[/floatr]Yomiuri: Industry urged to utilize 'Japan cool'
Japanese pop culture, such as fashion, manga and anime, has been considered "cool" overseas for a while, but the government and domestic business community are not making the most of such popularity...It has been 10 years since Japan cool became popular, but Japanese industry is not doing a good job of making the most of it, as it is often mocked: The biggest gainer from Japanese anime is Hollywood. Japan's labor force has continued to decline due to the falling and aging of the population. In the near future, Japan may have to give up its position as the world's second-largest economy to China. Amid rapid changes in the economic society, Japan cool could a be strong arm to maintain or strengthen the domestic industry or even national power. Japan cool is not only limited to manga, anime and fashion, but also food and traditional handicrafts. How to use Japan cool is not only the responsibility of the government, but also private enterprise and the nation as a whole...more...
One quotation from the piece stands out: "Economy ministry's Industrial Structure Policy Division Chief Keita Nishiyama said: 'We are focusing on the fact that each category, such as akamoji and girly style, has become the taste and lifestyle of young people'". This may be the only time a Government Minister, anywhere in the world, has gone on record using the phrase, albeit in translation, "girly style".
