Date : December 13, 2023
Anime Tourism and Stimulating Local Economies—Trips to Locations from Anime Which Attract Fans from Around the World（Associate Professor Takeshi Okamoto, Department of Applied Sociology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Human Studies, Kindai University）
post date : 2023.11.24
According to the Japan Tourism Agency’s recent announcement, the number of inbound travelers in October this year was 2,516,500, 0.8% above the number for October 2019, before the pandemic, which demonstrates the rapid recovery in demand for inbound tourism. During the pandemic, the popularity of Cool Japan content such as anime and manga remained high worldwide, and “pilgrimages” to sites related to various series, also known as “anime tourism,” is expected to be a factor in attracting even more inbound travelers in the future and stimulating local economies.
Dr. Takeshi Okamoto is an associate professor at the Kindai University Department of Applied Sociology Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Human Studies who specializes in tourism studies and “content tourism,” and he is very active in disseminating the results of his research, including having written many books on anime pilgrimages.
The FPCJ has invited him to discuss the state of businesses based on these pilgrimages, what it is about them that attracts fans both from within Japan and from overseas, and the economic and other positive effects they can have on pilgrimage sites, as well as their issues.
■Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.
■Date: Dec 13 (Wed), 2023, 10:30-12:00 (Deadline for application: Noon, Tue, Dec 12)
■Theme: Anime Tourism and Stimulating Local Economies—Trips to Locations from Anime Which Attract Fans from Around the World
■Briefer: Associate Professor Takeshi Okamoto, Department of Applied Sociology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Human Studies, Kindai University
■Language: Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation
As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.
■Members of the Foreign Press:
Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to cp@fpcjpn.or.jp by 16:00 on Monday, Dec 11.
As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.
Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).
■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.*We will not be accepting applications by email.