But how about some more specifics on how Japan hopes to boost the cultural exports themselves? Maybe some kind of prestigious fellowship for America-based anime journalists? No?
...Yeah, no. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry issued a draft on the strategies being taken under consideration, based primarily on a system to help small and mid-size companies both create their product and sell them overseas.
There are other suggestions in the draft-- including the possibility of opening up more work visas to bring more foreign creators (I'd guess primarily from Korea, whose manhwa and animation industry is already somewhat tied together with Japan's) to Japan.
Interesting stuff all around. But hey, Japan, how about finding a way to subsidize some of the prices of anime DVDs? Or subsidizing simulcasts? Or finding a way to broadcast some kind of unified anime channel world-wide? (Hey, a girl can dream.)
I'd also like a global anime channel. I know they already subtitle shows in English, which is essentially the universal language these days. (Take that, French!) The internet is making all these "borders" between "countries" kind of ridiculous.
Yeah, some kind of global anime channel or streaming website would be super sweet. But probably a rights nightmare, which translates to "probably a pipe dream."