Pop-culture powerhouse Japan wants to expand its overseas market for video games, manga, and anime fourfold to US$130 billion in a decade, its government said.
Japan, the birthplace of comic and cartoon epics such as 'Dragon Ball' and game franchises from 'Super Mario' to 'Final Fantasy', sees the creative industries as a driver for growth on par with steel and semiconductors.
In its recently revised 'Cool Japan' strategy, the government said it aims to boost exports of these cultural assets to 20 trillion yen by 2033.
In 2022, Japan's gaming, anime, and manga sectors raked in 4.7 trillion yen abroad — close to microchip exports at 5.7 trillion yen, government data shows.
"In recent years, content like anime and manga have played an extremely important role in attracting bigger young audiences abroad and serving as their 'gateway' to Japan," the strategy document said.
A pandemic-fuelled streaming boom helped boost the global profile of anime, including franchises like 'Demon Slayer' which has had global box office hits.
The burgeoning phenomenon of Vtubers — virtual animated YouTubers — playing video games is also boosting Japan's international soft power, the strategy document said.
Combining these sectors' growth with related industries such as fashion, cosmetics and inbound tourism, Japan is targeting an economic benefit of 50 trillion yen by 2033.
The strategy document includes plans to stiffen a crackdown on piracy websites that illegally distribute anime and manga for free in languages such as English and Vietnamese.
"Strengthening measures against piracy websites is essential to expanding the global market," it said, warning that some of their advertising revenue can go to criminal syndicates.
"Swift intergovernmental action is needed to tackle this piracy crisis."
