Special series 3: Culture and Arts Policy ～From Manga to Japanese Cuisine: How Japan Can Inspire Central Africa～
2026/6/3
This time, we will present the Takaichi Governement’s cultural policies, including those related to the content industries
1. The Role of Cultural Policy
In her policy address, Prime Minister Takaichi stated: “We will also promote regional revitalization by leveraging the diverse attractions of the regions, as well as their culture and sports activities. At the same time, we will promote arts and culture policies, particularly regarding the transmission, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage, including gastronomy and traditional arts.” Cultural policy has thus been positioned primarily as one of the pillars of the “Strategy for the Future of the Regions.”
👉 When one thinks of Japan, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, and Kyoto immediately come to mind, but every region of Japan is brimming with a wide variety of local attractions. We will promote sustainable tourism and regional revitalization by highlighting gastronomy, traditional arts, and sports activities shaped by diverse natural environments and climates. The insights and lessons drawn from Japan’s policy practices in ecotourism, agritourism, and cultural tourism, among others, will undoubtedly serve as a benchmark model offering useful avenues for the Central African region, a true treasure trove of diverse nature, culture, and history.
2. The Content Industry
Within the Japan Growth Strategy Headquarters, established by the Takaichi administration in November 2025, the “content” sector is explicitly listed among the 17 priority strategic areas, and a Public-Private Council for the Content Industry has been created.
👉 To create a virtuous cycle ranging from training and recruiting talent in content fields—animation, video games, manga, fictional characters, music, and film—to improving production conditions, and on to active international development and distribution, public and private investments will be carried out in partnership with the business community. Since 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Japan International MANGA Award, with the aim of fostering mutual understanding through manga culture, which radiates from Japan to the entire world. In recent years, the number of entries from Cameroon has been increasing, and we feel that the day when a Cameroonian winner is honored is not far off!
3. The Cool Japan Strategy
👉 “Cool Japan” refers to the appeal of Japan as perceived as “cool” (fascinating) by the rest of the world. Beyond cuisine, anime, and pop culture, this concept holds infinite potential for expansion, reflecting shifting global interests, and can encompass a wide variety of fields. By fostering global empathy, the goal is to strengthen Japan’s brand power and increase the number of foreigners with an affinity for Japan (Japan fans), thereby enhancing Japan’s soft power. The Embassy will continue, in collaboration with Japanese companies, to showcase Japanese cuisine and culture at events and other opportunities.
4. Intellectual Property Strategy
The protection of intellectual property rights is essential to promoting the “Cool Japan” initiative. To implement measures related to the creation, protection, and utilization of intellectual property, the Secretariat General for Intellectual Property Strategy was established in Japan in March 2003 and is responsible for promoting this strategy. The establishment of an intellectual property system is one of the essential pillars of Africa’s sustainable economic development. To this end, the Japanese government supports, through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Master’s program in Intellectual property jointly managed by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the University of Yaoundé II. This program aims to train future African leaders in the field of intellectual property and is expected to contribute to industrial development in Africa.
👉 We hope that intellectual property experts from Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic will be able to protect the rights to the content that Japan takes pride in, such as animation, video games, manga, fictional characters, music, and film. We also hope that, through the protection of intellectual property rights, the domestic content industries in Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic will flourish, creating jobs and contributing to the economic development of each country.
5. Conclusion
Cultural exchanges serve as a bridge connecting nations and peoples. The Japanese government actively promotes cultural exchanges as an essential means of deepening mutual understanding of each other’s history and values, fostering trust and empathy, and with the hope of expanding new markets and industries.
The Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan organizes various activities, including the Japanese Government Scholarship Program, the Japan International Manga Award, screenings of Japanese films, and other cultural events, while also providing information on online Japanese language courses and content introducing Japanese culture. We invite you to visit the Embassy’s website and follow our Facebook and X pages for the latest updates.
1. The Role of Cultural Policy
In her policy address, Prime Minister Takaichi stated: “We will also promote regional revitalization by leveraging the diverse attractions of the regions, as well as their culture and sports activities. At the same time, we will promote arts and culture policies, particularly regarding the transmission, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage, including gastronomy and traditional arts.” Cultural policy has thus been positioned primarily as one of the pillars of the “Strategy for the Future of the Regions.”
👉 When one thinks of Japan, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, and Kyoto immediately come to mind, but every region of Japan is brimming with a wide variety of local attractions. We will promote sustainable tourism and regional revitalization by highlighting gastronomy, traditional arts, and sports activities shaped by diverse natural environments and climates. The insights and lessons drawn from Japan’s policy practices in ecotourism, agritourism, and cultural tourism, among others, will undoubtedly serve as a benchmark model offering useful avenues for the Central African region, a true treasure trove of diverse nature, culture, and history.
2. The Content Industry
Within the Japan Growth Strategy Headquarters, established by the Takaichi administration in November 2025, the “content” sector is explicitly listed among the 17 priority strategic areas, and a Public-Private Council for the Content Industry has been created.
👉 To create a virtuous cycle ranging from training and recruiting talent in content fields—animation, video games, manga, fictional characters, music, and film—to improving production conditions, and on to active international development and distribution, public and private investments will be carried out in partnership with the business community. Since 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Japan International MANGA Award, with the aim of fostering mutual understanding through manga culture, which radiates from Japan to the entire world. In recent years, the number of entries from Cameroon has been increasing, and we feel that the day when a Cameroonian winner is honored is not far off!
3. The Cool Japan Strategy
👉 “Cool Japan” refers to the appeal of Japan as perceived as “cool” (fascinating) by the rest of the world. Beyond cuisine, anime, and pop culture, this concept holds infinite potential for expansion, reflecting shifting global interests, and can encompass a wide variety of fields. By fostering global empathy, the goal is to strengthen Japan’s brand power and increase the number of foreigners with an affinity for Japan (Japan fans), thereby enhancing Japan’s soft power. The Embassy will continue, in collaboration with Japanese companies, to showcase Japanese cuisine and culture at events and other opportunities.
4. Intellectual Property Strategy
The protection of intellectual property rights is essential to promoting the “Cool Japan” initiative. To implement measures related to the creation, protection, and utilization of intellectual property, the Secretariat General for Intellectual Property Strategy was established in Japan in March 2003 and is responsible for promoting this strategy. The establishment of an intellectual property system is one of the essential pillars of Africa’s sustainable economic development. To this end, the Japanese government supports, through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Master’s program in Intellectual property jointly managed by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the University of Yaoundé II. This program aims to train future African leaders in the field of intellectual property and is expected to contribute to industrial development in Africa.
👉 We hope that intellectual property experts from Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic will be able to protect the rights to the content that Japan takes pride in, such as animation, video games, manga, fictional characters, music, and film. We also hope that, through the protection of intellectual property rights, the domestic content industries in Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic will flourish, creating jobs and contributing to the economic development of each country.
5. Conclusion
Cultural exchanges serve as a bridge connecting nations and peoples. The Japanese government actively promotes cultural exchanges as an essential means of deepening mutual understanding of each other’s history and values, fostering trust and empathy, and with the hope of expanding new markets and industries.
The Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan organizes various activities, including the Japanese Government Scholarship Program, the Japan International Manga Award, screenings of Japanese films, and other cultural events, while also providing information on online Japanese language courses and content introducing Japanese culture. We invite you to visit the Embassy’s website and follow our Facebook and X pages for the latest updates.
