Cultural Diplomacy In Japan

The soft power is increasingly important in the international relations. It can improve the influence of a country and indirectly his economic and political power. The culture in all his manifestations, history, tradition and social customs form his base. Japan, with his culture, has a solid base on which soft power can be built. The Japanese art has impressed the lovers of the art in Europe and North America since more than 150 years. The main objective of the cultural diplomacy is to improve the image and prestige of a nation through aspects of the culture like the fine arts and the scenic arts, languages teaching and the intellectual traditions.

About this, the cultural Japanese diplomacy has evolved across several stages. During the 1950s

During this period, particularly after the Tokyo Olympics Games, the emphasis changed to projecting an image of a "Pacific Japan" to an economically advanced Japan. In light of Japan 's economic development, the Japan government 's efforts in promotion focused especially on the study of the Japanese economy. Between the initiatives in this field, it was the establishment of the Tanaka Fund to support 10 major universities in the United States on the promotion of their Japanese studies.

The decade of 1970 brought another change in the cultural diplomacy of Japan, this time in response to the rise an anti-Japanese feeling in Asia. The critiques stimulated Japan to strengthen his cultural activities in Asia. Moreover, establishment Japan Foundation offices in most of the countries of Southeast Asia they were a clear evidence of the new policy, in order to improve the knowledge and Japanese interest in the Southeast Asian region.

The next stage in the evolution of Japan 's cultural diplomacy began in the late 1980s. The Japanese economy matured and the importance of the country on the international stage increased. Moreover, a new concept of "cultural cooperation" began to play a role in Japan 's cultural diplomacy during this

Japanese popular culture has obtained followers around the world to consider that the cultural characteristics of this country are attractive to the public. This is demonstrated by two factors: the increase in the Otaku culture and the massive commercialization of anime and manga. The artistic and thematic styles of Manga have transcended cultural barriers, causing an important and lasting impression in the public. As a gateway to Japanese culture, it has attracted a global fan base and has fed interest in Japanese culture. It remains one of the most economically and socially profitable exports in the country and has helped Japan become one of the largest exporters of cultural products in the