Photo/Illutration Tourists from South Korea and elsewhere snap pictures in March of a railway crossing in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, that featured in the manga “Slam Dunk.” (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Japan’s leading business lobby called for renewed government efforts to promote anime, manga and games as a pillar to spearhead the nation’s economic growth.

The April 7 proposal by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) focused on the contents industry, which includes films, dramas and music as well.

Japan offered policy support to these sectors as part of its Cool Japan initiative. But Keidanren officials said the government lacked a strategic approach.

The business organization said Japan risks losing its edge, citing gains by South Korea and other countries that are developing their own contents industries.

The proposal set a goal of expanding by three- to four-fold the overseas market of Japanese contents businesses, now estimated at about 5 trillion yen ($38 billion), in about 10 years.

Specifically, Keidanren urged the government to set up an agency tasked with leading efforts to promote the contents industry.

It also called for an environment that encourages non-Japanese industry experts to come and work in Japan and utilizing industry resources to spur tourism, such as helping anime fans go on “pilgrimmages” to sites featured in popular works.

The business organization argued that geopolitical risks will also lessen if Japanese subculture wins the hearts of people overseas.

Masakazu Tokura, chairman of Keidanren, maintains a keen interest in manga and anime and talked about the film adaptation of basketball manga “Slam Dunk” with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol during his recent visit to Japan.

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