Japan Readies for Cultural Export

Japan has come out stronger after the March 11 earthquake. This time, Tokyo said it wants the world to know more about its culture and entertainment.

For a long time, Japan is represented mainly to the rest of the world through the lens of Hollywood, The Last Samurai, Memoirs of a Geisha, Lost in Translation are household movie titles among others.

However, few people outside Japan know about its thriving domestic movie and TV series industry which has produced such big name directors, Akira Hirosawa, Juzo Itami and emerging Kazuaki Kiriya.

Feeling the heat from both traditional entertainment stronghold of Hollywood and newcomer Bollywood, Japan is eager to promote its cultural products for the consumption of the global audience. However, a long held history of Japanese language has deterred the efforts.

According to the news from African Executive, Japan has readied to introduce many copyrighted works from both corporations and individuals to the world, the target is mainly the U.S., but emerging African countries is another potential.

The newly created All Nippon Entertainment Works Company Ltd, a brainchild of more established Innovative Network Corp of Japan (INCJ), kicked off August 15th. With 6 billion yen investment, the goal is to "introducing copyright works of Japanese companies and individuals to international audience."

The list of companies include TBS, Fuji TV as well as Mitsubishi Corps, Densu, Toho-Towa among others.

Will Africans get to accept Japan beyond Ninja, Samurai to a mixed bag of contents?