global recognition of both art forms meant they are “what Japan needs to take advantage of to drive its economy.” 

“It is impressive that the presence of Japan’s pop culture in the world has grown into something that can be on par with Hollywood,” Kadokawa said, citing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s performance at the closing ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, where he appeared on stage in a Super Mario costume. 

Initially, the group, which is backed by stakeholders including Kadokawa Corp., travel agency JTB Corp., Narita International Airport Corp. and Japan Airlines Co., will select 88 popular locations in Japan that have been featured in anime and manga based on a survey to ask fans about their favorite spots at animetourism88.com/en/.

To read more, go here.