Japan’s Regional Model

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact of Japan's cultural industries on local cultural industries in East Asia. Before assessing the influence of Japanese cultural industries on local cultural production and appreciation for Japanese products, the chapter considers the transfer of Japanese popular culture production formats to the culture markets of East Asia and their adaptation by local cultural industries, especially in Korea. It then looks at some of the Japanese formats that were transferred to East Asia through collaboration, including the production of Japanese-style idols, based on the Japanese notion of kawaii (usually translated into English as “cuteness” or “lovability”), and Japanese pop music or “J-pop.” It also discusses the Tie-Up strategy used in the marketing of Japanese cultural products, along with the Japanese origins of the so-called “Korean Wave.” Finally, it presents in-depth interviews with sixty-eight cultural industry insiders in East Asia to highlight the importance of Japanese cultural industries to the regionalization process in East Asia.